Detroit Golf Club

History

The Detroit Golf Club was founded in 1899 by William R. Farrand and several of his friends. Originally the club was limited to 100 members. They rented a 45 acre plot of farmland at 6 Mile and Woodward, and a 6-hole course layout was created. In 1900 the course added 3 holes, making it a 9-hole course. The membership was increased to 200 in 1902. At that time 135 acre of land were purchased at 6 Mile and Hamilton, and an 18-hole course was developed.

In 1906 the club was formally opened, and membership fees were raised to $250. In 1913 additional property was bought, and Donald Ross was asked to survey the property. Ross determined that two courses of 18 holes could be built on the land. Horace Rackham paid $100,000 for the 36-hole course to be built to the DGC at a cost.

In 1916 Albert Kahn started construction on a new clubhouse, which was completed in 1918. The brother of Donald Ross, Alec Ross, became Club Professional, a position he held until 1945, a total of 31 years.

In 1922 club membership was increased to 650, and they decided to stay open year round. In 1929 the Fred Wardell Caddy House was built, at a cost around $40,000.

During World War II, Club activities were limited due to gas rationing, and in 1945, Alex Ross retired as Club Professional. Golf star Horton Smith was hired as the Club Pro, and in 1959 was elected into the Professional Golfers Association Hall of Fame. In 1963 Smith died, and Walter Burkemo was hired.

The club added new amenities: tennis courts, a cart garage, and a crystal dining room. Burkemo was succeeded by George Bayer. The current club pro is Josh Upson. The club also contains a pool for members, and sponsors a swim team.

Location

The club, located on the North side of Detroit, near such landmarks as Palmer Park and the University of Detroit Mercy, is separated from the former Palmer Park Golf Course by Pontchartrain Blvd. on the East, and Fairway Drive on the West. It shares a small border with 7 Mile on the North, and a large border with McNichols (6 Mile) on the South.

Major tournaments

• 1911 Western Amateur
• 1992 U.S. Mid-Amateur
• 2019–present Rocket Mortgage Classic

Club Tournaments

Men's

• Men's Golf League
• Men's Ringer Board
• Men's Golf Fund
• Men's Opening Day
• Men's Old Pal
• President's Cup
• Horton Smith Tournament
• Men's Spring Medal Play
• The Whistler
• The Hummer
• Men's Club Championship
• Men's Senior Club Championship
• Men's Member-Member
• Men's Closing Day
• Junior Boys Club Championship

Women's

• Women's Corkscrew Opener
• Women's 18-Hole League
• Girls Night Out
• Women's Detroit Metro League
• Four Girl Team
• Ladies' Cup
• Women's Medal Play
• Women's Texas Scramble I & II
• Sundancer Invitational
• Grandmother-Senior Event
• Women's Club Championship
• Women's Member-Member
• Women's Ryder Cup
• Women's Closing Day- 2Tall/2Small

Couple's

• Nine and Dine
• Couple's Golf League
• Memorial Day Scramble
• DGC Caddie Scholarship Event
• Patriot Day
• Labor Day Scramble
• Husband-Wife Championship

Family Golf Events

• Mother's Day Tournament
• Father's Day Tournament
• Junior Golf

Changes for the PGA Tour Event On October 11, 2010, the Detroit Golf Club bid for the Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour. The event has been hosted on the North course from 2019 through 2022. To prepare several of the holes were lengthened, and trees around the greens and tee boxes have also been removed. Parking is made available in the adjacent Palmer Park and the surrounding area, with the University of Detroit Mercy and the Michigan State Fairgrounds serving as other possible parking locations. In 2022, Detroit Golf Club announced golf architect Tyler Rae would look at drainage improvements.

Courses

Both courses have a snack shack next to a combined tee. The 13th for the South and the 14th for the North. Water hazards can be found on the North and South. Both courses are also bordered by beautiful houses that belong to many notable residents such as Jerome Bettis, Aretha Franklin, John Conyers. and many more.

North Course

The North Course is longer than the South by 870 yards. According to the original Donald Ross design, the 8th tee should be the 1st tee, and the 7th tee should be the 9th. Distinctive features include the bent tree between the 7th and 8th hole. As a sapling, Native Americans bent the tree to serve as a marker for the original Indian Trail between Detroit and Pontiac. The original clubhouse was situated where the 12th green is today, pipes can still be seen a distance behind the green.

South Course

The South Course has two combined tees. The 3rd and 9th, and the 5th and the 8th. The 10th tee is the most elevated at the DGC. In the early 1980s, the 13th tee was combined with the 14th tee on the North in front of the shack.

Miscellaneous

• The club has a free membership for the Mayor of Detroit.
• Many Detroit stars such as Justin Verlander, Gerald Laird, Jim Leyland, Jerome Bettis, Jim Schwartz, and many others have or still do play there.
• The club has tennis courts and a pool, for the tennis and swimming teams, respectively.
• The club has a caddie program that participates in The Evans Scholars Foundation
• The club became racially integrated in 1986.{{cite web | access-date = 2012-08-29}}{{cite web | access-date = 2012-08-29}}

References

References

1. "About the Club". Detroit Golf Club.
2. "Golf Courses". Detroit Golf Club.
3. "Detroit Golf Club, South". PGA.com.
4. Cook, Chuck. "Detroit Golf Club | North Golf Course". Golflink.com.
5. (April 2003). "Firestone Country Club (South)". Artisan Books.
6. "Meet the Golf Professionals". Detroit Golf Club.
7. https://www.digifind-it.com/njhistoricalportal/data/usga/books/misc/The%20American%20Annual%20Golf%20Guide%201917.pdf {{Bare URL PDF. (March 2022)
8. link. Detroit Golf Club
9. "Course Tour". Detroit Golf Club.
10. "Course Tour". Detroit Golf Club.