Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort Racquet & Paddle Sports Lessons and Clinics
Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort, 25039 Tame Fish Lake Road, Deerwood, MN 56444
About
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort Racquet & Paddle Sports Lessons and Clinics offers tennis, pickleball, and other racquet sports on multiple courts. The program includes private, semi-private, and group lessons for both tennis and pickleball, along with weekly clinics for each sport. Participants can also take part in cardio tennis, tennis tournaments, pickleball tournaments, friendly pickleball tournaments, pickleball round robins, and team building programs.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort Racquet & Paddle Sports Lessons and Clinics is led by Racquet and Paddle Sports Head Pro Tracy Kennedy. Tracy Kennedy grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area, began playing tennis at 12 years old, was a Regional Champion and top ten state competitor for Brainerd High School, and played on the University of Minnesota tennis team. He is a certified tennis and pickleball professional and has taught and coached adult and junior players from local communities in central Minnesota since 2018. After earning a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, he entered the US Air Force Space Launch Programs, managed satellite and rocket systems, and led engineering and scientific teams through the development and launch of 23 space-based US National Security and international projects, including serving as a founding Launch Director of a commercial satellite launch company that used Russian rockets.
The program follows the mission, “As we develop the athlete’s technical skills for the game, we also develop their decision making and leadership skills for life.” Tracy Kennedy describes continuing a long Ruttger tradition and bringing new life to the courts, and notes that pickleball is a cross-generational sport designed to level the playing field so young kids can play with their grandparents and less-skilled players can play with more advanced players. He reports that friendly pickleball tournaments and round robins are used for families and coworkers, and that pickleball has been especially popular and fun for large families, reunions, and company retreats at the resort. He also states that the program is being built so players can come for cardio tennis, sign up for both tennis and pickleball tournaments, and take lessons for skill development.
In testimonials, Tracy Kennedy recalls seeing Jack Ruttger regularly on the courts as an avid tennis enthusiast who played doubles with locals and guests. He states that for people who are apprehensive or say they are not athletic, he tells them he can have them playing in 15 to 30 minutes, and that within an hour they know the rules, are hitting the ball over the net, and are having fun. He explains that lessons use drills and skills to focus on components and technique so players see immediate improvements in their game, and he notes that a pickleball clinic at the resort has had as many as 32 people sign up for an introduction to the game. Another testimonial from Connie and Gerry states, “We've traveled all over the world and Ruttger's is one of our favorite places to come home to.”
Last updated February 22, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort Racquet & Paddle Sports Lessons and Clinics is led by Racquet and Paddle Sports Head Pro Tracy Kennedy. Tracy Kennedy grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area, began playing tennis at 12 years old, was a Regional Champion and top ten state competitor for Brainerd High School, and played on the University of Minnesota tennis team. He is a certified tennis and pickleball professional and has taught and coached adult and junior players from local communities in central Minnesota since 2018. After earning a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, he entered the US Air Force Space Launch Programs, managed satellite and rocket systems, and led engineering and scientific teams through the development and launch of 23 space-based US National Security and international projects, including serving as a founding Launch Director of a commercial satellite launch company that used Russian rockets.
The program follows the mission, “As we develop the athlete’s technical skills for the game, we also develop their decision making and leadership skills for life.” Tracy Kennedy describes continuing a long Ruttger tradition and bringing new life to the courts, and notes that pickleball is a cross-generational sport designed to level the playing field so young kids can play with their grandparents and less-skilled players can play with more advanced players. He reports that friendly pickleball tournaments and round robins are used for families and coworkers, and that pickleball has been especially popular and fun for large families, reunions, and company retreats at the resort. He also states that the program is being built so players can come for cardio tennis, sign up for both tennis and pickleball tournaments, and take lessons for skill development.
In testimonials, Tracy Kennedy recalls seeing Jack Ruttger regularly on the courts as an avid tennis enthusiast who played doubles with locals and guests. He states that for people who are apprehensive or say they are not athletic, he tells them he can have them playing in 15 to 30 minutes, and that within an hour they know the rules, are hitting the ball over the net, and are having fun. He explains that lessons use drills and skills to focus on components and technique so players see immediate improvements in their game, and he notes that a pickleball clinic at the resort has had as many as 32 people sign up for an introduction to the game. Another testimonial from Connie and Gerry states, “We've traveled all over the world and Ruttger's is one of our favorite places to come home to.”
Last updated February 22, 2026.
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