News

Hilton Head Island, SC — Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) presented its annual awards this week during the 2011 PTR International Tennis Symposium. The event, which includes 50-plus on court and classroom presentations for tennis teachers and coaches, a tennis trade show and tournament is being held February 18-24, 2011, at PTR Headquarters on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Butch Staples, of Chicago, Illinois, was presented PTR’s coveted Professional of the Year Award.

A PTR Master Professional and Charter Member, Staples is no stranger to awards. He was named PTR State Member of the Year for Illinois in 2008, Tester of the Year in 2009, and Clinician of the Year in 2010. In January, Racquet Sports Industry Magazine named Staples one of two Junior Tennis Champions of the Year, and he was the first ever USTA RCW Trainer of the Year.

Currently, Staples is Head Pro at Midtown Tennis Club, where he manages a staff of 34 pros and teaches 35 hours a week, and is Head Coach at the USTA Regional Training Center. He is a USTA National Trainer for QuickStart and USTA Schools Workshops, and serves on the Cardio Tennis Speakers Team.

He organized the largest Cardio Tennis event ever with 186 beginners and novice players on 18 courts. An early proponent of QuickStart Tennis, Staples organized a demonstration at the 2009 Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and during the quarter finals matches at Cincinnati and Arthur Ashe Kids Day.

Staples has been a presenter at the PTR International Tennis Symposium and USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. He has been teaching tennis since 1974, and holds a Masters degree in Physical Education.

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 14,000 members in 121 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.