2008 Private Facility of the Year: Boar’s Head Sports Club
A main goal for the Boar’s Head Sports Club, says Club Manager James Neiderer, “is to create the best tennis experience for anyone who walks through the door — whether a spectator, beginner, intermediate, collegiate or professional player.”
And with all the programs and activities, it’s safe to say that the Charlottesville, Va., club is well on its way. That’s why we’ve named the Boar’s Head Sports Club RSI’s 2008 Private Facility of the Year.
BHSC has 12 indoor Decoturf courts, 10 outdoor Har-Tru courts, and four outdoor Deco, and the facility is the home indoor tennis site for the University of Virginia teams. The sports club, which is a part of the four-diamond Boar’s Head Inn resort, has about 1,200 memberships, servicing more than 2,500 tennis players, says Neiderer. About half the memberships are for families.
At least 17 USTA league teams play out of BHSC, and there are other in-house club leagues for players at all levels. “The social side of tennis is alive and well here,” says Neiderer. BHSC also has six certified teaching pros. The active junior program, for ages 4 and up, also includes the high-performance Boar’s Head Elite Academy for top juniors.
BHSC also is extremely active in running outside events. In fact, longtime BHSC racquet sports director Ron Manilla recently shifted jobs to be the club’s tournament director, running events that include Intercollegiate Tennis Association national tournaments, USTA events, professional events (including the Boyd Tinsley $50,000 USTA Women’s Pro Tennis Championships) and much more. Overseeing the tennis operation for members is Tim Bauer.
“Even in this economy, our club is doing quite well,” says Neiderer. “We hang our hat on tennis here; it’s what we do best.”
- Make it a family affair. BHSC offers programs that keep families, including the youngest kids, active on the court.
- Don’t neglect the social side of tennis. Men’s night, ladies’ night, member-guest, and member-member events give people more reasons to play, and give potential members a good look at what you do best.
- Make your members your biggest fans. Neiderer says members really embrace the UVA teams, often traveling to see away matches, too.
See all articles by Peter Francesconi
About the Author
Peter Francesconi 
is editorial director of Tennis Industry magazine.
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