Forest Akers West Golf Course and Driving Range

With the addition of 300 yards, new bunkers, new tees and new greens, the $1 million renovation of Forest Akers West -- officially rededicated in May, 1993 -- ranks the course among the very best collegiate facilities in the country.

The renovation was done by former Spartan golfer, Arthur Hills of Arthur Hills and Associates. The renovation included all new bunkers, 18 new tees (from Blue Grass to Bent Grass), new fairway grass (Blue Grass to Rye Grass), seven new greens and an additional 300 yards.

In addition, a $1.2 million driving range and learning center have been constructed at Forest Akers (see inset), making the course an even better place to learn and improve.

Michigan State's head men's golf coach and golf course manager, Ken Horvath, said that the new course is something not only MSU should be proud of, but the community as well.

"Forest Akers Golf Course is not only an asset to Michigan State University, but the Lansing area as well," Horvath said. "The West course is the finest championship course in Lansing and the only one over 7,000 yards. With Arthur Hills redesigning, it has become a bigger asset to Michigan State."

Since opening in 1958, Forest Akers has hosted many fine collegiate and amateur tournaments and has come to be known as one of the top championship courses in the Midwest.

Last season, the NCAA Women's Golf East Regional took place at the course, and it received rave reviews. This year it will host the Women's Big Ten Championship, in addition to the men's annual Fossum Invitational.

"Our goal is to try to get an NCAA Championship in the not-too-distant future," Horvath said.

The land for the par-72 (36-36) course was donated to Michigan State by alumnus Forest Akers of Detroit, with the provision that the course also serve as an arboretum. Most of Michigan's native trees and a wide variety of shrubs are grown throughout the course and are arranged to create a unique setting for the game of golf. Forest Akers may be the only course in the country recognized as an arboretum. Grand Rapids architecht W. Bruce Matthews designed the original layout for Forest Akers West.

Owned and operated solely by Michigan State University, Forest Akers West and its sister course, Forest Akers East, offer many quality features, one of which is a three-bay, heated driving area, which provides year-round practice opportunities for the Spartan golf team. The facility is the only college-owned one of its kind in the Midwest and is considered to be a valuable and necessary step in the upgrading of the Spartan golf program.

In addition, Forest Akers offers a full-service golf shop, practice range, putting green and lockerroom facilities. The course is open to MSU students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the general public.

Forest Akers Driving Range/Learning Center

The already tremendous golfing facilities at Michigan State University's Forest Akers Golf Course have been improved dramatically entering the 1996-97 golf season with the addition of a new driving range and learning center.

The $1.2 million facility is among the best of its kind in the nation, according to Head Coach Ken Horvath, and will offer Michigan State golfers a new way to improve their games.

"No one in the Big Ten and maybe no one in the country is going to have a facility like ours now," Horvath says. "It will give our golfers a chance to work on their games. It's a big asset to our program."

The facility is open to the public as well as golf team members, although there is a tee set aside exclusively for the use of the team. Included are target greens, practice bunkers and an expansive, 20,000 square foot putting green.