No room for tennis

The Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa’s tennis club, an integral part of the Fashion Island hotel for more than three decades, may close soon to make room for condominiums.

The Lennar Corp., a Florida-based developer, has gotten a green light from the city and the California Coastal Commission to proceed with the project. Lennar filed plans for the condominiums in 2004 and won approval from the City Council and the Coastal Commission last year after agreeing to pay a $5 million mitigation fee for other recreational areas at Crystal Cove State Park.

Lennar has received approval from the Coastal Commission, but the commission has not yet issued a development permit for the project. Carol McDermott, the president of the consulting firm Government Solutions that is working with Lennar on the development, said it would likely be a while before the building crews arrived.

“It’s at least a year away,” McDermott said. “They have not been given official notice because the time is not certain.”

In the meantime, players and trainers are enjoying the time they have left.

“It could happen in three months,” said head trainer Robyn Ray, who has been with the club since it opened. “It could happen in a year.”

Newport Beach resident Mike Hoppe, a member since 1993, plays tennis at the Marriott three to four days a week. The city has other sites for tennis, including the Newport Beach Tennis Club on Eastbluff Drive and the Balboa Bay Club, but Hoppe said the Marriott courts have a dedicated membership.

In addition to giving lessons and hosting games for adults, the club puts on an annual summer camp for children that has churned out a number of future tennis stars for UCLA, USC and other universities. Ray said the camp, for now, is scheduled to go on this year. One of the club’s most famous alumni is Keri Phebus, who started at the Marriott at 7 and trained with Ray. Phebus, who won the NCAA singles and doubles titles in 1995, was elected to the UCLA Hall of Fame last year. At the Marriott, she got her start participating in “round robins” in which groups of young players faced off prizes.

““I have two young kids now, and I’m so sorry they won’t be able to do it now. They have some of the greatest coaches and just a great program all around,” Phebus said.

The tennis club, open seven days a week, overlooks the Newport Beach Country Club behind the hotel. The grounds feature eight courts and have held professional tournaments for charity in the past.

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.