PGA Tour course loved by Bryson Dechambeau at risk of 'dying' receives lifeline

Detroit Golf Club has had some big-time winners since it began hosting the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019, but the course's president admits it is at risk of "dying" due to its current layout.

The course hosted a PGA Tour event for the sixth time last week, with Australia's Cameron Davis winning the title for the second time after outlasting Akshay Bhatia in a thrilling finale on Sunday. Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau and Rickie Fowler have also hoisted the winner's trophy in the Motor City.

But Michael Pricer insists drastic changes must be made to ensure the North Course has a secure financial future. The layout has not changed since it opened 110 years ago, but it is set to look like a "completely different course" when the event returns to Detroit in 2026.

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“If we get an inch and a half of rain over 36 hours, we’re essentially flooded,” Pricer told Golfweek. “So, we lose cart revenue because we can’t put carts out there because it’s too soft.

“It just really economically impacts the club in a pretty tough way. At the end of the day, the golf course is the reason why we’re here. And so, it’s time to make the investment. Because this is my personal opinion. If we don’t do this, this course dies.”

Detroit Golf Club was one of dozens of courses designed by revered Scottish architect Donald Ross. His most famous design is the iconic Pinehurst No. 2 with its turtle-backed greens and native areas that line the fairways.

Pinehurst No. 2 hosted arguably the greatest major championship in recent years, with DeChambeau defeating Rory McIlroy in a thrilling climax at the U.S. Open last month. Pricer says Detroit Golf Club will bear a striking resemblance to Pinehurst No. 2 when it reopens.

“We’re trying to get it back to the original Ross design," he explained. "So, keeping with the legacy and the history of the club, and really honoring the heritage, that you know Donald Ross has created.

“And we believe that this will be a top-100 course when we’re done. I think it’s going to look a lot like Pinehurst, to be honest. We’re really bringing back the original green complexes that Ross intended to design. They’re going to be a lot more open; they’re going to be a lot bigger.

“So, you’re going to get a much more expansive view of the entire golf course. Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere near as drastic as Oakland (Hills Country Club) but it’ll be opened up quite a bit.”