Some athletes are practically born into their sport of choice, taking up a love for the game soon after walking or beginning school, while others become aware of their skills in their teens. But Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort’s new director of tennis, Renee Broxson, did not even realize she had a passion and an aptitude for professional tennis until her late twenties.
Broxson, originally from St. Louis, moved to Navarre in her early twenties and didn’t start playing tennis until she was 28. She soon discovered she was extremely adept at the sport and pursued her talent wholeheartedly. Four years later, her focus and hard work paid off when she was awarded a scholarship to play at the University of West Florida, where she spent four years perfecting her game and earning a degree in physical education. She stayed on with the school after graduation as an assistant coach for the UWF tennis squad.
Now, as of August 11, 2011, Broxson is the new director of tennis at Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort, replacing 26-year veteran tennis director Myke Loomis, whom Broxson has worked with as head professional of Hidden Dunes tennis for six years.
The owners and guests of the resort have come to expect a tradition of great tennis professionals and the best assistance both on and off the courts, and Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, the managing real estate company of Hidden Dunes, believes Broxson is the perfect replacement to uphold that tradition wonderfully.
“Everyone is sad to see Myke go,” says Jeanne Dailey, owner and co-founder of Newman-Dailey, “but this is a great opportunity for a fresh start and we know Renee will be perfect for the job. The Hidden Dunes owners and guests already know her very well, and many have personally reached out to us and recommended Renee for the position. She has such a love of people and is a great coach.”
This past spring, Broxson was awarded a spot in the University of West Florida Hall of Fame for her sportsmanship and leadership throughout her career as a tennis player and coach. She was also featured in the June 2011 issue of Tennis Life Magazine.
In addition to coaching the UWF team, Broxson worked as director of tennis at the Pensacola Country Club and head professional at WaterColor Resort in Santa Rosa Beach before coming on as Hidden Dunes’ head professional in May 2005.
Broxson is excited to be in charge of a tennis center whose comprehensive program “always meets expectations and often exceeds them.” Broxson says the tennis center will have an “unswerving focus on continued improvement” and will always focus on service first.
“I am as passionate about these goals as I was about learning how to play tennis at an older age,” Broxson says. “We have the right people on board; everyone is focused on service and continued improvement.”