Carmel Valley Ranch

Location: On the west coast of the US, Carmel (where Clint Eastwood was once mayor) is about a two-hour drive south of San Francisco.

Getting there: As well as being fairly near to San Fran, Carmel is about 300 miles north of LA so flying to either city is an option. The smaller Monterey Peninsula Airport, just 13 miles from the resort, is an alternative. Many of the major airlines service the west coast of the US _ flying time is about 11 hours from the UK.

Tennis facilities: This is a tennis resort with elegance. There are 12 courts (10 hard, two clay) including a sunken centre court and a clubhouse which is in the estate’s original 1890s ranch house. As well as the tennis there’s a pro shop, cafe, viewing areas and a fitness centre.

Coaching: Director of Tennis Bruce Haase runs a tight ship and offers everything from individual lessons to setting up matches for guests. There’s also group clinics, USTA leagues and events, junior programmes, tournaments and summer camps. Haase says every single programme is tailored to the individual and can be as serious or laid-back as you like. The facilities also double as a local tennis club so there are plenty of players around of all standards.

Eating: As well as the two restaurants on site, there are some eateries outside the resort that are worth checking out. L