Ackerman-Allen at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

Played this course back when it was Ackerman Hills and a Bill Diddel course and again when Dye redid the course and it became Ackerman Allen. While I am disappointed that Pete redid another of his mentor’s Bill Diddel’s course. However, it is a much better course now.

AA has the better terrain, better greens, and a better layout than Kamden.

PACE: Was with one of the first groups off the tee and was able to walk 18 in around 3:30.

CONDITIONS: Perfect. The sand was excellent (as I was in plenty of it), and the tees, fairways and greens were just as great. Fix your ball marks!

STAFF: Incredibly helpful! Thru e-mail they helped me set up tee times so I could play all 36 holes in one day. In the clubhouse they were friendly and provided guidance as to where I needed to go. After finding the flagstick on #8 missing, the starter was very attentive in calling the grounds crew to get that addressed. Even the grounds crew would waive and compliment a good shot. Best all-around staff I have encountered in 2022!

VALUE: I figure the non-Purdue rate is meant to help subsidize the course so Purdue students/faculty/staff can play at a lower rate, but still... that public rate is steep. As great as the conditions and staff are, this is not a place I could regularly visit.

LAYOUT: Ackerman-Allen has some elevation change, but nothing to prohibit walking the course. #6 is a tough par 5 with a demanding tee shot. Holes 10-12 are are fun, scoreable, way to start the back 9.

Much like a going to a good steakhouse for a birthday or anniversary, I would save this course for a special occassion.

I've been told that the Ackerman-Allen course at Purdue is the easier of the two courses that make up the Boilermaker Golf complex. I found that the Ackerman-Allen course was challenging yet playable. I could see a very good player enjoying this golf course as well as a high handicapper.

I really enjoyed the variety of par fives that this golf course offers. Some were three shotters, while others were reachable in two. The sixth hole is particularly interesting as an aggressive tee shot will open up a chance to go for the green and two.

I found the course to be an excellent condition with very good greens. They rolled true and fast enough without being unfair. Unfortunately the course had seen several inches of rain in the prior days so it didn't play overly firm. I'd like to play it again under firmer conditions.

Overall Ackerman-Allen is a really fun Pete Dye design that incorporates many typical Dye design elements but remains more fair than some of his more famous designs. I highly recommend the Ackerman-Allen course.

My first time playing the course since it’s renovations. Great course and in great shape! Traps are strategically placed and well maintained. Staff was super friendly. Will be back to play again!!!

If you are goin to play KAMpen, you must play here too! Really a beautiful “parkland” layout but with extra elevation change. I came to play both, expecting KAMpen to blow me away and just playing this became I was part of the Pete Dye golf trail. Boy and I glad I did, I really enjoyed it.

Played Ackerman-Allen in an IGA tournament and the course is a great tournament course. The course conditions were awesome with greens running at fast but true pace, fairways were in excellent condition and cut tight, and rough that could be penal (like it should).

The general back and forth layout make a great setting as you can see across many holes and a preview of hole locations coming up as well. Play the course as it presents itself upon walking on the tee and one should play fine. There are five set of tees: The White tees are about 6,300 yards and most should play these tees. If one goes back to the next set of tees, Blue (6,800 yards), be prepared for much longer holes on 2, 5, 17, 18 with some holes needing a long drive over ravines to the fairway. If one wants to play the black tees (over 7,500 yards), good luck with No. 5 Par 3 that plays to 300 yards.

Course amenities are OK, there is a halfway concession stand with no beverage cart on the course. Drinks and Snacks are pricey. The driving range is OK, with the tournament at the site they put us on very weedy rough grass, did not let us use the better part of the range, very strange. Nice short game area and putting green(s).

Recommend a few rounds at this course.

What a spectacular course. Classic Pete Dye design. Challenging tee boxes, fairways and greens. Yet friendly enough for junior golfers and high handicappers to want to come back again. First time here and the course was as fun to look at and admire as it was to play. My second course bon the Pete Dye Trail. We will be back for sure.

I loved the Ackerman course. It was an outstanding parkland style layout with quick greens. The course is in fantastic shape tee to green. The bunkers are extremely playable. The practice facilities are second to none This course has everything you'd want out of a day of golf.

Played the Ackerman course on a Sat morning, had almost perfect weather. I never had the chance to play the old course before the redo, so I won't discuss the changes.

Course is very well grassed, appears to have grown in well. Tee boxes, fairways and greens were in solid shape. The "hills" moniker is fairly accurate, as the course kinda weaves back and forth over a ridge. Front 9 plays pretty close to one another so watch for errant shots. Layout is fair - I don't see a whole lot Pete Dye in this though. There's not much trouble left, most of the tee boxes point you right down the middle, and the greens are kinda big, some undulation, but not overly quick. The bunkers seemed easy to avoid. The bunkers were in pretty bad shape really. I only hit 2, but none had been raked and all were pretty thin on sand.

The rough is bluegrass, and where it was thick, it was mean; otherwise it was playable. There are some fun holes, requiring some know-how to place your tee shot (9, 11 are fun). From the whites, the par 5s were gettable, made it fun. #6 is a tough par 5, fun. Par 3s are just ok, nothing too remarkable.

They've got a set of championship tees that are a mile long, likely only useful for college teams. I think the blue tees showcase the course the best, but even with this it looks and plays like a 50$ course. We only got here today because we got a deal and hadn't had a chance to play it. Had I paid 95$ I would have been pretty disappointed; the Kampen course across the street is worth the money, and is easily the better course. This track needs to reconsider pricing and settle in as the "little brother" course. Next time in Lafayette I'll play Kampen.

Ackerman, which was reworked by Dye in recent years, is a solid parkland-style layout. Not nearly as tricked up as Kampen on the other side of the street. But it still has the dye hallmarks of chipping areas, railroad ties, and sneaky greens. Some elevation change and trees do await on some holes, but it's a very playable layout. Everything was in great shape tee-to-green. It would be a beast from the tips with a 300 yard par 3 and 500+ yard par 4 on the card. It carries a high price tag as others suggest, but it's well worth a stop if you're near Purdue/Lafayette or on I-65.

Played here twice, both times was impressed with layout and course conditions, but a little indifferent to layout. Greens were pretty flat and predictable. There are more than one hole that are very similar to old South Course.....yet fees are $90 if you don't have a Purdue Card, $39 if you do (senior rate). The Burke facility is top drawer, but there are now two $90 courses on site, pricey for the area....with old South (Ackerman Hills), you still had two distinct choices and price points.

Pace of play is OK, but ran into an issue recently...was given first tee time in advance (playing as a solo), yet four groups went off before me (I was 15 minutes early!!)...skipped #2 green , plus #3 and #4 then pace was fast, slowed only by mowers, which you would expect playing early in morning....btw...this is a beautiful course!!!

$95 Greens Fee is extremely high. Course expectatio ns fell far short of what was promised. Liked the character of the old Ackerman / South course much better. Wait to play until Greens fee comes down to $50 .

Played Ackerman today for the opening shotgun start scramble tournament for the Purdue Staff Golf League (I have played this course at least 40 times, maybe more). We shot -3. and I won the longest drive in the fairway with a 300-yd drive on 12, our last hole of the day.

I park on this course for Purdue football games, so it was fun to play it instead.

The course was in great shape. It has a variety of challenging greens along with narrow fairways.

Sand traps could be maintained better, The course was enjoyable - wonderful trees.

As a Purdue student I have played this course at least 20+ times over the last few years. I really like walking Ackerman! The holes are spaced just enough to keep the tee box from being on top of the previous green but close enough to make it a nice walking course.

The course feels a bit dated--Fat Jack won the Big 10 golf championships here when he was at Ohio--but, despite the older feel to the course it has a nice "mature" feel. The leaves make it hard to find your ball at times! However, the course looks stunning during the fall when the leaves are gold, yellow, red, etc.

This course can also get VERY busy, depending on when you play, so beware of slow play.

Worth a play if you are in town for a few days. If you are only able to play one course while visiting the Purdue area the more memorable course is the north course called Kampen.