La Manga Club: More than a tennis resort

As I sat down in the shade, covered in red clay after a few hours of slipping and sliding around a sun-drenched court, all perceptions I had of La Manga Club had faded away, along with my energy. Before my arrival at the renowned sports mecca in south-east Spain, I perceived the purpose of a tennis resort to be a place for holidaymakers to enjoy a leisurely hit in between a spot of sunbathing and swimming. But I was wrong. It is so much more than that.

The tennis centre, situated in the heart of the Murcia resort, resembles that of any top-notch club you might find in the UK – minus the wind and rain of course. There are professional coaches, structured academies, a pro shop and gym, competitions, tournaments, social activities and the most important ingredient for any great facility – players with a mutual love for tennis.

“It’s not just a holiday resort, for me it’s an active tennis club,” says James Rose, director of tennis coaching at the club. “Before I got the job my perception of the place was a lot different.

"I didn’t think the tennis would be as serious but the first thing I noticed when I got here was the intensity of the coaches and their knowledge.”

Rose took the words right out of my mouth. La Manga Club caters to the needs of players of all standards from beginners to professionals. Whether you’re British No.1 Elena Baltacha enjoying some winter training before the clay season or a club player looking to improve your game from a technical and tactical standpoint, La Manga Club has the resources.

I arrived at the resort late one evening, as the sun dipped below the hazy skyline, and the first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the place. The atmospheric hub of the resort is the elegant five-star Hotel Principe Felipe, my base for the trip, which boasts spacious rooms and a breathtaking breakfast venue overlooking a first-class golf course. The resort, which could be more aptly described as a small town, is complimented by the beautifully situated four-star Las Lomas Village, as well as 2,000 privately-owned villas dotted sporadically throughout the landscape.

When American tycoon Gregory Peters stumbled across the untouched land in the mid-60s, he pioneered what would go on to become one of Europe’s leading holiday resorts. Nestled in between the Mediterranean coastline and a vast area of red sandstone, La Manga Club as we know it today occupies land three times the size of Monaco with 28 tennis courts, three golf courses and eight full-size soccer pitches.

As Idoia Carrillo, the PR Manager for the club, drove me around the resort, relaying its history and pointing out the major landmarks with pride, we came across what she calls, “the jewel in the La Manga crown”.

As the car weaved down a bumpy dirt road, Carrillo explained the trail was blasted into the side of the cliff when Peters’ wife had wanted access to the beach without having to leave the resort. So a couple of blocks of dynamite later and La Manga Club had its very own beach – La Cala. The small stretch of sandy coastline is one of the many hidden gems around the resort, which satisfies the eclectic mix of visitor’s interests.

For me, and for many of the people I met at the resort, tennis was what attracted us to La Manga Club. And as I nursed my Sangria after competing in one of the weekly mixed-doubles tournaments, my fellow competitors had only good things to say about their La Manga experiences. Moments like these are what can never be advertised in a brochure – camaraderie among people who met only a few hours earlier. Spectacular views and scenery are what will draw people to La Manga, but it’s the people they meet and the friendships they form that will keep them coming back.

“It is almost impossible to put La Manga Club into words, you just have to experience it.”

This sentence was uttered to me on more than one occasion upon my arrival. Now, as I sit watching the sun set on a memorable Spanish adventure, the words begin to ring true.