How USTA Tennis Venue Services helped restore a legendary destination

Hilton Head Island, S.C., holds a storied place in the growth of tennis in the U.S., and internationally. A major part of that history is because, since the 1970s, Hilton Head Island has been the home of Van Der Meer Tennis and legendary coach Dennis Van der Meer.

A longtime destination for those looking to improve their games, and for teaching pros looking to hone their skills, the activity at Van Der Meer Tennis takes place at two major facilities: the Van Der Meer Tennis Center, with 14 hard courts (four are covered and lighted) and the Van Der Meer Shipyard Resort, with 13 outdoor Har-Tru courts (five with lights) and seven outdoor hard courts, along with three indoor hard courts.

Sadly, the tennis world lost Dennis Van der Meer in 2019, but his wife, Pat, and dedicated VDM employees and volunteers continue his legacy. Recently, with the consultation of the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services department, improvements were made to the indoor facility at VDM Shipyard, and assessments were made for future work on the outdoor courts.

“Dennis Van der Meer, being the visionary he was, viewed the Shipyard Racquet Club as a potential teaching, educational and training facility for adult tennis clinics as well as an academy,” says former USTA President Lucy Garvin, a South Carolina resident and former facility manager herself. “In 1993, Dennis purchased the Shipyard Club and this vision became a reality. Now, Pat is continuing with Dennis’s vision.”

Last year, Garvin, Pat Van der Meer and USTA TVS Director Todd Carlson toured Shipyard to see what work was needed.

“One thing that had to happen was a renovation of the indoor courts,” says Pat Van der Meer. “We talked about what we needed to do to bring the indoor building back to its original beautiful state.”

The first phase of work involved installing new LED lighting and a new, reflective ceiling for the indoor building, along with resurfacing the three courts.