Tennis is a popular sport in the Grand Strand, but the area is losing some of its courts.
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After decades in the Grand Strand, the future of Prestwick Tennis Club is in doubt.
Amid news that the Grande Dunes Tennis Club will be replaced with a new development, rumors swirled that the Myrtle Beach area is losing Prestwick Tennis Club at 1373 McMaster Drive, as well.
“With the prospect of the Grand Dunes courts going away, my understanding is just outside the south border of the city, Prestwick, that those tennis courts … are also going away for development,” said Myrtle Beach City Councilwoman Debbie Conner in a Tuesday meeting.
Jimmy Mendieta, who describes himself as the operator of the tennis facility and is listed as the director of tennis on the club’s website, told The Sun News he’s uncertain whether Prestwick Tennis Club is closing, but confirmed that he won’t operate the club after Dec. 31, 2026.
“I am not at liberty to say that because I don’t know the answer,” Mendieta said.
Mendieta directed The Sun News to property manager FirstService, but a representative confirmed that the company no longer manages the club. It’s unclear when FirstService stopped managing the property and whether the shift is related to the club’s future plans.
With the possibility of losing two Grand Strand tennis facilities, Conner said Myrtle Beach “really needs to consider the possibility of a racket sport center.” The councilwoman told her colleagues that, according to the U.S. Tennis Association, the city could accommodate 14 tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a 6,500-square-foot clubhouse on 6.5 acres of land.
“I’d love for us to start seriously looking for, perhaps, a piece of property that we could do something like this for the city of Myrtle Beach … I think the time is upon us to do something, and there’s a great need because I think we’ve got a very active community that enjoys racquet sports,” said Conner.
The Sun News reached out to Councilwoman Conner for more information but did not receive a response before publication.