June 20 • 2019 19
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ustomers will be pleased to know that the cutting-
edge apparel, footwear and equipment, and top-
notch service they’ve long enjoyed at The Tennis & 
Golf Company are continuing under new ownership. 
For 42 years, including 20 in Royal Oak, founder David 
Schwartz “built a fine company with a reputation for 
quality and service that spread far beyond the local area,” 
said customer Steve Gold of Huntington Woods.
Schwartz sold his spacious 18,000-square-foot store 
to experienced sporting-goods retailers Steve Kopitz and 
Andy Schepper. The partners started on May 1, pledging 
to improve upon the best aspects of The Tennis & Golf 
Company.
“This location is the largest specialty tennis shop in the 
Midwest and one of the top five in the country,” Kopitz 
said. For 25 years he owned Summit Sports, with several 
area locations, including Don Thomas Sporthaus, in 
Birmingham. 
Kopitz, after selling his company, retired in 2016 and 
was living part-time in Naples, Fla., when presented with 
the opportunity to purchase The Tennis & Golf Company. 
“I wasn’t looking to get into another business, but I 
couldn’t see letting it go,” he said.
Schepper, the CEO of The Tennis & Golf Company, 
worked with Kopitz at Summit Sports for more than 
20 years. Given his expertise in e-commerce, Schepper 
is building Tennis & Golf’s first internet business. The 
website tennisracquets.com will launch later this year. 
Schepper is on premises at the store while Kopitz plans to 
work in more of a “strategic capacity.”
Red letters spell out the Tennis & Golf name on the 
building on the west side of Woodward between 12 and 
13 Mile roads. The extra-large store features a “shop 
within a shop” feel with knowledgeable, experienced 
sales staff in every department.
A unique feature of the store is the 20’ x 70’ “hitting 
lane,” where a ball machine shoots tennis balls from the 
far wall. With “Demo Racquets” for virtually every model 
sold, customers can try out any racquet they like. “Why 
would you buy a racquet without trying it first?” Kopitz 
asked. “Your body will tell you which one is right.”
With the largest selection of tennis racquets in the 
Midwest, customers can choose from brands including 
Wilson, Head, Babolat and Volkl. Trained staff will fit 

customers with the right grip and recommend the best 
strings and tension for their style of play. The Tennis & 
Golf Company can also service players of racquetball, 
badminton, squash and the increasingly popular 
pickleball.
Racquets are custom-strung the same day, and often 
while customers wait. This time of year, with 50-100 
requests daily, “our five stringing machines go non-stop,” 
Kopitz said.
Sports lifestyle merchandise, with a focus on tennis 
and golf attire, arrives daily at the store, which has a 
longstanding reputation for stocking hot, niche brands. 
It continues to offer the best in that category as well as 
introducing new manufacturers. In menswear, look for 
names like Travis Matthew, Mizzen+Main, Devereux, 
Polo RLX and Chase 54. Popular national brands are 
also available, including Nike, Puma, Adidas and Under 
Armour.
Fashion companies catering to women include Polo 
Golf, Daily Sports, Lucky in Love, GG Blue, Nivo, Bolle 
and Belyn Key — to name a few. Oliver Thomas makes a 
line of lightweight, stylish quilted bags. A large collection 
of sport bras is displayed near the six women’s dressing 
rooms.
The Kids selection includes junior racquets, shoes, 
apparel and golf equipment. Adidas, Puma, Nike and Fila 
are some of the clothing brands for boys and girls. 
More than 150 models of athletic shoes for all ages are 
stocked. The shoes for tennis, running and golf include 
such brands as Adidas, Nike, Footjoy, New Balance and 
Wilson. Featured designer brand sunglasses include Maui 
Jim and Oakley.
With all the new merchandise arriving daily, customers 
will find discounts of 50 percent or more 
in the store’s clearance room of still-fresh brand 
name designer items.
“Every Day is a Sale” at The Tennis & Golf Company, 
and store members save even more on their purchases. 
Members get up to 25 percent off everyday prices, plus 
exclusive monthly specials and a $20 birthday credit. A 
one-year membership costs $39.
The Tennis & Golf Company offers Sunday hours and 
stays open later during the week. Shop Monday-Thursday, 
10-8; Friday, 10-5; Saturday, 9-5; and Sunday, 11-5. 

Tennis & Golf Company

30211 Woodward

Royal Oak, MI 48073

(248) 435-6800

mytennisandgolf.com

Esther Allweiss Ingber | Contributing Writer

Photos by Derrick Martinez

— ADVERTORIAL —

Tennis & Golf Company partners 
Steve Kopitz and Andy Schepper

Serving Up Top-Notch Services

Pro-Shop services
The Tennis & Golf Company offers a vareity of sportswear.

