PTR Partners With Major Tennis Club Groups Life Time, Midtown, Sportime
February 21, 2023
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Feb. 20, 2023) — The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals and USTA’s only accredited certification organization, has signed formal partnership agreements with three of the largest tennis club groups in the U.S. to enhance the education of tennis teaching pros and coaches.
Agreements with Life Time, Midtown Athletic Clubs, and Sportime were recently announced by PTR President and CEO Dan Santorum at the PTR Annual Meeting, which was held during the PTR International Tennis Symposium in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
“These exciting partnerships, with three of the largest tennis club groups in the United States, are a monumental move forward to improve tennis teaching certification in our industry,” Santorum said. He added that the PTR “has another verbal commitment and is in conversations with other large tennis club groups in the expectation of signing partnership agreements with them, too.”
With the new agreements, Life Time, Midtown, and Sportime will hold PTR educational events at their partner clubs, and all tennis pros at their facilities will be PTR certified.
“Midtown looks at this partnership as a way to improve the knowledge and skill of our tennis coaches,” said Butch Staples, National Racquet Sports Director for Midtown Athletic Clubs, based in Chicago. “Ultimately, this enhanced knowledge will benefit our members, our clubs, and the game of tennis.”
“We view this partnership with PTR as an integral part of our business model moving forward,” said Mike Barrell, Executive Director of Tennis at Sportime Clubs, based in New York. “Having all of our pros PTR certified will show our commitment to our players and the ongoing career development of our 200-plus coaches.”
“There are so many positives to our partnership with PTR,” said Ajay Pant, Vice President of Racquet Sports at Life Time, based in Chanhassen, Minn. “We welcome this opportunity to supplement our commitment to continuing education for our tennis professionals.”
“PTR is thrilled to partner with such an incredible group of tennis clubs,” noted PTR Board Chairman Lynne Rolley. “The experiences that PTR provides to coaches will have a major, positive impact on the tennis industry and will help to improve the health and wellness of players throughout the country. The PTR is truly making a world of difference.”