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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
337 Reviews (337)
5 Stars
71
4 Stars
135
3 Stars
65
2 Stars
38
1 Stars
28
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.3
78.6%
Recommend this course
243 out of 337 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.6
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
63.6%
Recommend this course
7 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
51 Reviews (51)
5 Stars
19
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.5
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.6
86.3%
Recommend this course
44 out of 51 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Rackham's Donald Ross-designed layout delivers large, undulating greens and a challenging back nine that rewards skilled golfers. Exceptionally friendly staff and strong value make this historic Detroit-area course a standout public option.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 71
Length 6555 yards
Slope 129
Rating 71.6
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Rackham Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1923
Fairways Bent/Poa Grass
Greens Bent/Poa Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Donald Ross (1923) Jerry Matthews Ray Hearn (2017) Bruce Hepner (1993)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2019 #13)
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Reviews

3.8
337 Reviews (337)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 16
Undulating Greens 8
Thick Rough 7
This course/club is great for:
Locals 18
Walkers 10
Beginners 8
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 19
In the 'Burbs 6
Near Local Attractions 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

It was okay

Overall course was not bad, fairly easy to stay out of trouble regardless of which side of the fairway you favor. The course itself is fairly flat from teebox to green. But don’t let that fool you the greens are tough with lots of movement. They did solve the drainage problem that I had seen in previous reviews.

The thing to be weary of is time. They do not enforce pace of play. If you are trying to make a quick round of golf this course will likely not support that unless you’re the first one off the blocks. The group we were stuck behind were painstakingly slow. The marshals are out on the course but not once did they talk to the group about their speed or lack of speed. Even after seeing our foursome stand on multiple tee boxes for twenty minutes waiting to take tee shots. Now if you don’t care about it taking 5.5 hours to play 18 holes then this does not apply.

The only other thing that bothered me was the greens keeping, while the greens were green and clearly taken care of, every single green had so much cut grass on it you had to pick clean and place your ball after every shot just because of how many clippings would cling to your ball. But if you don’t mind doing that it’s a non issue as well.

Overall, for its location and ease to get to from the metro Detroit area and the price I would play again. I would recommend either playing earlier than 8:00 if pace of play is something that concerns you. The course hotdogs were also good and a pleasant surprise at the turn!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Day of Golf

This is a course that is near a lot of people and it was crowded in the morning. Not a big surprise on a beautiful day.

Staff very friendly especially Will the starter. Very helpful as well. Course was in great shape. Much improved from years past.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Sunday family outing

I have never golfed here. I was pleasantly surprised by the good condition of the course. My recollection from driving by the course years ago is that it looked flat and the grass seemed a bit brown. The course to me has very long holes. I do not drive the ball far so I would prefer more of a break on the shorter holes. The grass, fairways and greens were very healthy. The ground was a bit bumpy in a cart at times. Overall very nice. I loved the architecture of the clubhouse. I would like to see upgrades though to the bathrooms. They look very aged and a bit rundown.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Donald Ross course that plays like one. The back nine is in its original state. First four holes were shortened when the freeway was built.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fast pace of play

We golfed on a hot day. The greens were exceedingly fast. The place is okay was great, never had to wait to tee up or hit or next shot. Staff was friendly. Back 9 is shorter, but some holes okay uphill. Great round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Rackham After Rain - puddles!

Fun course with decently fairways and minimal hazards such as tall grass. Less likely to lose balls. The greens are narrow so you do need to strategize on how to get there from the T-box.

Few of the holes are not friendly to players prone to slice. You will land on adjacent fairway. You need to also watch for incoming sliced balls from 1st hole Tbox while playing on the 9th.

Watch for standing puddles after rain. Course has drainage issues.

Overall, a fun course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course to play

Great course! Back nine is a bit tougher because a couple of holes are uphill. Greens were fast, but it was very hot (95 degrees). Staff was friendly and pace of play was good.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Bring your patience

Overall, I really enjoyed this course. My complaints for the day had nothing to do with the course itself. I had a shoe malfunction on me, I finished my found barefoot.

The front 9 are much more challenging; shorter and more tactical holes will have you roasting through every club in the bag.

The back 9 runs a little longer and let's you swing a little more freely!

I tried off at 6:40... Finished around 11:15. Could've been a little quicker pace of play. But all in all, a very enjoyable experience!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 168
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

All Nice

Fairways, Greens, and flat tee boxes were in very nice condition!!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Resurrection of Rackham

Played here 10 times this season very quick pace play ( weekday morning) maintenance is always working on the course - great condition. Only downside people are not not repairing their ball marks

Play this course ( please not on a weekday morning)

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
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