Traverse City Tennis & Pickleball Pros
Local Tennis & Pickleball Pros
Connecting players with Traverse City's top instructors, directors, and certified professionals across the area's premier facilities.
Dane Fosgard is the owner and head pro at TC Tennis Academy, Traverse City's dedicated local tennis instruction resource. With deep expertise in racquet fitting, string selection, and player development, Dane works with players of all skill levels — from beginners picking up a racquet for the first time to competitive tournament athletes. Customers consistently praise his ability to quickly assess a player's style and match them with the right equipment and coaching approach. The academy offers private lessons, demo racquets on a week-long trial basis, professional stringing services, and a full inventory of top-brand gear. Dane and his team have become the essential tennis resource for Northern Michigan.
George Lowe is a USPTA and PTR certified tennis professional with over 16 years of industry experience. A Kalamazoo College graduate and former ranked junior player in the Pacific Northwest, George served as Michigan Tennis Service Representative for the USTA Midwest Section before joining Grand Traverse Resort. He was named USPTA Midwest Michigan State Pro of the Year in 2018 and USPTA Midwest Large Facility Manager of the Year in 2020. At the Resort, George oversees all programming at one of the Midwest's top tennis complexes — including a high-performance junior program, twice-weekly Cardio Tennis clinics, "Three and Me" doubles sessions, and a full calendar of adult leagues and drop-in drills open to resort guests.
Juan Guerra serves as Head Pro at The Club at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, working alongside Tennis Director George Lowe to deliver high-quality instruction for members and resort guests. A USPTA/PTR certified professional, Juan leads private lessons, group clinics, and competitive drill sessions for players across all levels. His coaching focuses on technique refinement and match-play strategy. Book a lesson with Juan through the Health Club desk — a 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all private lessons.
Johnny Mellin is an Assistant Pro at The Club at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, contributing to the instruction team under the direction of George Lowe and Juan Guerra. Johnny supports private lessons, junior programming, and group clinics across the resort's 9-court complex. He is available for private instruction — book through the Health Club desk with 24-hour advance notice required for cancellations.
Arin Enge serves as Director of Tennis at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA, overseeing a robust and inclusive tennis program at one of the region's most community-centered facilities. Under Arin's leadership, the Y offers programming for all ages and skill levels — youth camps, middle and high school clinics, beginner through advanced adult drills, cardio tennis, and doubles strategy sessions. The YMCA's certified instructors create a welcoming, skill-building environment that sets it apart as a destination for players seeking both development and community. Arin can be reached directly at the email below.
Mark Fries brings a lifetime of racquet sport expertise to the pickleball court. A multi-sport athlete through high school and college, Mark earned his degree in Education at Central Michigan University and went on to teach in Michigan classrooms for 30 years. Alongside his teaching career he built an accomplished tennis coaching résumé — serving as a professional instructor at the Deer Lake Racket Club and Head Tennis Professional at the Bloomfield Open Hunt, before joining the Grand Traverse Resort team as a tennis and pickleball instructor. Mark earned his PPR certification in 2022 and brings his decades of teaching experience to Pickle U, combining a passion for sports with an educator's gift for developing players of every level.
Mike Rubino's athletic background spans soccer, wrestling, and tennis — sports he pursued from youth through his time at Michigan State University. After moving to Traverse City in 2005, he remained active in competitive tennis and spent years mentoring both the TC Central girls' and boys' varsity tennis teams. Mike discovered pickleball in 2019 and was immediately captivated by the sense of community and joy the game fosters across generations. He earned his PPR certification in early 2023 with the goal of sharing that joy with players of all ages and backgrounds. An avid outdoorsman, Mike can often be found mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, or kayaking the Great Lakes with his family when he's not on the court.