Golfing at Rouge Park Golf Course

Rouge Park Golf Course is one of the more popular park golf courses in the city and probably one of the more challenging as well. It is one of my favorite courses to play in the city. It's challenging, tough, but relaxing and enjoyable at the same time. You can find every type of hole design imaginable on the course along with the standard hazards of water, trees, and of course everybody's favorite, those sand bunkers. :) In fact, the Rouge River runs throughout the whole course and you will cross it many times during your golf round although on a couple of holes, the river doesn't come into play. What makes the course challenging is really the various terrain changes of the course. After completing a challenging par 5 on the first hole which is lined with OB on the right, and trees on the left, you come to number which is a par 4 in which you have to strategically place your ball in the fairway. Sounds easy right? Well it would be except for that if everybody hit their drivers or 3 woods, they would more than likely drive it right into the Rouge River which comes into play right in the middle of the hole. So the object is to hit a nice iron down the fairway, preferably straight, then hit your ball over the river onto the green...oh which is downhill and you can't see, so you're basically hitting a blind shot downhill onto the green. What a fun hole!! (note the sarcasm)

But in all seriousness, I love a challenge so this hole really is fun. Along the rest of the course you will find many other blind shots uphill and downhill, dogleg rights, short and long holes...you will experience every type of hole design imaginable. My personal favorite hole is the par 3 16th which is only about 90 yards, but it goes straight uphill. So many people like to underestimate this hole only to see their golf balls overshoot the green, or fall short in the heather and roll back into the river.

If you're an avid golfer you should know that anything can happen in this crazy game. Rouge Park Golf Course is also the only golf course within city limits with its own driving range which is really helpful because warming up before tee time is very important. The range is right across the street, so it's only a short walk or drive (whichever you prefer...I like waling back and forth) to get there. All in all, Rouge Park Golf Course is a nice oasis in the middle of the city that you can enjoy over and over again. Stop by and enjoy a round or two. :)

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