Royal Oak Golf Club

Crash Engineer here. Was looking to play a quick peaceful round of 9 holes at this course - this was not the case. The plan was to play a round with 4 good friends that I have not seen in while. We called ahead to secure a tee time for a 5 man group (2 & 3 Man Teams) - this went smooth as the club manager Joseph A. Spatafore agreed to the booking and we went ahead and paid for the round a week in advance. Teeing off was great - at the 3rd hole, we even let a single guy group pass us as he was moving very quick. Everything went swimmingly until the 5th hole. We kept our group of 2 ahead of our group of 3 - everything was going great in terms of not bugging or holding up anyone else on the course. This is where the cart jockey (Ted) pulled up and harassed our group for the remainder of our round. According to Ted, Joseph A. Spatafore (Manager) would have never allowed our group as it was an odd number. Ted followed us from the 5th tee box, to the 6th tee box, and then to the 7th. How can one hit a good ball when Ted is breathing down our necks?! On the 7th Tee, Ted proceeded to tell us to get off the course because there was 5 in our group (Separated by 2& 3 man Teams). So we told them to have the manager come down to talk to us. Joseph comes down to yell at us because we were "holding up the course" when In fact, there was nobody behind. So I ask him, " Joseph, who are we holding up when there's nobody behind us?" He responded grudgingly with, "you're not holding up nobody". After that discussion, he threatened us with police intervention even after he agreed that we weren't causing trouble or holding up anybody. From that point, he made us separate our 2& 3 men groups to two groups of 2 and one group of 1. Not only did they harass us for half of the course, they also threatened police force while also creating a scenario where they caused a backup of golfers. Oh and one last thing - Ted the cart Jockey said it himself that he really likes to hound the golfers at this course. This was absolutely the worst experience I've ever had at a golf course, period. DO NOT GO HERE - the staff is rude and is very backhanded in what they say. Save yourself the stress and spend your money elsewhere.

**I REPEAT. JOE HIMSELF AGREED THAT WE WEREN'T HOLDING UP ANYONE AS THERE WERE NO GROUPS BEHIND US**

In response to Crash Engineer. You for got to tell the hole story. When you booked the tee time you were given two tee times. 3 and 2. At that time you were told no 5 somes. When you should up to play today you again were told we don't allow fivesomes. You were asked to play three and two. Once you got on the course you joined up to play Five 3 phone calls to the club house by other golfer on the course complaining about your group. The group in front of you finished 45 minutes ahead of your group. Your group to 2:48 to play nine holes. Yes the police were going to be called because you were refusing to break up. Sorry you had such a bad time, However you caused a bad time for the 40 golfers behind you. Go to another golf course and play 5 hold up the course and see how you are threated. I guarantee it will be way worse than you were treated at RO

Great course! Looking really good to start 2021. Good for beginners. Intermediate players would be good to practice iron play. Long par 3's.

Hello guys, I moved to Royal Oak MI in 2018 looking for courses to play and I fund Royal Oak GC, I see the reviews here and make me mad to read what people post when there angry, this is my review:

1.- This course don't allow singles, with I believe is a great think, if you call they don't book you in advance, you can come over and wait, like I say before I play in this course probably 5 times at week in season and 3 time in winter since I move here (the review from Shawn S. is very disrespectful and full of lies in my point of view as a member singe player) if they can give me a tee off I just practice my putting or drive next door to the driving range (with sometimes is actually better training for me).

2.-Joe Spatafore, this guys is on of the most amazing golf course manager I know, alway looking for solutions trying to people play fast and have fun (again Shawn S. review is very unreal and disrespectful).

3.- COVID 19 concerns, I play all around of metro Detroit every day and some weekends in the West Cost (Grand Rapids and Holland MI)and Royal Oak GC is being doing a great job since day one cleaning and dividing the cart seats, making sure we are safe and I really appreciate this (again Shawn S. review sound very angry and far for the true), I FEEL SAFE to play here every day, other courses don't even care about face mask and cleaning procedures.

4.- If your speculations are coming and play as a single player fast believe me Forget a bout it, this is the place to come an practice, meet some cool people and have fun, if they are busy just move on please, go next door and hit some balls or practice your putting with I'm pretty sure we all need...


see you in the course.

Jorge L Cherriz
Beverage Director of Culinary Investment RO
Instagram and facebook (Jorge L Cherriz)
9729630341

Look out for GM Joe Spatafore at this course. As we all know Covid 19 has hit our country hard but fortunately we can still enjoy outdoor sports/activities to keep our minds off the current situation just for a while.  I suffer from acute asthma which puts me in a position to have to be extremely careful in the current climate.  When wanting to golf I call ahead in advance to schedule a single T time so that I can get out and be active while protecting myself by social distance.  In this case I called 2 hrs in advance and confirmed a single round and was told to come in at the requested time and they would get me out no problem.  When I arrived Joe was in the pro shop so I approached him and said I called and was here for my single round.  Joe then said ok, "I know who im going to pair you with". This was surprising because I was very clear of my condition and that golf w/ a total stranger was concerning to me.  I explained my concern to Joe in which he replied " Well I guess you're not playing today!" This was the answer I received from the GM or lack thereof to my concerns.  I said this isnt right, I did everything in advance and confirmed and just drove 25 minutes to be here.  In addition I have played this course several times and said " I spend money here every week and never have this issue" and Joes reply was " well I guess i don't need your money" .  I understand that courses are busy and it's summer and in any other circumstance I wouldn't mind playing with a stranger but these are different times.  It's obvious that this course doesnt care about other ppls safety nor its reputation as to how customers are treated.  It was shameful on Joes behalf and feel that that sort of bad business isnt good for a community.