Rouge Park Golf Course

We played at 10:48am in the morning. Really no people in front of us due to it being a week day. Course is in descent shape considering it was mostly under water due to rains a month or so earlier.

Some of the greens have a disease on them. The cart paths could use some repairs and are extremely bumpy. One path had water over it and there was a big hole in it causing water to fly and the riders up to the ceiling.

Overall the course is challenging and narrow on several holes.

Located on the west side, in the heart city, is Detroit's 'best' golf course: Rouge Park Golf. This historic beauty opened in 1923, and the classic design features small undulating greens, hilly terrain, meandering streams and creeks, mature woodlands, and thick bushes. The fairways are narrow on most holes, however there are several holes where the fairways run parallel to one another and a bad shot can still result in par. There is an abundance of wildlife on the course including deer, pheasants, and hawks just to name a few. The Rouge River runs throughout the golf course with water coming into play on 8 holes. Rouge Park Golf Course is popular for league play and a favorite among women.

     This 18 hole championship golf course is a par 72 course, with three sets of tee boxes. The course is short in length measuring only 6325 yds from the back tees with a slope rating of 70.3/ 130. The women's tees measure 5868 in length  with a slope rating of 67.8/ 118. Most men were playing the middle tees which has a slope rating at 6083 yds and 69.3/ 124 in slope. What the course lacks in length it makes up for in difficulty.  It had rained earlier in the day I played Rouge Park Golf Course and had stopped by the time I reached the course. Due to the course being wet, I opted to the middle tees until I reached the first tee box. My pride and handicap dictated that I play the Back tees (I am a 12 hdcp). The course does not have a driving range but there is one right across the street from the course. The pro shop is small and nothing fancy, still it does have most of the basic things you might need for golfing. After checking in I was off to the tenth tee, (we started on the back nine) with no warm up and a straight away 495 yd, par 5. Special note, I grew up in Detroit and Rouge Park Golf Course was a pleasure to play. It's been twenty years since I last played Rouge Park, and I was looking forward my homecoming. Needless to say the course was in bad shape, the grass on the tee box was long and I felt like I was hitting out of the rough. The rough was so long that it required an 8 minute search when the ball was less than 10 feet off the fairway and it was almost impossible to advance your ball more than 100 yards. The greens were slower than what I am used to playing and felt as if they were running about 8 on a stimp meter.  The course had standing water in several spots and did not drain well after several hours. I tried to make the best of my day, but it was painful.

     The course layout is beautiful, there are several signature holes that you will remember and talk about. A good example is hole #11, which is a 442 yd, dogleg right, par 4. The hole is heavily wooded with thich brush on the right side of the fairway and a few trees on the left, with a couple of fairway bunkers. This hole requires a straight 270 yd drive from the back tees just to reach the dogleg. The next shot is over thick brush that drops 70 feet and must a clear narrow Rouge River before hitting the fairway or green. You cannot see the dogleg from the tee box but you will remember it. My favorite hole is #7. It's a short, 125 yd, par 3 with a shot over water and marsh to a 75 ft, elevated green. From the tee box you can see only the flag stick and the marsh on a steep sloping hill fronting the green. Again, the course has lots of character, but it was just in heart breaking condition.

     I notice that Rouge Park Golf Course has a lot of loyal fans and die hard golfers. The atmosphere at the course was lively, but for me it was painful, because I have played several public courses in better condition and more picturesque. I trust that Detroit will restore the aesthetics of this Old Glory, and make Rouge Park Golf Course the pride and joy that it once was. I like the layout of the course, but in its current condition I hesitate to recommend it for play.

Hbell (Golf Enthusiast/ Freelance Writer)

Visited:

14May2018

Detroit, Michigan

After the change of ownership this course is making strides to getting better.

I always enjoy the 5 par 5 and 5 par 3 layout. Pace of play really varies on the time and day. Not much of a clubhouse but they're friendly enough. Greens on the slow side. Holes 1 and 11 are definitely the biggest challenges

Had a good day on the course! Grounds Keepers where working hard to fix up the course!

Course changed hands in the off season. It’s obvious the new management hasn’t kept up with the times. The conditions were wet as expected with the weather but the course was in disrepair. The greens were great but tee boxes and fairways were not mowed. No monuments in place as in precious years. Too bad I’ve always loved to play this course in the past.

The Tee Box were 5 in of Cross High you could not see your tea very disappointed.

Seems like a grasshopper being caught in 3 weeks

From your drive into the course, you certainly wouldn’t expect to find such a great course. This course has an incredible staff that is friendly, helpful and accommodating. The course is very well kept and the grounds crew is very polite when you are getting ready to hit.

I grew up in the area and Rouge was the first course I played, 40 years later it's a course I still play regularly. I course itself is generally in great shape. Great variety of holes, river crossings and elevation changes. Very fair rates. Small Donald Ross greens, you easily short side your shots.

Been through some difficult and management changes over the years I suspect. Small photographically old club house circa 1920,s. Course could be fantastic with newer amenities and facilities i.e. Restrooms, cart path improvements, new wood fencing along holes and improved hole signage. Bunkers could use alittle more sand. Nevertheless I'll be back!

Course in good shape for a municipal course. Bunkers lacking sand. Very courteous staff. No rangers to help keep pace of play. Course has lots of blind shots and left turning holes. No beverage carts and water coolers are spread far between holes. Would recommend play on a week day if you get a hot deal.

A few upgrades could be made on the cart paths, bunkers & tee boxes but otherwise it's in great shape.

Although this course is very playable there are a few holes that have you wondering where to hit your tee shot. Completely blind shots require your need to play here more than once to figure out the layout. Number 9 is uphill that flattens out on top so no idea were landing area is. Also low ball hitters will never clear the hazard in front of them on this hole. 8 is a blind green on a par three were all that was visible was the top of the flag. The course was in good shape for city with limited funds. Hackers, Bring lots of balls!

Pretty nice course.. just not so organized.. people playing whichever hole they like in no order..tee time was at 330.. played the front nine nice and smooth.. then the back 9 there was a league of 60 to jump in. got congested in the evening. But if that wasn't the case it would have been great.. the course itself is nice and challenging.

l love the course, had a great deal of fun think how I was going to play the different holes, Putting on the sloped greens was great. The traps needed to be work-up but you could still play out of them; most courses in the area you can not play out of.

While I enjoyed the course's natural aesthetics it also caused me to lose several balls in that natural forestry.