Detroit municipal courses under new management

Troon has been selected to manage the City of Detroit’s three municipal golf facilities — Chandler Park, Rackham and Rouge Park golf courses. Indigo Sports, a Troon company, will oversee golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, and sales and marketing at the three golf courses owned by the city.

“I’m so excited about this new partnership and for Troon to build upon the foundation Signet and Angela Hipps set,” said Crystal Perkins, director of the city’s general services department. “These three golf courses are city gems that have extensive history and hold a special place in the heart of golfers in Detroit and beyond. We believe this partnership will continue to grow the love for this game in our great city.”

Chandler Park Golf Course originally opened for play in July 1929 and was renovated in 1999. The 18-hole, par-71 course tips out at 6,000 yards, making it a great layout for beginners and those looking to sharpen their iron play.

Originally designed by Donald Ross and established in 1923, Rackham is an 18-hole course located in Huntington Woods adjacent to the Detroit Zoo. Rackham is recognized as one of Ross’s 10 best public courses and plays to a par of 71 and measures 6,555 from the tips. The facility also features putting and chipping greens.

With wide tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain, Rouge Park Golf Course is a fun-to-play par-72, 6,325-yard layout located northwest of downtown Detroit. The Rouge River comes into play on nine holes creating numerous forced carries and scenic settings throughout the course. The facility features an expansive driving range and a large practice green.

“The Team at Troon is thrilled and honored to begin our partnership with these three historical gems of the Detroit golf community,” Troon operations VP Nick Bednar said. “We look forward to elevating the experiences for loyal guests, and to doing our part to grow the game locally in the years to come.”

Troon manages a plethora of municipal golf courses across the country, including in Alhambra, California; Birmingham, Alabama; Bloomfield, Connecticut; Chicago; Cleveland; Indian Wells, California; Pasadena, Maryland; Phoenix; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Tucson, Arizona; Washington D.C.; and Wilmington, Delaware.