MAC Member Review:

John Newcombe Tennis Academy

Great for beginners and intermediates on a budget looking for a social tennis weekend

By Devin Fei-Fan Tau

Like many avid tennis players at MAC, going to tennis camps has been instrumental in improving my game. These getaways allow me to focus on core skills for hours and days at a time, without the distractions of everyday life. When it comes to choosing when and where to go, however, the options are truly varied and distinctive. This was borne out by my recent visit to the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, Texas.

John Newcombe and his iconic moustache burst onto the international tennis scene in the late 1960s, when he firmly established himself as a legend — one of the few men ever to have been ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles. His tennis academy features not only a moustache tennis ball logo, but true to his Australian heritage, it also reflects a laidback vibe with a strong emphasis on the social aspect of the sport.

Unlike more intense and technically focused camps like IMG Bollettieri, the Newcombe philosophy seems to be “relax, have fun, and maybe even improve your game.” With the core of instructors consisting of college students from the local area, expect instruction to be helpful and friendly, but without the professional edge of trained coaches and a dedicated teaching style.

The focus on hitting and drills, rather than individualized analysis of player style and strategy, means this club is great for beginning to intermediate players looking to strengthen some core fundamentals. As long as you aren’t looking to hone a competitive winning edge, court play at Newcombe has good energy, and is fun and social.

The weekend format consists of an hour of court time on Friday, six hours on Saturday, and (after a hard night of partying), three hours on Sunday. In fact, you might say Newcombe Academy is all about the party on Saturday night. On my visit, we split into Team Australia and Team USA, which began with am exhibition match featuring the college teaching pros. This was soon followed by a “boat race” drinking game which matched court play in intensity and competition. And once the revelers were sufficiently lubricated, the fun was followed by karaoke and dancing in the legendary Billabong Bar.

Reflecting both the budget price of the academy and its founder’s era in the game, the facilities have a decided 1970s feel, with little to recommend them in terms of comfort or style. While the two-star motel feel of the accommodations was acceptable, the courts (especially clay) were careworn. And the covered (but not air-conditioned) areas mean that this might not be a great club for play in the warmer months of southern Texas.

On the plus side, the small campus means that everything is within easy walking distance, so you only need a car if you’re planning an off-site adventure. Next to the (unheated) pool is a very hot Jacuzzi tub. And the quality of the buffet-style meals was above average, with Texas-sized quantities to appease your ravenous appetite.

It’s also worth mentioning that Newcombe does have a full-time juniors component. While not among the top academies, for budgetconscious families this is likely a good launchpad for D3 college-level players. Lacking current or former pros on staff, however, would likely limit the sort of technical advancement required to move into the national level of the sport.

My key takeaway from the academy was to enjoy the warm, family feeling, and the highly social nature of the participants. Since the social element of the game was more of a focus than technical craft, this is a great place for friends or couples who see playing tennis together as a way to bond rather than to compete.

After a fall season of intense and stressful professional work, it was fun to see some old friends and take some time to decompress while playing a little tennis. However, for my next out of town tennis trip, I’ll be looking to fine tune some key areas and focus on technical skills that can help drive my play to the next level. No drinking games required.

author, pictured right.