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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
256 Reviews (256)
5 Stars
148
4 Stars
91
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.1
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.5
90.1%
Recommend this course
242 out of 256 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
3.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
3.0
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
3.0
50.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 2 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
7 Reviews (7)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.4
85.7%
Recommend this course
6 out of 7 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7013 yards
Slope 141
Rating 75.3

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.

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Forest Akers West Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1958
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 3/15 Closed: 12/01

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School Academy Yes - "Spartan Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Accolades

Reviews

4.5
256 Reviews (256)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 13
Undulating Greens 11
Elevation Changes 9
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 14
Locals 13
A Weekend Splurge 8
This Course's Location is:
On a College Campus 17
Convenient to the City 13

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

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 !!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 51
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Michigan Advisor
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great memories

This is the course I learn to play the game on. Always challenging and in great shape’

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

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!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 53
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 116
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

First Time

Well worth the 2 hour drive. Course needs to be played a few times to figure out the greens and course management is key. You can get into real trouble if you don't know where to place your tee shot..
Will be back !

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

West course

The west course is fantastic! Great conditions, friendly staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

As always, course in immaculate condition! Not having played in 21 months, I wanted to play at a course I enjoy and one I knew would be in top notch shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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