Tennis Takes Center Court at Cheeca Lodge & Spa

January 2005 - Cheeca Lodge & Spa's General Manager Tim Estes recently appointed David Butterfield as the new Director of Tennis. As Cheeca has seen resurgence in the sport, Butterfield has developed a new tennis program to accommodate all levels, novice through expert.

Butterfield, a certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), is known on the courts for using his "FUNdamental" teaching philosophy in a variety of daily clinics for adults and children. Creating an enjoyable atmosphere for all levels, he also offers a Friday night round-robin mixer and the popular, "Play the Pro" program, where a one-on-one match with Butterfield is often a fun goal for guests vying for a free lesson.

"Cheeca is a first-class destination and part of the resort's appeal is the great tennis facilities, which are far superior to any other courts in the Florida Keys," said Butterfield. "We have seen a real resurgence in the sport at Cheeca. Professionals including Chris Evert are often seen here on our courts and prove to be an inspiration to guests whether they are a beginner or expert. I'm thrilled to be part of such a wonderful team and interacting with great talents on the court."

A Keys' resident for more than 30 years, Butterfield is one of the Keys premiere tennis coaches as he has instructed at many of the area's top resorts and clubs. Butterfield is a former number one open singles player in the Southern California Tennis Association.

"With so much interest in tennis at Cheeca, We have developed a new tennis package for guests who wouldn't think of leaving their rackets at home," said Butterfield. "The package includes a healthy breakfast followed by several hours of personal instruction and quality match play. There is always time to relax in the sun or spa, but for those who can't get enough court time at home, this is a terrific opportunity to improve their game."

The package for Tennis Lovers includes a healthy breakfast buffet for two, a welcome gift, up to four hours of supervised tennis per day, which includes one private lesson with a USPTA certified instructor, one hour ball machine use and one hour of match play. The package also allows guests to receive a 10 percent discount on all spa treatments and purchases at the Cheeca gift shop. Rates for the Tennis Lovers package start at $168 per person, per night with a three-night minimum. The package is based on double occupancy, is subject to availability and is only available during specified dates throughout the year.

Cheeca Lodge & Spa, a premier resort in the Florida Keys, is situated on 27 beautifully landscaped acres with more than 1200 feet of palm-fringed beach and crystal-clear water. It features 201 lavish guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, a nine-hole, par-three executive golf course, six tennis courts, two swimming pools and a whirlpool spa. Cheeca Lodge & Spa is a RockResorts property, an exclusive collection of premier properties in highly desirable locations. RockResorts provide guests with one-of-a-kind vacation experiences in dramatic settings of natural beauty and cultural excitement. For more information about Cheeca Lodge & Spa, visit www.rockresorts.com. For reservations, call (800) 327-2888 or (305) 664-4651.

SOURCE Cheeca Lodge & Spa