It feels strange to do examination a course just a little while before it closes forever, but I feel forced to record my thoughts for posterity. As involving May 31, New Rogell is slated to get sold as a cemetery. Perhaps this is less review than Requiem.
New Rogell née Rogell née Redford Golfing and Country Club née Phoenix Country Club is a Donald Ross design because of Detroit's glory days. It opened in 1914 being nine hole course designed by Tom Bendelow. The course's original intent was as a Jewish golf club, in the leadership of Max Fisher. Phoenix Golf iron was sold to the town of Redford in 1921, which hired Donald Ross to redo the original nine and finish that layout.
The Redford The game and Country Club held up until 1945, when that it was sold to the Area of Detroit. In 1979, that course was renamed that Rogell, after former Tigers ballplayer in addition to city councilor Bill Rogell. Rogell, your shortstop, had led the Tigers to somewhat of a 1935 World Series victory with the Chicago Cubs. It was by all accounts no happy period for this course, as it experienced greatly from neglect. Inside 2007, it was picked up by Greater Grace Forehead, which renamed the lessons New Rogell. The church has now abadndoned the property and apparently sold it being used as a cemetery.
An observant and well-informed player at New Rogell need no problem imagining the course precisely as it was in its heyday. Rogell is normally compact, with many parallel fairways, along with tees that closely stick to greens. It is primarily open, with the exception these holes on the perimeter and down the creek, which winds through an integral part of the property. The creeks are tributaries of the Rouge River, which passes on the back nine.
Greens at New Rogell can be small—as you might expect—but there is a curious absence of bunkering. By way of my count, there are just eight. My suspicion is that over the years most of the bunkers were grassed over and not just maintained.
In laying out and about the course, Ross took advantage of elevation changes manufactured by the creeks wherever possible. It is actually pretty impressive for what might otherwise be a "flat" city course. Simply by my count, seventeen with the eighteen holes involved an elevation change. Most of the were at least a club difference.
As you may expect from a lessons that literally has one foot with the grave, conditions were not great. Still, New Rogell was a student in better shape than I actually feared, and far quite as good as a few I've played which can be pressing forward among this living. The grass is neatly mown; fairways primarily filled in; greens and tee boxes were in good shape.
New Rogell is not necessarily particularly short, measuring 6, 075 in the back tees and playing to a 70. 1/127. From the center tees, it measures 5, 838 yards and plays to your 68. 7/123.
As My partner and i was walking the study course, I couldn't help but believe it would not take a huge investment to repair the course. The jewel can there be, if only someone would see fit to restore its luster.
The major problem to overcome, despite the fact that, is the one which can't be solved: spot. New Rogell is within what some might name a "seedy" neighborhood. That is the characterization that is a bit unfair, however. There are some excellent homes surrounding the path, and it did not feel in any way unsafe. Signs in the parking lot warning associated with break-ins, however, tell the tale of a community in decline.
The course has been a part of the community for several years. A retired friend from mine tells stories of how he used to play the Rogell meant for fifty cents—or even sneak onto the home at the far end to play for nothing.
If you're in the Detroit area take some time before May 31, 2013 to play New Rogell. There aren't more and more Donald Ross courses open to the public, and never many at this price.
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