Rod Heckelman

      Rod Heckelman’s career started in 1966 the summer after his junior year in high school

when he began his five-year role as a teacher at John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch in Carmel

Valley, Calif. Later he opened as the resident pro for Gardiner's Tennis Ranch on Camelback

in Scottsdale, Ariz. At 20 years of age, he was one of the youngest pros to be the Head Pro

at what some considered one of the top tennis resorts in the world.

       In 1976 he made his way back to his home state of California, where he took over as Head Pro/Tennis Director at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club in Larkspur. He added the title

and responsibilities of General Manager in 1982.  Rod published an instructional manual in 1992 for tennis teachers to use with their students called “Down Your Alley,” and just came out with another instructional book designed for senior players called “Playing Into the Sunset.” His “Facility Manager’s Manual” has been excerpted in Racquet Sports Industry magazine and is now available digitally through the Tennis Industry Association for managers and clubs to use as a model for operating their businesses. More recently he added “The Tennis Pro’s Business Handbook,” to that manual, also being published by T.I.A. In 2010 he was awarded “Manager of the Year” for the USPTA NorCal division and later announced by the USPTA and the “Manager of the Year” at the World Conference.  Rod travels the country lecturing to fellow pros about management skills and helping them transition into management.  Rod continues to expand his knowledge on all aspects of the tennis business, and he is a frequent presenter at industry events throughout the country.