This golf course is closed for business. Not true? Let us know.
Looking for other options nearby?

GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
1.2
60 Reviews (60)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
33
Conditions
1.1
Value
1.3
Layout
1.2
Friendliness
1.4
Pace
1.5
Amenities
1.2
5.4%
Recommend this course
19 out of 60 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
1.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
1.0
Value
1.0
Layout
1.0
Pace
1.0
Amenities
1.0
StaffFriendliness
1.0
0%
Recommend this course
1 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Municipal
Par 71
Length 6007 yards
Slope 104
Rating 67.4

Editor's Note: Course closed for business in 2018.

Course Details

Year Built 1927
Fairways Poa/Blue Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 10/01
Architect Ray Hearn (2017)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Caddies No
Teaching Pro Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness

Reviews

1.2
60 Reviews (60)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Thick Rough 7
This course/club is great for:
Beginners 8
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 10

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
1.0
First Time Playing

Disposal Site/Landfill

This would be a course I would take someone I absolutely despise....not sure why this is referred to as a golf course.. If you ever arrive to this area, turn your car around immediately!!! Please read golf reviews before booking, and please remove this course from any listing, GOOD GOD!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

excellent value

I appreciate this course for it's availability and it's value.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Palmer Park

Wonderful and cheap in the heart of Detroit. Great for a quick 9 holes. Had to ding a star for course conditions because the third hole was literally underwater.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Starter Course

Great little starter course for a new golfer to learn the ropes. Flat greens with few obstacles to deal with.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

STAY AWAY FROM THIS COURSE

This is not even a golf course. There are no cut fairways, The greens are not cut right, Some greens do not exist and are just a hole cut in the middle of the fairway. Would never waste a dollar here again!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hmmm where to start

Not even worth $8 to play. Perfect course for a tough mudder, the fairway which was no different from grass in a forest wasn't cut. I kid you not, the fairways had grass 11" all the way through. The first hole I lost 3 balls hitting straight and watching them land. I stand 6'6 tall and even with a birds eye view couldn't find balls. The greens were no different from being at the beach, No grass all sand. I played 3 holes, lost 7 balls and left.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Save your money

Even for just $10 for nine holes you should save your money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Horrible

DO NOT EVER PLAY HERE. The grass in the fairway was so long youd lose balls in it. The greens were made out of dirt. Better yet the back nine was completely overgrown and unplayable and we didn't even know until we drove over there. This place is a disgrace to the game of golf. VERY SAD!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Vargo must go!!!!!

Played the first time here this year after a bad experience last year. All the prior reviews are correct,this is no longer a playable golf course.
Balls will get lost in the middle of the fairway, the greens have more dirt than grass and are unputtable.
It's such a shame as this was a nice course for seniors and kids when run by American Golf but Vargo has let it go. I truly believe they are trying to keep people away so they can show the city it doesn't produce enough revenue to remain open. I could keep this course in better condition with just the equipment in my garage.
Vargo has also let Chandler Park run down compared to when American Golf ran it. Vargo Golf has got to go!!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It's all rough

Pulling up to the clubhouse the afternoon looked promising. After our first tee shots we discovered there was no fairways, all the grass looked like the grass at a poorly kept residence. Most of the greens were bare, very bumpy, and in extremely poor conditions. If you want to go to a course to practice shots on a course instead of a range don't spend more than the price for a bucket of balls. The back nine has been neglected for an entire season which is unfortunate because it was a great hidden gem. Not any more.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Sorry excuse for a golf course

The greens had more brown than green, yet were muddy from the night before. The front 9 had not been cut.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Worst place

Greens were poor, very poor. Not playable...At All

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Totally disappointed

My name is Jo Berg and I am on with my husbands login. Horrible Horrible Horrible conditions. Don't waste your time at Palmer. $5 for 18 and a cart is tooo much.

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Worst Course I ever played

This is by far the worst course I ever played. I was in a group of 3 and we stopped putting after number 4 because there wasn't any grass on the greens. The carts were all broken and the one I had kept up a steady run on with noxious fumes overwhelming us. The fareways were horrible along with the tee box areas. In the 40 years I have been playing I have never seen anything so bad and unplayable. I did play this course years ago but it was not in this pathetic condition. Never again and I will tell everyone I know thinking of coming to stay away and if you want something similar go to a farm.

Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Poor Conditions

Vargo needs to invest some money into this course. Every green was bare and you are putting on dirt. The fairways were mowed so poorly that you could not find your ball in the fairway. I used to play this course years ago and it is a shell of its former self. Just a horrible experience. Hope they upgrade it soon - unless their intention is to do nothing and then close it up,

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
5fb235ef-20ad-5239-a462-0b340f7f54b2
Commented on 09/02/2015

Palmer Park is owned by the City of Detroit and is a wonderful recreational asset! Currently this city asset is not sustainable with current infrastructure (drainage, irrigation, and topography) The Vargo Golf Company is committed to bringing Palmer back to high quality golf through partnerships with the City of Detroit, the Recreation Department, and hopefully some private funding! Please excuse the transition process as it has not been easy for all parties involved, especially our Palmer golfers. Please let us know if we can assist you in playing another City golf asset.

In Kindness-
Vargo Golf Management

Played On
Reviews 167
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Cow pasture

The course was not well maintained and the greens were some of the worst I have ever seen in my life

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

This place is a joke and waste of money

This is by far the worst golf course ever, it's a rundown area, there is no fairway it's like you are play on in rough the whole time, you can lose your balls on the "fairway" that's how bad it is. The greens are basically dirt because they aren't taken care of, you can't even putt straight. The holes are all straight on way then another, there is nothing special about it. No water at all this is just like putting a cup in an empty field and calling in a course. This place is a joke I wouldn't even play here for free it's a waste of time and money. You will actually get worse at golf from playing at this course

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bad greens

Nice course back 9 greens are very dry.
Overall good for the price.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Sad, sad, sad

Palmer Park has been around for roughly 70 - 80 years and it is sad to see the way it has been left to die. The current owner (Vargo Golf) refuses to put any money what so ever into it...not sure why. The greens were so dried out they are splitting open.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/29/2015

I agree. I used to play there a lot. I went for the first time this year and couldn't believe it! It was virtually unplayable. No such thing as a fairway, bunkers overgrown, greens unputtable. It was really sad. Vargo needs to go!!!!!!

Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Avoid course

No cut fairways, wouldn't pay more than $10 for 18

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Nearby Courses
Detroit, Michigan
Private
5.0
2
Detroit, Michigan
Private
5.0
2
Huntington Woods, Michigan
Public/Municipal
3.4495
218
Royal Oak, Michigan
Private
0.0
0
Madison Heights, Michigan
Public/Municipal
3.9394
33
Royal Oak, Michigan
Municipal
4.0714285714
7
Southfield, Michigan
Public/Municipal
4.3118058824
317
Southfield, Michigan
Private
5.0
2
Detroit, Michigan
Municipal
3.1302857143
126
Detroit, Michigan
Public/Municipal
4.0625
192
Redford, Michigan
Public/Municipal
4.0
4
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Public
3.2269705882
86
Golf Packages

Best of Battle Creek Package

FROM $147 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at FireKeepers Casino Hotel and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Riverside Golf Club, and Binder Park Golf Course.

SW Michigan Golf Around Package

FROM $127 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Quality Inn – Battle Creek and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Angel’s Crossing Golf Club, and The Grande Golf Club.

The Loon Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
GAYLORD | Enjoy up to 3 nights' accommodations at The Loon Resort’s Lodges at The Ridge and up to 4 rounds of golf at The Loon Golf Resort - Lakes, Loon, & Ridge Courses.

Oglebay Golf Around Package

FROM $167 (USD)
WHEELING | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Oglebay Resort’s Wilson Lodge and 2 rounds of golf at Oglebay Resort – Palmer & Jones Courses.

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)
Now Reading