There’s only a handful of Donald Ross courses open to the public here in Ohio and I think it’s a blessing to have another one available within a reasonable distance. Every time I play one of his courses, I expect to see something cool. He was a master at routing holes, especially over hilly terrain, and his greens are very diverse with different strategies and defenses.
(The 175 yard par three second plays over a creek to a graded green with some interesting bumps in it. The front right pin is especially intriguing as the bump creates a false front that is hard to get close. The left side of the green is lower than the right so most balls will collect on this half thus left pins are the best chance for birdie.)
To combat the uniformity of the terrain, Ross constructed a devilish set of greens. They’re full of humps and bumps, and require plenty of imagination and skill to attack specific pin positions. This benefits the better player, but it also means that hitting the green in regulation is not an automatic par. I reckon one sees more three putts inside twenty feet than normal.
(The 411 yard par four fifth is hands down the toughest hole on the course. Besides a false front, the green seems to cascade from back to front...
...this view shows just how much slope is in the middle. Back pin positions are almost impossible to attack. The best strategy is short left where a good short game can get a par putt below the hole.)
The greens also harbor another benefit. Progress has emasculated Monroe like other courses that find their cities encroaching them. The holes across the street have been lost to housing, and some have been capped at the knees, which explains why 15, 17, and 18 are all sub 300 yard par fours. The greens however are well done so the holes still have interest.
(The 409 yard par four seventh is another difficult hole. The creek cuts across the fairway and meanders up the right side. Even the long hitters will be hitting a mid iron to the green. Note the raised center in the picture. This keen feature makes putting any significant length an adventure.)
The club has constructed a couple new holes to replace the ones lost. I felt both were well done even though they are different from the others. The ninth in particular is a completely different look. 
(The 167 yard par three sixth is a good looking hole even if the green is nothing like Ross. It also has different bunkering too. The tee box is elevated and the player should be able to work a short to mid iron into the pin.)
(The 167 yard par three sixth is a good looking hole even if the green is nothing like Ross. It also has different bunkering too. The tee box is elevated and the player should be able to work a short to mid iron into the pin.)
(The 565 yard ninth has a very modern look to it as the last few hundred yards curves between two water hazards. A good drive is needed to take the pressure off the layup shot. From a good yardage in the fairway, the player is hitting just a short to mid iron. There’s plenty of room between the green and the water so players can be aggressive with their third.)
In recent history, Monroe hosted the 2012 Women’s Western Amateur. This prestigious even was won by Ariya Jutanugarn who would become the world’s #1 female golfer in 2018. She set the female competitive course record (66) during the seedings. Hosting such an event is no small feat since it rotates every year to some of the best courses in the region.
(The 506 yard par five twelfth is fronted by several bunkers. It’s reachable after a good drive but the second will need to come in high to carry the sand and hold the green. The mounds and sand hide the bottom of the flagstick so it’s hard to gauge the distance for the third shot.)
Monroe exudes the ambiance and grace that a course of its age possesses. It’s an enjoyable round of golf and the Ross features are on full display. However, the last three par fours cannot be overlooked. They leave the golfer asking for a strong two shotter to finish the round, but instead give them (15, 17, & 18) three driveable par fours. The eighteenth is without a doubt the worst hole on the course as it doglegs left about 175 yards off the tee around a thick stand of trees. As much as I want to give it a higher rating, the reality is it’s only a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-45 minutes to play).
[From Cleveland, it’s just a tad over two hours to Monroe, but it’s in the perfect location if you’re looking for a game driving either to or from Detroit.]
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