Detroit police are investigating vandalism and a chemical spill at Detroit Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, after two greens at the club were damaged.
According to ABC 7 WXYZ Detroit, club superintendent Stephen Moynihan informed the membership that the 11th and 12th greens on the North course were believed to have been hit with Glyphosate, which is an ingredient in the herbicide product Round-Up. Glyphosate essentially kills off weeds and grass. Photos posted on Facebook by MasonGolf show large brown patches in zig-zag and figure-eight patterns on the greens.
Though the grass has suffered severe damage, Moynihan told members that the roots of the grass remain intact. The Detroit Free Press published part of Moynihan’s letter, with Moynihan stating, “The greens will need to remain closed to allow the fastest possible recovery time and to keep any undue stress off the plants. The length of time the greens will take to recover will continue to be weather dependent, the colder the weather, the slower the recovery. I will be working in conjunction with the PGA Tour Agronomy Department to develop an appropriate plan for optimal recovery.”
According to local Detroit outlets, police are pursuing leads to track down the parties responsible for the damage, while adding additional security and lights to the club.
Detroit Golf Club was founded in 1899 and features two Donald Ross courses. The club has hosted the Western Amateur and US Mid-Amateur, and has served as host of the Rocket Mortgage Classic since the tournament began in 2019. The 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic is scheduled to begin in two months. At the time of writing the PGA Tour had no comment on the matter.
