Forest Akers West
Plan your round at Forest Akers West
The West Course at Forest Akers is Michigan State University's championship layout in East Lansing and the home of the Spartan men's and women's golf teams. Bruce Matthews designed it in 1958 and Arthur Hills redesigned it in the early 1990s. It plays as a par 72 of 7,013 yards from the Black tees (75.3 rating, 141 slope). The scorecard lists Big Ten Championship, Western Junior and Michigan state championship hosting.
- Public
- 18 holes
- Par 72
- Designed by Bruce Matthews (redesign by Arthur Hills)
- Opened 1958
Course strategy
Read the card before you play it
Walk the course
Forest Akers West hole by hole
Hole 1
340
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 2
472
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 3
372
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 4
279
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 5
276
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 6
344
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 7
145
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 8
451
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 9
138
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 10
154
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 11
346
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 12
182
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 13
431
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 14
356
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 15
334
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 16
304
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 17
428
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
Hole 18
342
yds ·White
No notes for this hole yet.
ScorecardView the full scorecard
Distances in yards
| Hole | Par | Hcp | Black | Green | White | Fossum | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 11 | 423 | 381 | 340 | 310 | 310 |
| 2 | 5 | 9 | 592 | 562 | 472 | 472 | 406 |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 426 | 389 | 372 | 322 | 322 |
| 4 | 4 | 15 | 322 | 294 | 279 | 270 | 270 |
| 5 | 4 | 17 | 338 | 316 | 276 | 276 | 252 |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 436 | 394 | 344 | 290 | 290 |
| 7 | 3 | 7 | 202 | 174 | 145 | 112 | 112 |
| 8 | 5 | 5 | 546 | 495 | 451 | 451 | 420 |
| 9 | 3 | 13 | 184 | 163 | 138 | 114 | 114 |
| Out | 36 | 3,469 | 3,168 | 2,817 | 2,617 | 2,496 | |
| 10 | 3 | 18 | 214 | 165 | 154 | 154 | 140 |
| 11 | 4 | 4 | 414 | 384 | 346 | 346 | 258 |
| 12 | 3 | 8 | 227 | 213 | 182 | 153 | 153 |
| 13 | 5 | 14 | 494 | 460 | 431 | 431 | 404 |
| 14 | 4 | 16 | 415 | 385 | 356 | 317 | 317 |
| 15 | 4 | 10 | 394 | 366 | 334 | 295 | 295 |
| 16 | 4 | 6 | 427 | 399 | 304 | 304 | 294 |
| 17 | 5 | 12 | 514 | 477 | 428 | 428 | 371 |
| 18 | 4 | 2 | 422 | 385 | 342 | 269 | 269 |
| In | 36 | 3,521 | 3,234 | 2,877 | 2,697 | 2,501 | |
| Total | 72 | 6,990 | 6,402 | 5,694 | 5,314 | 4,997 | |
| Rating / Slope | 75.3 / 141 | 71.7 / 137 | 68.6 / 127 | 66.5 / 127 | 65.5 / 114 | ||
| Women's rating / slope | — / 154 | 77.8 / 140 | 73.6 / 134 | 71.3 / 129 | 69.8 / 126 | ||
Scorecard data: OpenGolfAPI, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Before you go
Everything to know on arrival
Know before you go
- Call the shop at (517) 355-1635 to make a tee time
- The West Course is at 3535 Forest Rd.; the practice area and East Course are on S. Harrison Road
- Keep pace to two hours per nine holes and play ready golf
- The scorecard lists a digital yardage book and mobile app for iPhone and Android
Practice facilities
The Golf Center at MSU, a 20-acre practice area, is across the street at the East Course address (2231 S. Harrison Road). It has 18 heated and covered hitting stations open year-round, a three-acre bentgrass practice tee, practice bunkers, target greens and a large putting green.
Pace of play
The scorecard asks for a maximum pace of two hours per nine holes. Play ready golf, keep up with the group ahead, let faster players through, and replace divots, fix ball marks and rake bunkers.
Quick answers
Forest Akers West at a glance
Is Forest Akers West open to the public?
Yes. Forest Akers West is a public course.
How many holes does Forest Akers West have, and what's the par?
Forest Akers West has 18 holes and plays to a par of 72, from 4,997 to 6,990 yards depending on the tees.
Who designed Forest Akers West?
Forest Akers West was designed by Bruce Matthews (redesign by Arthur Hills) and opened in 1958.
What practice facilities does Forest Akers West have?
The Golf Center at MSU, a 20-acre practice area, is across the street at the East Course address (2231 S. Harrison Road). It has 18 heated and covered hitting stations open year-round, a three-acre bentgrass practice tee, practice bunkers, target greens and a large putting green.
What's the pace of play at Forest Akers West?
The scorecard asks for a maximum pace of two hours per nine holes. Play ready golf, keep up with the group ahead, let faster players through, and replace divots, fix ball marks and rake bunkers.
How do you book a tee time at Forest Akers West?
Call the course at (517) 355-1635.
Where is Forest Akers West?
Forest Akers West is at 3535 Forest Rd., Lansing, MI 48910.
Info last reviewed November 5, 2026. Policies change — confirm with the course before your round.
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Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP. Some hole outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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