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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
Spring round at Forest Akers West Course
Considering the time of year the course was in very good condition. The snack bar was not open at 11:00am but one of the staff went back there to get a bottle of water for me. After our round was over I noticed it was open. The greens ran true and were consistant in speed.
Acres west
Challenging lay out nice greens beautiful fairways
Forest Akers West
I had a great time and the staff was friendly. The course is well-kept and presents a fairly moderate challenge. I would certainly recommend this course to anyone looking for a fun round!
Great course to play prior to a home Spartan Football game
Had a blast playing this course Fair layout, greens were in great shape and staff was friendly and helpful. Great pro shop and snack bar. Will definitely book again.
Fun, challenging course
Great course, excellent greens. Always fun to play.
West Course
Played West Course first time, fairways are in good condition, greens were quick rolled true to your line, staff was extremely helpful in making this 1st timer feel like a home course experience.
Wonderful
I live in Ga work in Lansing. As I was walking down what in my opinion the most beautiful fairway I've ever played on, it occurred to me. Holy smokes, bent grass fairways!! In Ga we can't keep or Bent Grass greens due to the heat and here it all was, beautiful bent grass everywhere! The greens, wonderful. The pace, heck, our threesome couldn't play fast enough to keep up with the 4 some in front of us and the twosome behind us couldn't keep up with us. From the 5 hour round I experience at my own club in Ga, sub 4 hour round was like finding a new animal species! The West course has it's own Android GPS at with free download. So, even another bonus. Wonderful. I can't add a 5th star just in case I get o play Pebble Beach someday.
It's About Time
Great challenging course with excellent fairways. Greens were soft and easy to attack. Here in Michigan from Georgia and can't wait to play this course again!
Gorgeous, hilly course
Forest Akers West is a gorgeous, hilly course. No hole layout at the tees, but a small map on the scorecard.
West is the course that sells alcohol during play from a cart (via the University Club). No alcohol sales at the clubhouse.
It's About Time
One of the best courses that I have had the chance to play since moving to Michigan about a year ago! Awesome staff and course! Can't wait to play again this week!!
Great course, bad cust svc at times
Its a saturday, snack shop closed. No mention of it from pro shop staff. On SATURDAY NO DRINKS,SNACKS, FRUIT, ETC AVAILABLE. Put up a sign, sell water and a few basic snacks from the pro shop.....SOMETHING!
THE COURSE IS AWESOME.
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