Tennis, pickleball, and bocce are at the heart of daily life here — a dedicated racquet complex with open play, organized leagues, and a clinic calendar led by a teaching professional. For players, the courts are one of the real reasons to choose Esplanade.
Esplanade by the Islands was designed around an active, social resort lifestyle, and the racquet program is one of the busiest corners of the community. Tennis and pickleball players who move here tend to find their week fills up fast — morning clinics, weekly leagues, drop-in open play, and the kind of round-robin mixers where you actually meet your neighbors. If a community's courts matter to you, this is a place where they were clearly part of the plan, not an afterthought.
The fastest-growing game in Naples, and a centerpiece of the Esplanade scene. Dedicated courts host open play, beginner-friendly clinics, and competitive sessions — bring a paddle (loaners are usually available) and you'll have a game within minutes.
A full tennis program with stroke clinics, cardio drills, match-play strategy, and live-ball play for every level. Whether you're rebuilding muscle memory or chasing a winning pattern, there's a session for it on the calendar.
The social glue of the complex. Tournament-grade bocce courts make for easy, low-key evenings — one of the simplest ways to get into the community's rhythm without a lesson.
Court counts and surfaces are set by the community association and aren't published to an exact number — ask me for the latest, or confirm directly with the Esplanade lifestyle team.
Recent on-site photos of the racquet and bocce courts at Esplanade by the Islands.
Esplanade's racquet calendar is led by racket-sports teaching professional Ted Heiser. His sessions run the full range — pickleball stroke clinics, tennis cardio drills with a friendly court competition, tennis-strategy mornings, stroke-consistency work, and live-ball match-play strategy. All levels are welcome; you just bring a paddle or racket. It's the kind of structured coaching that turns a nice amenity into a program you actually improve in.
Which community is Ted Heiser the racquet sports director at? Ted Heiser is the racquet-sports teaching professional at Esplanade by the Islands, the Taylor Morrison resort community in Naples, Florida (34114) — where he leads the tennis, pickleball, and bocce clinics, drills, and leagues for residents.
See what's on this week. Clinics, drills, and open-play sessions are posted on the Esplanade clubs & events calendar, which updates daily — the easiest way to picture a real week on the courts.
What makes the racquet program work isn't the equipment — it's the people. Leagues, ladders, round-robins, and mixers give newcomers an instant on-ramp into the community, and for a lot of residents the courts become the center of their social calendar. If you're moving to Naples without knowing many people yet, this is one of the fastest ways in: show up to an open-play session and you'll leave with a few names and a standing game.
A note on specifics. Court counts, surfaces, clinic schedules, fees, and the teaching roster are set by the Esplanade community association and change seasonally. This page is an editorial overview to help you picture the lifestyle — confirm current details with the community before relying on them.
If tennis or pickleball is part of why you're picking a community, I can tell you how Esplanade's program compares to the other Naples racquet communities, which floor plans sit closest to the courts, and what life here actually looks like week to week. No pressure — just straight, local answers.
More: All Esplanade amenities · Clubs & events · Photo gallery · The wider Naples pickleball scene
