News

Hilton Head Island, SC — After lengthy discussions with the USPTA and the USTA, the PTR Board believes its members will best be served by continuing to remain an independent global organization of tennis teaching professionals. PTR intends to fully support the USTA’s vision of increasing the education criteria for teaching pros in the United States.

With almost 10,000 members in the United States and nearly 6,000 international members, PTR is committed to growing the game of tennis by offering world class and accredited coach education. PTR offers more than 1,000 hours of face-to-face and online education for coaches to improve their knowledge and understanding of teaching and coaching tennis.

“Tennis truly is a global sport. One of the benefits of PTR’s global scope is that we are able to garner knowledge from tennis coaches around the world, and use this knowledge to better educate our teaching professionals,” said Dan Santorum, PTR CEO. “In addition to offering quality education, PTR’s distinguished track record of dedication and improvement to diversity in coaching tennis will continue to progress, thus helping USTA meet one of its key priorities.”

PTR President, Roy Barth stated, “PTR is committed to improving tennis in the United States and looks forward to working closely with the USTA and the USPTA in achieving this goal. To this end, it is the intention of PTR to establish an office in Lake Nona, Florida, where the USTA’s outstanding training and educational facilities are located. Thus, enabling PTR’s staff and members to work closely with both USPTA and USTA. Moving forward teaching professionals will continue to have the choice of which organization to meet their professional needs.

“PTR will continue to strive to fulfill Dennis Van der Meer’s vision of educating individuals to become teaching professionals, who, in turn, will grow the game by sharing their knowledge and expertise with players of all levels. It is impossible to measure the impact Dennis and PTR have had over the last 40 plus years! There is no doubt they have contributed to growing the game from the recreational to the professional level by an incalculable amount. PTR will work diligently to continue to accomplish this mission.”

President Barth added, “Over the last several months of discussion with both the USPTA and the USTA, I believe we have forged a stronger understanding and respect for each of our organizations. I look forward to working together in the best interest and good of our sport.”

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 15,700 members in 125 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.