Rackham Golf Course
About
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Back/Blue | 71 | 6555 yards | 71.6 | 129 |
Middle/White | 71 | 6268 yards | 69.9 | 124 |
Silver | 71 | 5774 yards | 67.9 | 118 |
Silver (W) | 72 | 5774 yards | 74.5 | 132 |
Forward/Red (W) | 72 | 5316 yards | 71.4 | 126 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue M: 71.6/129 | 530 | 326 | 376 | 364 | 166 | 322 | 507 | 185 | 420 | 3196 | 451 | 424 | 348 | 213 | 519 | 387 | 220 | 349 | 448 | 3359 | 6555 |
White M: 69.9/124 | 515 | 315 | 365 | 348 | 153 | 311 | 502 | 150 | 387 | 3046 | 442 | 418 | 333 | 204 | 511 | 369 | 215 | 299 | 431 | 3222 | 6268 |
Silver M: 67.9/118 W: 74.5/132 | 492 | 315 | 291 | 300 | 135 | 311 | 439 | 132 | 365 | 2780 | 415 | 353 | 333 | 181 | 473 | 346 | 180 | 299 | 414 | 2994 | 5774 |
Red W: 71.4/126 | 446 | 262 | 291 | 263 | 108 | 273 | 439 | 102 | 321 | 2505 | 368 | 353 | 319 | 163 | 449 | 319 | 144 | 282 | 414 | 2811 | 5316 |
Handicap | 3 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 1 | |||
Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 3 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 14 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2019 #13)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
The location is its biggest advantage
Full disclosure, I had a horrible experience here a year ago, and almost passed on the hot deal despite the deep discount. But because of where it's located and how easy and quick it was to get to, I decided to give it another shot and I'm very glad I did. I approached my round with a very skeptical, hyper aware look and I came to the conclusion that my previous experiences were not as bad as I had remembered.
If you're in the Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Berkley, Huntington Woods/Ferndale area, this is probably one of the top results when you search for nearby golf courses. It's easy to get to from the expressway or Woodward Ave, and right next to the Detroit Zoo. Because it's a public course in such a densely populated area, they are going to command a premium price and be filled with people willing to pay the location tax.
The course itself is pretty basic. There are no water hazards on the course, and only a few spots of dense vegetation where you could lose a ball. If you have a 90 degree hook or slice, chances are you'll still be able to find your ball--though a hole or two over. Speaking of hole density, it's pretty tightly packed, which you tend to find in these early 20th century designed courses. Several of the holes have some good bunker placement around the greens and on dog legs that will really make you evaluate the risk/reward.
I pass by this course quite often if there is the slightest spot of grass showing through the snow during the winter months, it seems there are people out playing. Spots of the course seem to show this constantly use. The fairways are pockmarked in certain spots from people not replacing their divots, but I feel that the conditions were much better than when I golfed it last year. The greens were exceptionally well taken care of and role smooth and slow, even during the hot midday sun. Some of the blue tee placement seems like an afterthought, but with as dense of a course as it is, I imagine it's a difficult task to do. Some of the hole amenities (ball washers, trash cans, signs for the hole, etc) need some TLC.
Staff was exceptionally friendly. From the guy who checked me in at the club house to the gentleman at the first tee checking off names.
Overall I say this is a decent course, but not worth the $30+ rate they charge regularly. For that much money you might find better value driving out a little further. If you're feeling spontaneous and see a hot deal that's $20 or less, it's pretty good, though!
PACKED to the brim with rude golfers-Course enables them
Used to really enjoy golfing this course, now it is completely unplayable. No structure at all to twilight golf. This is the hipster golf capital of Michigan... Most golfers on the course struggle to hit the ball 25 yards, course lets walkers out during twilight..Why is this? Make them pay the extra 5 bucks and get a cart. Had a single golfer in front of me walking, and in front of him was 3 walkers. I'm in cart and basically had to wait 15 minutes at every box to tee off. Avoid this place at all costs, maybe when covid ends the disgraceful rude disrespectful golfers that flock to this course will go to the driving range where they belong or back to the bars.
Historic Detroit muni by the Detroit Zoo
I grew up in southeast Michigan but never played Rackham. It's always had a reputation of being very busy and not always in the best shape. Drainage has been an issue and there has been some improvement in maintenance in recent years, I'm told. The course is on a flat, square piece of land next to I-696 which creates a consistent hum during the round.
This is a very popular course among locals and it has Donald Ross roots. I"m always glad to see munis being supported. That said, I am approaching this review as a visitor with a lot of choices in a deep market for affordable public golf. I didn't see enough Ross here to really feel it warrants a visit over a lot of the better public (and mostly modern) experiences in the metro area. Facilities are pretty modest too. There is cool clubhouse architecture but inside there is a very basic grill and pro shop. Perhaps one reason to play it is that it is right next to the Detroit Zoo, so you could drop kids off for the day and go play some golf.
Solid Ross and Mathews Course
Course lost about 7 holes to 696 expansion in the 80s, Mathews did new holes and greens do not fit in. Back nine and several holes on front are still Ross and have a lot of character.
Conditions are what I would expect for a Detroit public course. Layout is on mostly flat terrain, several holes on back nine close to zoo have some movement. Clubhouse is amazing and on national historic register and if you go in had a copy of Donald Ross’ plans.
Horrible
I started playing golf again after a 20+ Years hiatus. When I use to play regularly we played Rackham quite often, mostly twilight because the price was right. The course was nice and seemed better kept than now. With the condition of the course I won’t be going back. The course is a shell of its former self.
Save your money and go somewhere else
Showed up 15 minutes before tee time, group of 18 was let in front of 2, big group was not there 40 minutes after that. Ranger was disrespectful and not helpful at all. Just a waste of time that place
packed way to tight and bring a helmet for all the balls raining from the sky
Tale of two 9's - TOUGH Greens
Front 9, no holes designed to use driver aside #1 par 5. Back 9, more direct, some fairway pot bunkers. Played on a Sunday and it was PACKED and delayed. Only complaint is that those greens are pretty hard and yield not many birdie tries unless you stick it within 7 feet.
Very nice and friendly staff members. Great course and very well kept.
Disappointed
Over 5 hours to play.... called pro shop, they didn't seem to care... many tees appeared chewed up... could use TLC and water...
Torn up in alot of spots, but nice course to play. Hit and miss if its going to be a slow round, but be prepared for a slow one.
1st-Time & Hoped For Better
Course we’ll maintained with greens running true. They pack the tee-times so be prepared for a slow round and don’t expect too much from the course rangers who are clearly visible, but fail to move things along. When tee-boxes have 2-3 tee-times backed up you know you’re in for a slow one!
August 3rd 2020
This place is trash in every aspect. Rude desk lady, snail pace of play on a Monday morning I played 8 holes and just walked off because it took 3 hours. Do better Rackham.
Old school Muni
This course just has something special about it. I love the old school Art Deco clubhouse/pro shop. The greens were fast, course was well maintained and I’m looking forward to playing the third and final Detroit municipal course soon!