Carl F. Rose, who took a small driving range in Pontiac, Michigan and built it into one of the largest and most successful golf retail companies in America, Carl’s Golfland, died in early March. He was 91.
Carl’s Golfland is currently celebrating its 62–year anniversary and its place as one of the most successful golf retail and range operations in the country. Carl learned the game looping bags at Pontiac Country Club for some great local amateurs and using caddie privileges to play the course on Monday mornings, sometimes running between shots to fit in 54 holes.
After owning a food market, and after a short stint at the first driving range location in Pontiac, Carl moved his new golf business down Telegraph Rd. to its current location in Bloomfield Hills. It’s gone through various renovations and iterations, that once included a small golf course that was lit at night, and other family attractions. Carl added a second location in Plymouth, MI in 2000 and launched a successful online business that year as well. The retailer has won several top 100 golf retail operations in the country, year after year.
A PGA Life member, who was very active in his church and community, Carl found ways for golf to make people’s lives better. A program of great pride – “First club for kids” – provides children with their first golf club for free. Carl F. Rose is survived by 3 of his 4 children and their families.
