Huntington Woods, Michigan · Detroit
Rackham Golf Course
Donald Ross laid it out beside the Detroit Zoo. Joe Louis made it his home course and hosted his Open here; Ben Davis was head pro from 1952.
- 18Holes
- 71Par
- 6,555Yards
- Huntington WoodsLocation
- Donald RossArchitect
About Rackham Golf Course
Rackham is Detroit's Donald Ross course, though it sits across the city line in Huntington Woods, right next to the Detroit Zoo. Horace Rackham tied the two together: he gave land for the zoo's parking and the rest for a public golf course. It's a par 71, 6,555 yards from the back, 6,253 from the middles and 5,413 forward. The greens are undulating and guarded by a lot of sand; the bunkers were redone in 2007.
There's no water anywhere on it. The map survey counts 100 bunkers, trees along 14 holes, 9 doglegs and about 32 feet of elevation change, so the test is sand and angles, not carries. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.
The history is the reason to play it. Joe Louis took up golf in the 1930s and made Rackham his home course, and through the 1940s he hosted the Joe Louis Open here so the best Black players had somewhere to compete. In 1952 Ben Davis came as head pro, the first African-American head pro at a municipal course in the country; he was also the first Black member of the Michigan PGA and lived to 101. The Ben Davis Detroit Open is still played here. The course has also hosted two U.S. Amateur Public Links championships.
Not all of it is original Ross. I-696 cut through the old front nine, which closed in October 1983 and reopened reworked about two and a half years later; the 7th and 9th are the only front-nine holes left untouched. The clubhouse is by Niels Chester Sorensen. Troon runs the course for the City of Detroit.
It's one of 161 courses Yoink watches in the Detroit area, and the closest alternative is Evergreen Hills Golf Course - 9 Holes, about 3 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
What it's like to play Rackham Golf Course
It's a sand-heavy layout, with about 100 bunkers.
Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).
Booking a tee time at Rackham Golf Course
Book online through the course site or call (248) 543-4040. There's a chipping and putting green to warm up on.
How to get a tee time at Rackham Golf Course
Yoink
If Rackham Golf Course looks full for the day you want, it usually isn't for long: groups drop, rounds get moved and times reopen at all hours.
Yoink checks the sheet for you. Set a watch for the date, window and group size you want, and you'll get a push notification as soon as a spot opens — then book it directly with Rackham Golf Course.
- Pick Rackham Golf Course in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near Rackham Golf Course
- Evergreen Hills Golf Course - 9 Holes · Southfield · 3 mi
- Rouge Park Golf Course · 8 mi
- Sylvan Glen Golf Course · Troy · 9 mi
- Maple Lane Golf Club - East · Sterling Heights · 10 mi
- Maple Lane Golf Club - North · Sterling Heights · 10 mi
- Maple Lane Golf Club - West · Sterling Heights · 10 mi
- Sanctuary Lake Golf Course · Troy · 11 mi
- Chandler Park Golf Course · 11 mi
Rackham Golf Course FAQ
Where is Rackham Golf Course?
Rackham Golf Course is in Huntington Woods, Michigan, in the Detroit area — about 3 miles from Evergreen Hills Golf Course - 9 Holes.
Who designed Rackham Golf Course?
Rackham Golf Course was designed by Donald Ross.
Is Rackham Golf Course open to the public?
Rackham Golf Course is municipal (City of Detroit), managed by Troon Golf, run by Troon Golf for the City of Detroit General Services Department (Golf Detroit).
How many holes is Rackham Golf Course, and what's par?
Rackham Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation course: 18 holes, par 71, 6,555 yards.
How do I get a tee time at Rackham Golf Course when it's booked up?
Set a watch for Rackham Golf Course in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near Rackham Golf Course?
Nearby options include Evergreen Hills Golf Course - 9 Holes, Rouge Park Golf Course and Sylvan Glen Golf Course. Yoink watches 161 courses in the Detroit area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- golf.com · media
- rackham.golf · official
- golfdetroit.org · official
- en.wikipedia.org · media
Never miss a tee time at Rackham Golf Course
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.