The West at Forest Akers Golf Course
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 |
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Reviewer Photos
Wet, fun day!
I grew up playing this course. So, it’s near and dear to me. Played front 9 in a steady rain. Still, the course held up. Greens were fast and true and course drained well. Lots of fun!
Very nice course
This was the first time I played here. I really liked the course. It had been raining previously so the course was very wet (read that lots of plugged balls) and it was cart path only. The course is not super challenging, quite honestly there's not a lot of trouble to be had out there unless you hit very errant shots. The course was filled with young MSU students (I'm guessing they get a discount). I was by far the oldest guy out there and being a Michigan alum I was out numbered on that front also. I'd definitely play this course again.
LuvGolf
I think this course is nice and worth playing if you can catch the price at 35 bucks or less
This course used to be a premier golf course, but the conditions have gone down tremendously. Hopefully they get the course back and it's premier condition.
Disappointed in overall condition
Had high expectations for a top 25 college course, fairways not very good compared to Katke Ferris.
One and done, old layout, noisy.
A great day on a fine course
The weather absolutely perfect and the course was in excellent condition. I wished to have played better but that's golf.
Good could be better
Peace of play was 5 hours, some spots on course were dead but probably due to being low spots and lots of rain recently. Greens were very good though so no complaints there. Staff was nice but would of been nice to be notified that the snack shack was not open on saturdays. Course just needs a little TLC.
Great course but some damage.
Good condition today but there is some flood damage. Need to pick up ball marks more from divots. Make sure u know directions 2 the West b4 tee time.
MSU Wedt
Great directions to course. All member friendly. No cart guy to clean clubs or to take you to car. No carts in parking lot. Golf cars are old. No USB port and several had ripped seats. That was disappointed since the rest of the place was top notch for a university. Will play again.
Very good course
Course was in very good shape, even for having a lot of rain the night before. Course was wet, but very playable. Challenging layout, fun to play. Could try to vary lengths of par 3s with tees and pin placements.
Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. Please know the current conditions are by no means the standard we strive to achieve. We will continue to work towards a 5-star experience and we hope to see you back!