Franklin Hills delivers a prime slice of Donald Ross golf, artfully routed on a trim site northwest of Detroit. Its tight strategy, elegant Kahn clubhouse, and revered greens command respect among Michigan’s elite, while remaining inviting for any golfer with access.
Franklin Hills Country Club stands as a regional showcase of Donald Ross’s Golden Age genius—a masterclass in getting the most from a limited site with routing finesse, elegant movement, and relentless green complexity. The site’s tight footprint forced thoughtful sequencing, and Ross’s nuanced, angled holes and firm, original greens demand creative club selection and precise approaches. Renovated with respect for the original vision, today’s Franklin Hills delivers a heady blend of chessboard strategy and classical aesthetics that’s rare even among Midwest privates.
Donald Ross maximized a compact parcel, ensuring every hole presents real choices and strategic nuance. Ron Pritchard’s restoration maintained this spirit and enhanced playability while respecting Ross’s original greens and hazards.
This lengthy par 5 unfolds with strategic peril; Ross’s bunkering and a subtly raised green force you to weigh every move. Position off the tee shapes your entire plan, and overly aggressive second shots can get punished.
Ideal drive placement is slightly left for a clear layup; risk the right and you flirt with trouble. Think carefully before going for the green in two.
Greenside bunkers and sharp runoff slopes will punish any misjudged approach.
Expect consistently pure turf, manicured tee-to-green, and classical club-level standards.
Orderly, member-paced rounds—no rush, no crowding, set in serene surrounds.
Old-school private club ambience; understated hospitality and a respect for tradition.
Traditional country club attire—collared shirts, tailored shorts or slacks, no denim.
Solid approach play goes a long way—many greens demand exacting distance control and deft wedge play.
Brush up on your green-reading skills; subtle Ross slopes can make even short putts swirl and swoop.
Bring a shapeable, accurate driver game—the routing punishes wild sprays and rewards control.
Confirm guest access, pace expectations, and attire specifics with your sponsoring member before arrival.
Franklin Hills Country Club opens, designed by Donald Ross.
First Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Championship held at the club.
Hosts the U.S. Women’s Amateur, won by Louise Suggs.
Club hosts the 100th GAM Championship, marking at least seven times as GAM home.
Ranked #5 Michigan private club by Golfweek, #23 overall in Michigan by Golf Digest.
The course sits on a notoriously tight piece of land, challenging Donald Ross to extract strategic brilliance without excess acreage. Ninety years later, his routing and greens remain quintessential Ross, praised for their subtle challenge and variety.
In 1947, Franklin Hills played host to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, with Louise Suggs capturing the trophy on these storied greens. Her legacy lingers—she became one of the LPGA's founders, forever tying the club to women's golf history.
Legendary Detroit architect Albert Kahn designed the stately clubhouse—its understated grandeur gives Franklin Hills a unique sense of occasion and ties the golf experience to local architectural history.
While modern clubs overhaul layouts, Franklin Hills invests methodically in turf and subtle master-planning, honoring Ross’s original vision. Its most recent updates focus on agronomic excellence rather than drama.
Clubhouse was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn.
Franklin Hills hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1947, won by Hall-of-Famer Louise Suggs.
Much of the course remains true to Donald Ross’s original 1927 plan.
The club’s membership is famously discreet, adding mystique to its historic reputation.
One of the rare Michigan privates with an untouched Ross routing and greens.
Scenic, accessible, and well-kept 27-hole public venue
Widely loved for its setting and creative architecture
Playable, affordable backup in the metro area
High-quality resort golf with a premium feel
Ross design with PGA Tour heritage (if you have an in!)
Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills for club access and amenities, or try Midtown Detroit for a city-culture pairing.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Gulf Stream Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: Interlachen Country Club is a natural next stop after Franklin Hills Country Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Indian Hills Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Franklin Hills Country Club.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?