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 |
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Reviewer Photos
Fun Course, great challenge
A fun, challenging course that really rewards you for shot placement. Was in great condition when we visited, very quick greens
Great Shape, Challenging
I have played the course a few times, but have never seen it in better shape. Greens were fast and true, and the rough was thick and penal. A good challenge.
Big Ten course
Played the green tees. Great setup. Challenging course. Big greens with subtle breaks
Good course in general but amazing for the price
The west course is already a beautifully tree-lined course, with relatively skinny fairways. If you can play here for $30-40, then you’re getting a Timber Ridge or Hawk Hallow quality course for $20-30 cheaper. Great blend of looks, value, and difficulty.
Great course with extremely slow play and no marshals.
MSU west
The course is in great shape the greens are big soft and fast. We played in 3hrs40mins. We checked in at the grill window which was fine with us . No contact we loved seeing the pieces of swim noodles in the cup we tip our hats to them for that. This tells us that they care about the safety of their customers. Good job MSU we will be back.
Excellent
The course and the staff are excellent. The layout is challenging and requires strategy with every club in the bag. If your playing from the tips, the par 3s are tough. If I had to pick a negative, I’d say the tee boxes aren’t flat on most holes.
Excellent
Course conditions were excellent, course staff was very friendly and helpful. It’s been about 3 years since I had played this course but it felt great to be back. Excellent experience. Will definitely be back.
Fun course
Fairly open but a good test of overall game. The pace of play was pretty slow but we still enjoyed the course
Course Conditions
Not up to the standards that I'm accustom to when . I understand that are short staffed right now.
Outstanding course
Tee boxes were nicely maintained, crisp grass but not too dry or too moist. The fairways were cut perfectly as well as the greens. The greens were perfect to where the roll wouldn’t “die” after 6 inches and allows me to put true! Even with Social distancing guidelines in play, Forest Akers West still went out of their ways to allow us to have a great round.
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