A 2021 International Tennis Hall of Famer, Dennis was the founder of the Professional Tennis Registry Foundation (PTR Foundation), now called Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Foundation, Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), and the Van Der Meer Tennis University.

The legendary coach was known worldwide as the “Teacher of teachers,” for his innovative teaching and coaching techniques. He conceptualized the ‘Standard Teaching Method’. He kept moving with the times, and recognized the fundamental method of teaching tennis has to be consistent but not without modifications.

Dennis has received numerous awards for teaching and coaching:

• “Olympic Developmental Coach of the Year” in 1997
• An honorary doctorate from the University of Greenwich, England
• Inducted into the following USTA Hall of Fames- S.Carolina, Southern, N. California.
• Inaugural Inductee into the TIA Hall of Fame (2008)

Hilton Head Island has long been celebrated for its natural beauty and resort lifestyle — But Dennis Van der Meer changed its very character, adding sport to the soul of this island. Enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, his journey from Namibia to California ultimately led him to these shores, where he built a tennis empire that put Hilton Head on the global sporting map and gave the island an identity that endures to this day.

Hilton Head Island is home to the Professional Tennis Registry, founded by Dennis in 1976 and now the world’s largest tennis teaching organization with over 16,300 members in 125 countries. By hosting the PTR International Symposium in February or September, he eliminated the off-season, bringing over 400 coaches from Norway to Italy, Australia to Zimbabwe, Brazil to Japan — filling hotels, restaurants, and shops. Spring Fest, introduced by Dennis, has brought hundreds of collegiate athletes to the island every March and April for 25 years. Tennis became a pillar of the island’s identity and livelihood.

Nearly every tennis teaching professional on this island was shaped, directly or  indirectly, by Dennis Van der Meer — and that domino effect transformed Hilton Head visitors across generations. The Van der Meer Tennis Center — anchored by the only indoor tennis courts on the island — became a year-round economic engine. Players from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast chose Hilton Head over Florida season after season. Many came for a clinic, fell in love, bought property, and settled here. At the Van der Meer Academy, junior players train to become collegiate and professional competitors, and their families often purchase second homes on the island to stay closer to their kids. And that tradition continues today.

Dennis was a pioneer of inclusive tennis long before adaptive sports gained recognition. By establishing clinics and tournaments for Wheelchair and Special Olympics athletes, he opened the game to those who had never been invited to play. For more than 15 years, these programs have brought athletes, families, and supporters to the island, shining a national spotlight on Hilton Head as a destination that welcomes everyone. The North American Special Olympics Tennis National Championship, founded by Dennis, on this island, continues to thrive today.

Dennis became one of the first registered coaches of both the ATP and WTA and has coached hundreds of nationally and internationally ranked professional and junior players throughout his career, including World champions in singles and doubles. He served as coach for both Billie Jean King and Margaret Court for the landmark “Battle of the Sexes” in the 70’s. 

A believer in the concept of tennis for everyone, Dennis developed courses and manuals for teaching wheelchair tennis and adaptive techniques. Dennis always had an uncanny knack for finding the best, most efficient way to help players reach their maximum potential, a trait he imparted to all professionals over his long career.