(The 200/175 yard par three fourth is a small target with bunkers guarding the front left and front right. It’s less yardage to carry the right trap.)
For a public course, Roseland packs a wallop of a challenge. The pushed up greens are adamantly defended by deep traps that guard the front and the sides. There are few opportunities to run the ball on. Getting the ball in the air is key and being in the fairway is imperative. The fairways move in both directions with trees and bunkers guarding them. The bunkers are positioned throughout the course to disorient depth perception and make one think about line and shot shape.
(The 419/408 yard par four first lulls players in with a forgiving entrance to the green. A ridge in the rear makes putting across a delicate task. A classic Donald Ross firm handshake.)
(The 521/498 yard par five second has a bunker that directly crosses the fairway. The player must be honest with himself and ask if he can reasonably carry this trap. If the answer is yes then it becomes a good birdie opportunity with a simple pitch left for the third shot.)
(This view from the right of fourth green shows how elevated it is from the fairway. This particular green has a distinct ridge in the rear with the left side of the putting surface higher than the right.)
(This trio of bunkers guard the inside angle on the par four sixth. These ones are a little more forgiving with playable lips that one can elevate the ball over. With many of them, this is not the case.)
What I love about Roseland is it’s fearsome challenge even though it’s a municipal course. Anyone who calls this home knows that a good score is not going to be graded on a watered down bell curve. You’re going to have to earn it! That means taking advantage of the par fives which are on the short side. It should be noted that Ross had two of these playing as par fours! That should give one an insight into the quality of play Ross expected from those playing here.
(The 396/384 yard par four seventh has an elevated green that demands a high aerial shot. Four bunkers guard the front and sides.)
(The 209/183 yard par three eighth has a water hazard guarding the front and right side. It used to be a ditch but was expanded into a hazard during the 2011 renovation. Plenty of teeth makes this a tough par.)
(The 420/410 yard par four ninth possesses one of the toughest drives of the day with water left and trees right. The long second is over the same hazard as it cuts back short of the green. The building in the background is the curling center 🥌. The Scottish invented that game too!)
(My favorite hole is the 505/487 yard par five twelth. The green is nonchalantly placed to the right, effectively making this a double dogleg hole. The bunkers in the foreground deceive the players line and the amount of carry to the green. Players who hit the ball where the golf is in picture will have a dicey pitch over the trap.)
(Like four, the 197/163 yard par three thirteenth is a no nonsense shot that must carry over the traps to securely hold the green. Deep traps guard both sides from balls hit offline.)
(The 468/460 yard par five fourteenth is the shortest three shotter on the course but it is well bunkered against mishit shots. A ball that draws over this pair has a good chance at rolling on the putting surface. This is the best opportunity for birdie before one encounters a rigid finishing stretch of holes.)
(The 467/435 yard par four eighteenth finishes the round in style. This very difficult driving hole has trees and sand off the tee before turning left and leaving a large green with a slight opening for a second…
…note the amount of room available to a running shot. In the back right, a ridge eats into the putting surface and forms a Sunday pin position just over the front right trap. Four is a good score.)
Roseland flies under the radar but it caught my attention when the founder of the Walking Golfers Society spoke profusely on golfclubatlas about it. I have a strong respect for his opinion and it instantly made my list of courses to play. Surprisingly, Windsor is only 2.5 hours from Cleveland. Roseland’s only downside is its flat terrain which gives the course a redundant look as the holes tend to look the same. Taking this into account, I can only give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play) but it’s definitely worth a look should you find yourself in the Detroit area. I read one reviewer remark it’s the toughest Ross course in Canada. From the tips, I have no reason to think otherwise.
[We played the white tees at 6162 yards. I pointed out earlier that the par fives were key, and it should be noted that I played them in -3 and my friend played them in -2. We both shot well and I feel 76 for both of us were good scores. 9,17,18 are no joke even from the white tees. Roseland does have a little par three course for those looking to get a few swings in. For my money conscious friends, $40 to walk makes this a terrific value!]
{Lastly, if you love pizza, which I do, then I highly recommend Antonio’s! The crisp and crunchy crust coupled with the sweet sauce and saltiness of the meat lovers toppings made this a grand after round treat!}
