Rackham Golf Course, Rouge Park and Chandler Park, all managed for the city by Signet Golf Associates under the Golf Detroit banner, have benefitted as Detroit’s economy has seen an upswing, with Chandler Park seeing a 51 percent boost in revenue in the past year. The gains being seen include increased play from African-American golfers.
Golf course memberships at three of Detroit’s public courses are seeing an increase, Fox 2 of Detroit reported.
Rackham Golf Course, Rouge Park and Chandler Park are managed for the city by Signet Golf Associates under the Golf Detroit banner, and all three courses have benefitted as Detroit’s economy has seen an upswing, Fox 2 reported.
“We’ve noticed that there has been a significant spike within the past couple of years and that residents really want to enjoy the services, the courses and the parks, while bringing their families and starting the next generation of participation,” said Tiffany Crawford, a spokesperson for the city. “And we’ve noticed the outside communities have also wanted to participate.”
Chandler Park has seen a 51 percent increase in revenue between 2018 and this year, Fox 2 reported, and that’s not surprising to managers on the three courses.
“We have made some tremendous investments in this property and what you are seeing today is really a dream come true for me,” Karen Peek, Signet Golf’s Director of Operations, told Fox 2. “I’m a native of the Detroit area and I’ve seen these courses over a period of the last 45 years, and I have not seen anything better than what we are looking at today.”
The gains being seen include increased play from members of Detroit’s African-American community, according to the Fox 2 report
“The momentum is high. People are talking about golf, they want to play golf,” Charles Bush told Fox 2 while playing one of the courses. “I see young people, I see families out here, I see husbands and wives. It’s just on fire right now.
“My son works downtown and he and his work mates asked me to play golf with them,” Bush added. “It’s just an energy that’s in the city right now, that golf is a fantastic sport.”
In 1984, Fox 2 reported, Charles Renfrow played in the Horton Smith Golf Tournament and Michigan Medal Play Championship at the Detroit Golf Club, as the first African-American to be invited to participate in that tournament. He won in 1984 and then again in 1986, and told Fox 2 that he is proud to be a Detroit golfer.
“I have been playing golf for more than 50 years—I can hardly believe that,” Renfrow said. “It’s enjoyable to see your own power and strength [propelling the] golf ball in the air. I enjoyed that the most.”
The Fox 2 report can be viewed at http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/golf-course-memberships-in-detroit-are-surging
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