Saddlebrook Resort

Wesley Chapel, FL

Swing like the stars! Follow in the literal footsteps of both tennis and golf’s biggest names by perfecting your game at the Tampa-area resort. Recently refreshed after a $92 million makeover last year, Saddlebrook Resort has a long legacy as a renowned athletic training ground for the pros—and as the ultimate sports destination for thousands of amateurs year-round.

International Tennis Hall of Famers Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Martina Hingis, and Jim Courier have all perfected their game at the resort’s Harry Hopman Tennis Academy, established in 1986. After all, what better way to prepare for Grand Slams than at a place with 41 courts, including hardcourts, grass, and clay. Over on the links, PGA stars K.J. Choi and Karl Vilips, among many others, have trained at the Saddlebrook Golf Academy, which debuted along with the resort in 1981. And now the facilities are even sleeker as the three interchangeable nine-hole courses were redesigned by golf course architect Rees Jones.

On top of it, the international headquarters of its Professional Tennis Registry and Professional Pickleball Registry, with more than 20,000 members, is based at the resort, which also features eight pickleball courts.

All of its sports are open to players of every level, with the chance to learn from the very coaches that those at the top of their game learned from. “When you visit, you become part of what’s made us great for so many years,” Saddlebrook’s managing director Jeff Mayers says.

Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Palm Coast, FL

Sports with a view! It’s one thing to have stunning facilities, but it’s another to set them against the most spectacular backdrops—but Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa merges both. Its eight Hydro-Grid clay tennis courts and four pickleball courts overlook the Intracoastal Waterway, earning it accolades by Tennis Resorts Online as among the world’s best tennis and pickleball resorts.

Similarly, its two golf courses are among the most breathtaking in the world, snagging honors by Golf Digest and Condé Nast Traveler. Both overlook the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, with the Ocean Course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the British-style Conservatory Course being the brainchild of Tom Watson. As proof of how coveted these courses are, U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk hosts the annual PGA Tour Champions event Constellation Furyk and Friends tournament here, with this year's event set for October 5 to 11.

South Seas

Captiva, FL

There’s no better place to introduce the young ones to the enjoyment of sports than at this 330-acre Florida gulf coast wildlife resort, South Seas. Blackwood Tennis Academy runs its racquet program with 11 courts with daily clinics for adults, juniors, and those 10-and-unders. Concierge services are also available for anyone looking for a partner at their own level, while private lessons are available for every age and ability.

Then spend a day on the links on its family-friendly 12-hole course. Making its debut in May 2024, The Clutch is not only seamlessly woven into the existing panoramic landscape, but it’s an entire walking course, inviting golfers of all ages to truly immerse themselves into the surroundings—and their game. But the course is truly a living space, as egrets wade in course’s water hazards and ospreys fly overhead.

Chatham Bars Inn

Chatham, MA

Even among Cape Cod’s most storied settings, Chatham Bars Inn is considered one of the most luxurious homebases from which to enjoy the charming seaside town. But only those in-the-know are aware that the hotel is also home to unique Har-Tru tennis courts, which combine the best of both worlds with the feel of a clay court, but the simplicity of a hardcourt surface. Here, the pros offer clinics and private lessons for both adults and kids. For those with sea legs, the inn's 25 acres are set right on the oceanfront and is also known as one of the premier boating destinations with U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains.

The Wigwam

Litchfield Park, AZ

The Wigwam Resort opened as a small lodge during the southwest’s cotton ranching days in the 1900s, turning into a resort in 1929. But today the 440-acre property is known as Arizona’s only resort with 54 holes of top-notch golf. Each of its three 18-hole courses has established its own reputation. The Gold Course, better known as Arizona’s Monster, is a legend for its challenges, but also one of the most respected. Meanwhile the Blue Course is full of character and contradiction, while the Red Course has a traditional layout, lined with pine and eucalyptus trees. A round on these, and you’ll be playing the exact holes from tournaments like the U.S. Open Qualifiers.

Those more racquet-inclined will find tennis and pickleball courts that are just vibrantly state-of-the-art. Clinics are available daily, while junior and pro tournaments often take over the grounds.

Mountain Shadows

Scottsdale, AZ

Whether you’re a novice looking for an approachable 18-hole course or a skilled golfer craving a fast-paced round, Mountain Shadows’ The Short Course is your answer. The full course takes about three hours while there’s also the option to play nine holes in half the time. Flexibility and fun is the name of the game here, so guests can work on their craft however they see fit. They can also choose to walk or rent golf carts—plus there’s Bonus Hole 17.5 that the resort suggests using for tiebreaks, settling bets, or figuring out who’s picking up the bill at the clubhouse eatery, Rusty’s. And for some true flair, indulge in its Tee Party, a golfer’s take on afternoon tea.

Explore more destinations across the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio, a collection of distinct, independent properties by Pyramid Global Hospitality. Located in diverse destinations across the globe, Benchmark’s resorts and hotels reimagine immersive travel, inspiring guests to create memories born from meaningful exploration, authentic moments, and innovative experiences – no matter the occasion. Benchmark guests can earn complimentary gift cards, on-property perks, and destination experiences through the collection’s signature Mosaic Rewards program.