About Us
Our Mission
We are a community-focused pickleball club dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for players of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Our mission is to grow the sport of pickleball by supporting both recreational and competitive play, and by offering meaningful opportunities for skill development, connection, and fun.
We do this through organized tournaments, ladder leagues, beginner instruction, and clinics for player growth. We also partner with city and county governments to improve and maintain local courts, and we host social gatherings that strengthen our community off the court.
Whether you're picking up a paddle for the first time or competing at a high level, we strive to create a positive, active, and social space where everyone can enjoy the game, build friendships, and benefit from the health and wellness that pickleball brings.
Our Vision
To be a vibrant, inclusive hub for pickleball in our region—where people of all ages and abilities come together to play, grow, and connect through a shared love of the game.
Our Core Values
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Inclusivity – We welcome all players, regardless of age, skill level, or background.
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Community – We build meaningful relationships on and off the court.
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Sportsmanship – We value respect, fairness, and fun in all levels of play.
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Growth – We support personal improvement through education and competitive opportunities.
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Health & Well-being – We promote physical activity, mental wellness, and lifelong play.
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Partnership – We collaborate with local organizations to strengthen and support the pickleball community.
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Board of Directors
Our History
Our History
When you visit the beautiful pickleball courts at Mulligan's Hollow, it’s hard to imagine they haven’t always been here. But before 2012, this space was home to aging, cracked tennis courts in desperate need of repair.
At the time, the Ottawa County Road Commission struck a deal with the City of Grand Haven: they would rebuild the tennis courts if they could use the site to stage their trucks and heavy equipment during a nearby road construction project. That partnership paved the way—literally—for something much more exciting.
Although pickleball was invented in the Pacific Northwest back in the 1960s, it was just starting to gain traction along the lakeshore. Grand Haven residents Pete Walters, Joe Leggets, and a small group of friends had discovered the sport and were playing regularly on the old tennis courts at Lakeshore Middle School and Spring Lake’s Central Park. It didn’t take long for them to realize how fun, social, and active pickleball was—and how much potential it had.
They formed the Lakeshore Pickleball Club (LPC) with just 35 members, united by a shared goal: to grow and support the sport in our community.
When Pete and Joe learned about the new tennis courts planned for Mulligan’s Hollow, they saw an opportunity—and they took it. While the city wasn’t immediately sold on the idea of dedicated pickleball courts, Pete, Joe, and others who had fallen in love with the game were persistent. Their efforts paid off, and construction began in the spring of 2012. By October of that year, the new courts were officially open—and pickleball had a permanent home in Grand Haven.
By the following summer, LPC had grown to more than 100 members.
Building a Community
Today, Lakeshore Pickleball Club has over 400 members and continues to thrive—thanks to the dedication of its players, volunteers, and board members. Over the years, LPC dues and donations have funded countless improvements at Mulligan’s Hollow, including:
LPC is proud not just of its courts, but of its community outreach. Since 2016, club volunteers have introduced hundreds of new players to the game through free Tuesday night sessions at Mulligan’s Hollow and twice-monthly sessions at the YMCA during the indoor season.
In 2017, the Northwest Ottawa Recreation Authority (NORA) partnered with LPC to offer after-school pickleball programs for students from elementary through high school.
LPC also runs the annual Coast Guard Festival Tournament, sponsored by the Coast Guard Festival Committee and staffed entirely by club volunteers. Our ladder leagues, court maintenance, and community events all depend on the hard work of volunteers and our all-volunteer board.
To everyone who gives their time, energy, and support—thank you.
You are the heart of Lakeshore Pickleball Club, and without you, none of this would be possible. Together, we’ve built something truly special. ~Carrie Rodgers, President, 2020-2024, Board Member 2013-2024
