Michigan State University Courses Earn Plenty of Praise
EAST LANSING, Mich - With the abundance of golf courses in the world, it's impossible to know which ones are truly the best.
It's one thing to hear a fellow golfer compliment a facility after a round of 18 - naturally taking into consideration the view might be slanted with the golfer's outcome.
And it's another thing to read about the greatness of a course in a publication.
But when multiple sources praise a course, it's time to listen.
That's exactly what's happening over the Forest Akers Golf Courses on the campus of Michigan State University. The facility is divided into an East Course and a West Course, with both layouts receiving honors.
The recognition form various reputable publications is amazing.
Golf Digest has given Forest Akers West Course a four star rating and the East Course a three star rating.
The Detroit Free Newsranked Forest Akers West course No. 6 in the state for public facilities while the East Lansing Journal gave Forest Akers West Course first place in their Best of the Best ranking the past two years.
"We can provide golfing a different level and different price points," operations manager Steve Ruthenberg said. "This is one of the best public golf courses in the state of Michigan and one of the better collegiate courses."
The home to both the Spartan's men's and women's teams, Forest Akers has hosted various collegiate events - including NCAA Regional action.
The two courses are very different, but both offer quality.
The West Course, the more complex of the two layouts, was designed by Michigan State graduate Arthur Hills in 1992 with renovations extending the length of the 7,000-yard course. New bent grass greens, 18 new bent grass tees, new rye fairway grass and new bunker highlight the changes.
The East Course was redesigned in 1997, changing the format from a par-71 to a par-72. Several trees and sand bunkers were added with the redesign as well as the addition of a new golf center.
"The East Course is shorter and easier," Ruthenberg said. "It's good for players of all abilities."
This golf center has professionally trained staff of PGA teaching professionals equipped with state of the art teaching tools like the Astar Digital Video Analysis system.
In fact, the golf center is one of the premiere facilities in the area. It features a 20-acre practice area that was rated in the top 10 in the nation when it first opened in 1997.
The center features a three-acre bent grass practice tee, two separate teaching tees, practice bunkers, target greens and much more.
Forest Akers recently opened its Short Game Range. This facility has two large target greens and practice bunkers that are used to sharpen those stroke saving skills.
October 7, 2002