Carl F. Rose, shown above, who founded Carl’s Golfland in 1958 and turned it into one of the most successful golf retail and range operations in the country, has passed away.
The cause of death was of natural causes, his son, Carl E. Rose, reported.
At an early age, Rose owned the Newberry Market grocery store with his wife, Donna and friend Rudy Mazza when he had a chance to buy a driving range on the outskirts of Pontiac, MI. After a short stint in Pontiac, Rose moved his business down Telegraph Rd. to its current location in Bloomfield Hills.
Carl’s Golfland has continued to grow year after year. Carl added a second location in Plymouth, MI in 2000 and launched a successful online business that year as well.
A PGA Life member, who was very active in his church and community, Rose was always finding ways for golf to make people’s lives better.
Rose is credited with allowing customers to “try before they buy” by having demo clubs available to hit on the driving range. He also created the popular Demo Days promotion that brought manufacturers-reps into the store to meet with customers and the “First club for kids program” that provides kids with their first golf club for free.
Rose is survived by three of his four children and their families.
