Delray of sunshine

Peter Rickman laps up sporting adventures on Palm Beaches

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Variety, as they say, is the spice of life and that is certainly true of The Palm Beaches in Florida.

Glorious sunshine in winter, gourmet food, amazing hotels, a topflight tennis tournament, posh polo, history and snorkelling...

And I am lucky enough to experience them all in just a week.

Located along Florida's southeast coast, around 90 miles north of Miami and 200 miles south of Orlando, The Palm Beaches comprises 39 very different towns and cities.

The region's name was inspired by a shipwreck, of all things. In 1878 The Providencia, a cargo ship transporting 20,000 coconuts, ran aground off the coast near what would eventually become the town of Palm Beach.

Coconut palms grew from the cargo and Florida's famous palm tree-lined coast was born.

My trip to The Palm Beaches begins in the upmarket town of Delray Beach, seemingly populated exclusively by athletic-looking people gourmet kebabs among other things, including the melt-in the mouth Wagyu steak. Every meal is topped off with the obligatory huge dessert.

The main reason I'm here is to watch the Delray Beach Open Championship at the resort's Tennis Center. It's an elite tournament whose past winners include current world number four Taylor Fritz and British number two Cameron Norrie.

After yet more fabulous food at the all-you-can-eat Championship Brunch - sushi, steak, pasta, seafood, freshly made omelettes, bottomless bloody Marys and mimosas - I'm lucky enough to watch Norrie play up-and-coming American Alex Michelsen in the 28C sunshine.