Eleven years ago when Dave Neuhart arrived for a look at Reynolds Lake Oconee there was no tennis professional on staff and the prestigious Lake Oconee community had only four clay courts and two hard courts on property. But with his nearly 20 years of experience in the tennis industry, Neuhart sensed that despite its established reputation as a world-class golf resort, Reynolds Lake Oconee also was devoted to its many resident tennis patrons.
So, when Peter Burwash International (PBI) was offered the tennis program at Reynolds Lake Oconee, it didn’t take long for Neuhart to step in and facilitate the establishment of a formalized program in the community.
“The very first day on the job, we laid out the plans for the Lake Club tennis facility,” Neuhart recalls. Those designs have led to the creation of a 38,000 square-foot complex that includes an award-winning tennis centertennis center with 8 state-of-the-art courts.
“The tennis program is well on its way to being as strong as I have experienced anywhere in my career,” says Neuhart. “But we aren’t finished yet as there is a lot of room to grow.”
The Lake Club Tennis Center opened in 2006, where there are eight outdoor tennis courts – four Har-Tru Hydro Courts and four traditional hard courts – all lighted and two “stadium size, which can host seating for tournaments” and a full-service tennis shop. The range of services and options for play includes tennis packages, group clinics, private lessons, a player match-up service and the Dartfish instructional system (on-court tennis stroke video analysis software) as well as a computerized ball machine and the top electronic stringing machine in the industry, a Wilson Baiardo machine.
“I knew Reynolds Lake Oconee was a special place when I first arrived,” says Neuhart. “It’s hard to believe we will soon be looking at our tenth year in our Lake Club facility. There are so many special memories to reflect on during our time here.”
Since 1975, PBI, based in The Woodlands, Texas, is ranked among the 10 best management companies in America and has established tennis programs at more than 60 of the world’s finest vacation destinations and private clubs, in more than 135 countries.
Early in 2004, Peter Burwash, himself, approached Reynolds Lake Oconee with the idea of PBI being part of Reynolds Lake Oconee’s plans to expand tennis. Burwash worked personally in the planning of the new facility and set the tone early for building the program in to a reputable one within the tennis industry. The Lake Club Tennis CenterLake Club Tennis Center developed so well that PBI honored the facility as the 2006 PBI Tennis Site of the Year.
“It’s the way a tennis facility should be designed,” Peter Burwash said during a recent site visit to Reynolds Lake Oconee. “It’s pleasant to look at and it’s pleasant to play. The care and attention was phenomenal. Things are just in place and it’s an exceptionally well-done project.”
But if you know PBI, you know Burwash’s core philosophy is “service first, product second.”
“There is something magic about the South,” said Burwash. “An inherent politeness exists. There are places that have cordiality and culture, but they don’t smile. The term ‘southern hospitality’ holds true. And I can say that because I travel throughout the world. At Reynolds Lake Oconee, the attention to detail is just extraordinary.”
Since Neuhart’s arrival at Reynolds Lake Oconee, the tennis program has garnered many awards in becoming a world-class tennis destination. The Lake Club Tennis Center not only has earned PBI honors for member and guest service, in 2009 it was honored by both the Tennis Industry Association and the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Neuhart and staff were presented with a 2009 USTA Outstanding Facility Award as part of the USTA Semi-annual meeting in New York.
“Dave Neuhart continues to run an extraordinary program,” said Gray Ferguson, senior vice president of operations for Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Court participation continues to grow and Dave continues to come up with new and fresh programs every year. Dave makes all his decisions with Reynolds Lake Oconee as his first priority.”
Another key component to the Lake Club’s recent success is James Derrick. Although new to the Reynolds Lake Oconee team (starting in late 2013), Derrick brings a new enthusiasm to the Lake Oconee tennis culture. An enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher, Derrick also has experienced a stint at world-famous Caneel Bay in the US Virgin Islands.
“It gets absorbed into your system and you are able to carry that to whatever culture or facility that you approach,” says Derrick of the PBI culture.
As far as PBI facilities go, the quality is the same, no matter where you are. Service is held on high and product falls directly underneath. It’s just how it should be. A culture based on the practical concept that each guest should be provided with the utmost in service and attention. Some start out with a service focused business plan, but ultimately lose their way. But maintaining loyal, service-driven employees, such as Neuhart and Derrick, has kept PBI on track.
As Neuhart looks around at the eight championship courts outside their tennis shop, he can’t help but feel a sense of pride. Now in their eleventh year of managing the program, we have not only established themselves as a terrific facility and program within the community; but continue to deliver exiting, new programming and tournaments year after year for the growing membership to enjoy.
“The great partnership between PBI and Reynolds Lake Oconee provides our members and guests with one of the most complete tennis programs in the country,” Neuhart says. “The support and teamwork has accelerated the growth of the program into a first-class tennis destination.”
