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3.4
218 Reviews (218)
5 Stars
38
4 Stars
87
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
27
1 Stars
19
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.5
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
3.8
Pace
3.2
Amenities
2.8
69.3%
Recommend this course
151 out of 218 reviews
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Conditions
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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Pace
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Amenities
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0%
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0
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0
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Recommend this course
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About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 71
Length 6555 yards
Slope 129
Rating 71.6

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
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Caddies 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)

Reviews

3.4
218 Reviews (218)

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
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Walked

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.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 734
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Michigan Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

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.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

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.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

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

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

packed way to tight and bring a helmet for all the balls raining from the sky

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very nice and friendly staff members. Great course and very well kept.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 69
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played

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...

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

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!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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