DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Rocket Mortgage Classic is just weeks away, and before Detroit's first-ever PGA Tour event, we want to give you a hole-by-hole tour of the Detroit Golf Club layout for the tournament.
You can check out the video in the player above to see drone video of the course. Details on each hole are below, from the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Par 72 (36-36), 7,334 yards
Hole 1
Par 4 – 397 yards
"Detroit Golf Club’s original starting hole as designed by Donald Ross in 1916, the opening hole provides players an opportunity to get off to a fast start. Players that manage to avoid the two fairway bunkers that guard the left-side of the fairway on their tee shots will be left with a wedge into the green for their second. The Oak located to the right side of the tee box was bent by Native Americans to mark the trail they used when traveling from Detroit-to-Saginaw. At the base of the Oak sits a bronze tablet memorializing this part of Detroit Golf Club’s celebrated history."
Hole 2
Par 4 – 453 yards
"Accuracy off the tee is critical on the 2nd-Hole with out-of-bounds, bunkers and trees lining the fairway. Players will be left with a mid-to-short iron into the green depending on club selection off the tee with many players opting to not hit driver."
Hole 3
Par 4 – 387 yards
"The 3rd-hole is the only hole of the South Course that will be used for tournament play. Players will need to avoid having too much spin on their approach shots into the green, which slopes dramatically from back to front, but any Player finding themselves putting from above-the-hole will need to be careful should they wish to avoid the dreaded three-putt."
Hole 4
Par 5 – 635 yards
"The longest hole on the course, the par-5 4th-hole will test big hitters should they attempt to reach this green in two shots. Players that opt to lay-up will need to have an accurate approach shot to this contoured green should they wish to walk away with a birdie."
Hole 5
Par 3 – 167 yards
"The tee shot on the uphill par-3 5th-Hole plays slightly longer than the yardage to a blind green. Any back-hole location has the potential to produce difficult putting conditions with a spine running across the back area of the green."
Hole 6
Par 4 – 461 yards
"Accuracy off the tee on the 6th-Hole will once again be at a premium. To have a clear approach to a two-tiered green, Players will need to hit their tee shots down the left-side of the fairway while avoiding the fairway bunker. Any Player that makes a birdie here will likely be picking-up a stroke on the field."
Hole 7
Par 5 – 552 yards
"Another tight driving hole, accuracy off the tee on the 7th-Hole is at a premium for players trying to reach this par-5 in two shots. Players that don’t find the fairway will have to negotiate a challenging lay-up."
Hole 8
Par 4 – 372 yards
"The shortest par-4 on the course, club selection off the tee on the 8th-hole will be important as Players look to avoid fairway bunkers and out-of-bounds. A two-tiered green also features a significant drop-off on its left-side, posing an interesting challenge for Players."
Hole 9
Par 3 – 207 yards
"The 9th-Hole is a long, beautiful, and slightly downhill par-3 that plays about half a club shorter than the yardage. With multiple tee complexes stretching the hole between 175 to 207 yards, Players will be faced with a challenging tee shot into a difficult and undulating green closely guarded by out-of-bounds. A birdie here will be a bonus."
Hole 10
Par 4 – 425 yards
"An opportunity to get off to a quick start on the back-nine, a solid tee shot on the dogleg left 10th-Hole leaves Players with a short iron approach to the green. Birdies should be plentiful."
Hole 11
Par 3 – 233 yards
"The 11th-Hole is the longest par-3 at Detroit Golf Club and features a large tee complex that allows the hole to be played anywhere from 180 to 233 yards long. Players will need to manage a green that looks deceptively simple from the tee, but closer inspection reveals a front-bowl, as well as several potential challenging hole locations."
Hole 12
Par 4 – 459 yards
"Par is a great score on the long and difficult par-4 12th-Hole. Players managing to find the fairway will be left with a mid-iron into an elevated green, which features a false front causing any approach shot that comes-up short to roll off the green and down a steep slope."
Hole 13
Par 4 – 393 yards
"The dogleg par-4 13th-hole requires a precise tee shot. Many players will opt for a fairway wood or long iron off the tee to set up a short iron into the elevated green. Spectators should see lots of birdies on this hole."
Hole 14
Par 5 – 555 yards
"A classic risk-reward par-5, the 14th-Hole will see a majority of Players approaching it as a two-shot hole with long hitters only having a mid-to-long iron approach shot into this two-tiered green guarded by water in-front. Those who elect to lay up on their second will need to control the spin on their approach shots due to a false front on the left side of the green."
Hole 15
Par 3 – 160 yards
"A classic Donald Ross-designed par-3 that plays longer than the posted yardage, the 15th-Hole features large bunkers protecting the front, left, and right sides of the green."
Hole 16
Par 4 – 446 yards
"Players will leave their tee shots on the 16th-Hole short of the fairway bunkers that guard the landing area, leaving them with a mid-iron approach to the green. Many Players will face challenging birdie putts on what is one of the more underrated putting surfaces at Detroit Golf Club."
Hole 17
Par 5 – 577 yards
"Players will leave their tee shots on the 16th-Hole short of the fairway bunkers that guard the landing area, leaving them with a mid-iron approach to the green. Many Players will face challenging birdie putts on what is one of the more underrated putting surfaces at Detroit Golf Club."
Hole 18
Par 4 – 455 yards
"A great par-4 finishing hole, the 18th-Hole features a shallow ditch running the entire length that will dictate strategy from tee to green. With a fairway bunker and a large Sycamore tree on the left and bunkers on the right, a tee shot in the fairway will be critical, leaving just a short iron into the green. Once on the green, Players will be faced with possibly the most difficult putting surface on the course. A par here very well may be all that is needed to win on Sunday."
