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The West at Forest Akers Golf Course
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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 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 |
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Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Slow pace of play
Very slow pace of play on a Friday in the middle of the day. We were on pace to play a 7hr round of golf. No Rangers on the course to keep the pace of play moving. They allowed way too many twosomes out which was causing a backup on every hole.
Great course. Looking forward to play again
First time playing course and I enjoyed every second of it. Looking forward to play again in hopes the knowledge gained will show a better score next time around
Front nine a little slow, but the pace picked up on the back nine.
Great layout, and the course was well maintained. Didn't see a ranger and the pace of play was slow the front nine, but things picked up the back nine.
Will settle the score with this place one day ....
I dont know what it is about the West course, but every time I play it I feel like I left some shots out there. It plays tight and from the right tees will always be a challange...no matter how many times I play it. Do yourself a favor and walk. Few courses that stretch out this far are so easy to walk.
Nice Course
This course is a very good deal for students from MSU. The university owned course provides students with a means to play a round of golf at a decent price. The East course is not as nice as the west though, so if youre looking for a pristine maintained course with more challenge, then the west course is the way to go
Fantastic Course!
Honestly a hidden gem. Went to MSU for 8 years and never played the course until now, usually opting for the less expensive east course. The West course was as pristine a course as Ive played, absolutely zero issues. Thick, lush, green everywhere you look, beautiful hole layouts, true greens. Everything you could ask for in a course, highly recommend it.
WEST: MSU's Golf Course
I love this course. One of my favorite in the area. East is not so nice, West is great. If you have the opportunity to choose between the two, take west.
Good, but not must-play
The grass on the fairways and greens there is amazing, which is a product of the turf grass center that the university runs. However this lush grass makes putting a bit difficult as you will barely touch the ball and it rolls well past the cup, but the next hole the ball comes up 10 feet short. Decent elevation changes throughout. A bit crowded compared to other area options. Range balls are too expensive, 12 bucks for the large bucket. Several sucker pins that make it a good shot if you are within 20 feet. Overall a decent course but id rather spend my 30 bucks at another course.
this course is not that simple
i love playing on this course,it is clean,well maintained,good staff.
Very nice course.
I like playing here. Good conditions and well laid out.
Great value
Akers West was a course I had wanted to play for some time. Not living in the Lansing area, it was a bit of a drive--and worth it. The course is excellently maintained and visually appealing. A nice mix of long (for me) par 5's and short-ish par 4's. The punishment for mishits is not severe, though you can find yourself on Forest Rd. if you slice on a par 3. Be careful. The course is not really designed to give a player much roll, as it is supple and lush. Thanks to the friendly staff for a great experience! joe
Nice
Very nice, can be difficult, old course but well maintained
every hole mature tree lined almost park like setting. You have to think your way around this course.
Greens were very receptive/ soft and super fast. Very tough to read, lots of unseen subtle breaks. US Open like--- got to love it. Tip- stay below the hole, every hole
The course had a nice layout.
At the time I played the course had experienced heavy rains. The course has a very nice layout and I will return to play under normal conditions.
Nice local course. Greens are always challenging and well maintained!
Play several local courses in Lansing and this one is always at the top of the list for value and overall course condition is excellent. My advice though stay out of the rough. Will add a few strokes to your round.
Excellent greens
The West course is a very difficult test of golf for a 15 handicapper but a lot of fun, and I got a great deal on golfnow.
Thanks
This course has been "under repair" year after year.
A facility that offers instruction in golf course management does not seem to be able to figure out how to manage their own golf course. Hole # 3 has been "under repair" for a countless number of years. Also, if you want to collect fertilizer for your garden on you golf shoes, the numerous deposits left by the geese provide that opportunity, both on the fairway and on the greens.
Rain and wind
Would definitely go back and play again. It rained our entire round but the weather was the only unenjoyable part.
This is a solid well kept course
We play here several times a season, they have made some changes and some of the ground are under repair but its early and I will assume thing will be cleaned up as soon as the weather gets better.
Akers West is always a great deal when played for under $50
Course was in the best shape of any I've played this fall, always in great shape and a challenge from either of the back tees
Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package
