From Phoenix to Rogell
The site began as Phoenix Country Club in 1914 with a Tom Bendelow nine, tied to Detroit's Jewish community. Donald Ross’s expansion in the 1920s gave it lasting pedigree and shaped nearly a century of city golf.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Rogell Golf Course
Detroit, Michigan
Established
1914
Architect
Tom Bendelow (original nine); Donald Ross (18-hole redesign)
Access
Public (closed 2013)
Par
Par 70
Length
4,985 – 6,075 yds
The verdict
Lost Ross Greens, Lasting Legacy
Rogell Golf Course embodied Detroit’s municipal golf spirit for decades with classic Donald Ross greens and routing. Though the course closed in 2013 and has become a city nature park, its history endures in local lore and Detroit golf conversation. Rogell was never a destination for traveling golfers, but for locals, it was a proud Ross design with unforgettable green complexes and community roots.
Course DNA
Difficulty
67
Scenery56
Conditioning54
Shot Variety71
Walkability74
Green Complexity87
Wow Factor65
Design Quality73
At a glance
Quick facts
First opened
1914 as Phoenix Country Club
Architects
Tom Bendelow (original); Donald Ross (redesign)
Renamed
1979 for Bill Rogell
Course closed
2013 (now Rogell Park)
Ross design hallmarks
Crowned, open-front greens
Max elevation changes
17 of 18 holes had movement
Cultural significance
First Black-owned course in Michigan
The design
The architecture
Rogell Golf Course, in its prime, was a living museum of Donald Ross municipal design: a walkable Detroit routing alive with elevation, natural creeks, and crowned, open-front greens that put all the test in the short grass and subtle slopes rather than in knee-high rough or extravagant bunkering. The course made up for modest length with tricky targets and old-school ground-game options. While never a manicured showpiece, Rogell’s bones showed the legacy of a master architect putting community golf first.
Ross’s mark shone brightest in the small, crowned green complexes and creative contour use.
Defining features
- Classic Donald Ross crowned greens
- Frequent elevation changes across the property
- Open-front greens for ground approaches
- Scant bunkering compared to standard Ross
- Urban parkland routing with natural creek crossings
- Compact walk with multiple return points
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to a crowned green from below the surface
Take an extra half-club and aim below the hole, as anything long or left risks running off sharply.
Tee shot on a sidehill fairway
Favor the high side to avoid awkward lies for your approach.
Downhill par 4 with trouble right
Club down and favor the left center—overaggression sends you into the creek or rough.
Short iron from the rough to a Ross green
Accept par; the ball rarely holds, so aim for the safe edge rather than the flag.
Up-and-down from behind the green
Putt if you can—chipping off the back of those crowned greens is a double-bogey waiting to happen.
Watch
See it before you play it
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Classic muni upkeep, small firm greens, walkable with modest tree cover.
Pace
Steady but sometimes slow, especially on weekends; single-loop routing facilitated short rounds.
Vibe
Local, unfussy, where regulars played with purpose and city pride.
Dress code
Standard municipal; casual and inclusive, rarely enforced.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring Your Short Game
Practice bump-and-run chips and lag putting—holding crowned greens requires touch, not brute force.
02
Pack for Walks
Expect a fair amount of up and down—comfortable shoes turn the elevation into an asset, not an obstacle.
03
Focus on Approach Angles
Understanding when to fly it versus run it on is key; many greens are best accessed low and from specific sides.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1914
Phoenix Country Club opens with 9 holes by Tom Bendelow
- 1921
Redford Golf Club purchased property
- 1946
City of Detroit acquires course
- 1979
Renamed Rogell Golf Course for Bill Rogell
- 2007
Purchased by Greater Grace Temple; becomes Michigan’s first Black-owned course
- 2013
Golf course closes; later becomes Rogell Park nature preserve
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Black-Owned Golf Landmark
When Greater Grace Temple acquired Rogell in 2007, it became the first Black-owned golf course in Michigan, sparking a new chapter in inclusion and community impact.
Greens with a Ross Bite
Golfers remember Rogell for its elevated, crowned greens—the kind that accept a running shot but mercilessly eject a careless approach, perpetuating Ross’s reputation for fiendish green sites.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Once known as Phoenix Country Club tied to Detroit’s Jewish community.
2
Rogell became Michigan’s first Black-owned course after 2007.
3
Legend says 17 of 18 holes required negotiating elevation changes.
4
Ross’s crown-shaped greens regularly derailed even skilled approach play.
5
Now operates as Rogell Park, a city nature preserve on Detroit’s northwest side.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Detroit golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Detroit Golf Club
Private
Donald Ross design with PGA Tour pedigree and enduring charm.
Oakland Hills Country Club
Private
Michigan’s most storied major championship venue.
The Cardinal at Saint John’s
Public
Challenging and accessible Metro Detroit public play near Livonia.
Pine Trace Golf Club
Public
Highly regarded daily-fee with shot-making and variety.
Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center
Public
Multiple layouts, casual vibe, great for groups or varied skill levels.
Downtown Detroit for culture—or northwest suburbs for fastest access to area golf.
Course DNA
If You Like Rogell Golf Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.0
Palatka Golf Club
Palatka, FloridaGreen Complexity
Why it matches: Palatka Golf Club is a natural next stop after Rogell Golf Course: it makes the greens a central strategic puzzle.
Strong DNA Match7.3
Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course
Marstons Mills, MassachusettsGreen Complexity
Why it matches: If Rogell Golf Course is your kind of course, Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course is worth a look because it demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface.
Very Similar DNA8.3
Whitinsville Golf Club
Whitinsville, MassachusettsGreen Complexity
Why it matches: Whitinsville Golf Club is a natural next stop after Rogell Golf Course: it makes the greens a central strategic puzzle.
Community Sentiment
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