Back
The West at Forest Akers Golf Course
Rating Snapshot
About
The West Course at Forest Akers is one of two 18-hole courses owned and operated by Michigan State University in East Lansing. The West is the premier tournament layout for the Spartan golf teams and also hosted the Division III Women’s National Golf Championship in 2021. The rolling and forested layout was originally designed by Bruce Matthews but was extensively renovated in the 1990s by Arthur Hills and received further updates in 2010. In the early 2000s, a new clubhouse and hotel was built on property that altered the routing of the golf course. There is also an extensive practice facility across the street at the East course and accessible to the public. The West Course is considered one of the Midwest’s finest, public-access campus courses and one of the best layouts in the Lansing area.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7013 yards | 75.3 | 141 |
| Black (W) | 72 | 7013 yards | 81.9 | 154 |
| Green | 72 | 6412 yards | 71.7 | 137 |
| Green (W) | 72 | 6412 yards | 77.8 | 140 |
| White | 72 | 5694 yards | 68.6 | 127 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5694 yards | 73.6 | 134 |
| Fossum | 72 | 5307 yards | 66.5 | 127 |
| Fossum (W) | 72 | 5307 yards | 71.3 | 129 |
| Silver | 72 | 5012 yards | 65.5 | 114 |
| Silver (W) | 72 | 5012 yards | 69.8 | 126 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 75.3/141 W: 81.9/154 | 423 | 592 | 426 | 322 | 338 | 436 | 202 | 546 | 184 | 3469 | 214 | 414 | 227 | 494 | 415 | 394 | 427 | 514 | 422 | 3521 | 6990 |
| Green M: 71.7/137 W: 77.8/140 | 381 | 562 | 389 | 294 | 316 | 394 | 174 | 495 | 163 | 3168 | 165 | 384 | 213 | 460 | 385 | 366 | 399 | 477 | 385 | 3234 | 6402 |
| White M: 68.2/130 W: 73.6/134 | 340 | 472 | 372 | 279 | 276 | 344 | 145 | 451 | 138 | 2817 | 154 | 346 | 182 | 431 | 356 | 334 | 304 | 428 | 342 | 2877 | 5694 |
| Fossom M: 66.5/127 | 310 | 472 | 322 | 270 | 276 | 290 | 112 | 451 | 114 | 2617 | 154 | 346 | 153 | 431 | 317 | 295 | 304 | 428 | 269 | 2697 | 5314 |
| Fossum W: 71.3/129 | 310 | 472 | 322 | 270 | 276 | 290 | 112 | 451 | 114 | 2617 | 154 | 346 | 153 | 431 | 317 | 295 | 304 | 428 | 269 | 2697 | 5314 |
| Silver M: 65.5/121 W: 69.8/126 | 310 | 406 | 322 | 270 | 252 | 290 | 112 | 420 | 114 | 2496 | 140 | 258 | 153 | 404 | 317 | 295 | 294 | 371 | 269 | 2501 | 4997 |
| Handicap | 11 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 4 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Snacks, Restaurant
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Forest acres West
Love the course. Nice layout challenging but not extremely difficult.
Always a Great Place to Play
This place has a special place in my heart as I learned to play there. Course is in great shape, challenging, and always fun to go around!
Great Course
One of my favorite courses in the Mid-Michigan area. Immaculately maintained course. Rough not too thick fairways were just the right speed for a good roll after landing. Large challenging greens. I would highly recommend if you are in the Mid Michigan area.
Superior Course
Great course and impeccable conditions. The greens were large and challenging, but were true and rolled the ball well. Fairways were lush and fast. Really enjoy playing this course.
Do not honor hot Deals
Great course. Greens are wonderfully frustrating.
The pro shop does NOT honor any hot Deals. No matter the time of day, the price does not change from their posted rate on the website. Buyer beware!
Overall, course was in good shape though. Greens were excellent and tough. That should be expected from a BIG10 golf course though.
Poor Management
We were playing in perfect weather - cloudless sky with bright sunshine. We were asked to leave because there was lightning 20 miles away - apparently this is how they operate. Having driven about an hour to play here and having just made the turn, this was extremely unpalatable. Radar showed the storm at the edge of the 20 mile radius and moving away. Management refused to wait for the storm to move out and closed the course even though a fifteen minute wait would have been sufficient for the storm to move out of the 20 mile radius. Obviously a University course funded by the state doesn’t have to cater to customers. Never again !!!!
Very Impressed with Forest Akers West!
I love to play when I travel and Forest Akers West didn’t disappoint! Michigan lacks a little scenery, but Forest Akers West was in phenomenal shape, and I feel like I definitely got my moneys worth! It was one of the prettiest courses I’ve played, and it has some challenges with tight fairways, vegtation, and hooks.
Great memories
This is the course I learn to play the game on. Always challenging and in great shape’
Glad I crossed this one off the list
Played very well on the back nine but the course was very enjoyable all the way around. I love that you can spray the ball off the tee a bit and just be a fairway over or have to punch out under a tree but no lost balls is always a fun round. Good test of tee shots and the in cart GPS made finding out the distance and aiming point easy. The challenge on this course is the green speed and size. Very fast greens so if you miss on wrong side it's 3 putt city and pretty small and normal shape. Expect to be on the collar a bunch but we found putting from there was a predictable ball path. Great conditions and noticed more than once on the greens minimal ball marks. So they either train the regulars well or have a great staff which fixes throughout the day.
$80 is steep for a Monday afternoon but a splurge round is worth it. We felt alone on the course but had 3 groups right in front of us so on a busy day I can see it being a little wild with balls flying around a bit.
Sidenote: Starter was shocked we paid $80. He said, WOW is that how much it is to play here nowadays? Didn't feel great for me and my playing partners but we march one and had a great one. It's only money.
Great track . . . and memories!
I learned the game playing this course and have played competitively there over the years. In great shape, challenging, but fair. Recommend to golfers at all levels!
Beautiful course
I have golfed this course a few times now wether that be tournaments or just having fun I love the courses layout and the condition it is always in. can’t wait to play it again it hope it’s soon
Best of Battle Creek Package
SW Michigan Golf Around Package
Pohlcat Golf Getaway Package
The Loon Golf Resort Stay & Play Package
