Lansing Area Features Elite Golf Courses

Transcription

1 Country Club of Lansing Lansing Area Features Elite Golf Courses Hole No. 18 at Forest Akers West Golf Course. Head coach Mark Hankins and the Michigan State men s golf program would like to extend a special thank you to Walnut Hills Country Club, Timber Ridge, Hawk Hollow, Eagle Eye, The Emerald, College Fields and Country Club of Lansing for their generous support of Spartan Golf. The availability of eight area courses completes our total facility package here at MSU, Hankins said. Our golf courses offer a blend of convenience, variety and a high level of diffi culty needed to test and improve golf skills. Constructed in 1908, the Country Club of Lansing is one of the oldest courses in the Capital City area. The par-72 course, which features Bermuda turf fairways and putting greens, hosts an estimated 25,000 rounds of golf per year. The Country Club, located on Lansing s west side near the Grand River, measures nearly 6,700 yards and has a slope rating of 130. The Country Club of Lansing is long known for its fast greens, tree-lined fairways, and pristine conditions. It is truly the total country club experience. Country Club of Lansing Lansing, Mich. Spartan Men s Golf 37

2 Eagle Eye / Hawk Hollow Michigan State Golf A 27-hole premier golf course, Hawk Hollow offers three diffi cult nine-hole courses that have slope ratings from 131 to 140. The venue also features an 18-hole natural grass putting course, two driving ranges and a Himalayan practice green. One of the greater Lansing area s most scenic and challenging courses, Hawk Hollow s 18-hole layout measures nearly 7,000 yards. It is bentgrass from tee to green, the only such course in the greater Lansing area. Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow East Lansing, Mich. Hawk Hollow Golf Course Bath, Mich. The Lansing area s newest premier course, Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow opened in early The par-72, 7,308-yard championship course plays to a 76.4 rating. Constructed on a former sod farm and cornfi eld, Eagle Eye was designed by Chris Lutzke, a longtime course-shaper/ builder and protege of the legendary Pete Dye. No longer a fl at vista, Eagle Eye is now a landscape of tumbling fairways and sprawling greens. Nearly 41 acres of wetlands and open water bodies were created in the course s making, and water is part of shot-making strategy on 13 of the 18 holes, including the 169-yard replica of the TPC at Sawgrass island-green 17th. 38 Spartan Men s Golf

3 The Emerald / College Fields The Gem of Mid-Michigan is a classic Jerry Matthews design. Playing to 6,683 yards, the championship design offers length with a combination of plush fairways and lightning-quick greens to challenge golfers at all skill levels. The 18-hole, par-72 layout features the beautiful Emerald Lake splitting the 9th and 11th fairways and an array of difficult par 3s. Located just north of Lansing, the Emerald plays host to numerous junior, amateur and high school events. In addition, the Spartan golf family is well represented at The Emerald, as alumnus Ed Kelbel Jr. is the Director of Golf. The Emerald at Maple Creek St. Johns, Mich. College Fields Golf Club Okemos, Mich. College Fields is a traditional golf club centered on historic and strategic design of the classic architects of the 1920 s. The golf course enhances the natural open meadows, tree stands, sand hills and outcroppings of the rolling terrain. This course is of great challenge and character having large dynamic greens and impact bunkering. The 6,311- yard, par-70 design is the focal point of a new neighborhood development, which integrates housing from cottage style condominiums to country estate homes. This Golf Club Neighborhood theme is linked to the Old School days of College and Resort Golf Clubs, and is an extension of the farm and equestrian fields of Michigan Agricultural College. Spartan Men s Golf 39

4 Timber Ridge / Walnut Hills Michigan State Golf Honored by Golf Digest as the nation s fourth-best new public course when it opened in 1990, Timber Ridge Golf Club has maintained its status as one of the country s top public facilities. The same magazine recently recognized Timber Ridge as one of 12 public golf courses in America with a fi ve-star rating. The 18-hole, par-72 course layout is sculpted into the natural hills and woodlands of the area and features more than 60 varieties of trees as well as wetlands. The venue measures nearly 6,500 yards and has a diffi cult slope rating of 140. Timber Ridge Golf Club East Lansing, Mich. Walnut Hills Country Club East Lansing, Mich. The former host of the LPGA s Oldsmobile Classic, Walnut Hills boasts some of the finest putting surfaces in the country. A tight, well-developed golf course in pristine condition makes for an awesome golf experience. The 18-hole, par-72 course measures 6,500 yards and has a slope rating of 125. It features creeping bent grass and annual blue grass fairways and tees as well as three ponds and more than 50 bunkers. The 186-acre course also contains three wetlands, fi ve acres of forest and three acres of natural grassland. The course s practice venues include a bent grass tee area, blue grass target greens and a practice bunker. Located just fi ve minutes north of campus, Walnut Hills has been a favorite venue for Spartan golfers since the beginning of the golf program. 40 Spartan Men s Golf

5 MSU Golf Center MSU Golf Center The MSU Golf Center, located at Forest Akers East Course, is mid- Michigan s premier golf practice facility. The $1.2 million state-of-the-art facility opened in May 1997 to rave reviews and steady crowds. The center includes a three-acre bent grass practice tee, a separate teaching tee, practice bunkers, target greens and a 20,000-square-foot putting green. MSU s Golf Center, combined with Forest Akers East and West Courses, offer dynamic and diversifi ed golf instruction for all ability levels. A 20,0000-square-foot putting green provides ample space for several golfers to sharpen their skills. Michigan State team members refine their swings on their own practice tee area. The facility also features color-coded yardage markers indicating the distance from your tee to each of the six target greens on the range. The center is a great benefi t for the Spartan men s and women s golf teams, and serves as a major attraction in recruiting top high school golfers to the MSU program. Perhaps the nation s premier collegiate golf practice facility, there is also a tee area set aside exclusively for the use of the Spartan men s and women s golf teams. No one in the Big Ten, and maybe no school in the country, has a facility like ours now, Forest Akers course manager Ken Horvath said. The short game area adds a great deal to our varsity programs. This is a big asset to the program, and to the community. The facility was rated as one of the top 10 new ranges in 1997 and among the top 100 in the nation. Golf Dome Inclement weather doesn t keep Michigan State men s golfers from honing their skills. The Spartans have unlimited access to the indoor facilities at the FunTyme Golf Dome south of campus. The centerpiece of the state-of-theart facility is a 120-yard driving range with 32 hitting stations. Golfers are able to work on their games year-round in climate-controlled comfort under the dome s tefl on roof. The Spartan golf staff conducts teaching sessions at the Golf Dome. The facility also hosts clinics on a regular basis. Spartan Men s Golf 41

6 On-Campus Facilities Michigan State Golf Strength and conditioning is an important part of the MSU golf program, and the team has a number of training venues at which to prepare for the season. Among them is the Duffy Daugherty Athletics Building weight room. One of the largest facilities of its kind in the Big Ten Conference at 9,000 square feet, the Duffy Daugherty weight room, while primarily used by the Spartan gridiron squad, is utilized by MSU s other varsity student-athletes. Spartan golfers also work out in the strength and conditioning areas found in Jenison Field House. The fi eld house is home to the sports medicine facility that serves the MSU golf program. Perhaps the most unique facility Spartan student-athletes can use for their benefi t is the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center. The 31,000-square-foot center, named after the mother of former MSU basketball All-American and current NBA star Steve Smith, houses classrooms, study halls, a conference room, tutorial rooms and a computer lab. The mission of the facility is to ensure the success of Spartan student-athletes. MSU men s golfers can access the 9,000-square-foot weight room located in the Duffy Daugherty Building. Zac Zedrick (above) and Andrew Ruthkoski (below) work out at the Duffy Daugherty Building. The athletics training room at Jenison Field House, home to MSU Sports Medicine. 42 Spartan Men s Golf

7 Forest Akers West Golf Course Forest Akers Golf Course... Located on the picturesque campus of Michigan State University, Forest Akers West Golf Course is one of the premier golf courses in the region and ranks as one of the best collegiate facilities in the country. With its unique setting as an arboretum and challenging layout, the West Course earned a four-star rating from Golf Digest in In addition, The Detroit News selected Forest Akers as the No. 6 spot in the rankings of public golf courses in the state of Michigan and the past two years, the Lansing State Journal selected it as the Best of the Best. The History Behind the Course... Hole No. 18 at Forest Akers West The land for the par-72 (36-36) course was donated by Michigan State alumnus Forest Akers of Detroit, with the provision that the course also serves 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 architect W. Bruce Matthews designed the original layout for Forest Akers West Course. The course underwent a $1-million renovation in 1992 by former Spartan golfer Arthur Hills of Arthur Hills and Associates. Owned and operated solely by Michigan State University, Forest Akers West and its sister course, Forest Akers East, offer the fi nest facilities for the collegiate golfer. Why Forest Akers West is a Championship Course... Forest Akers West has hosted the 1998 Big Ten Men s Golf Championship, the 2002 NCAA Women s Central Regional, the 1994 NCAA Women s East Regional and the 1997 Women s Big Ten Championship. As home to the annual Bruce Fossum/Spartan Invitational in the spring and the Mary Fossum Invitational in the fall, Forest Akers West provides a first-class environment for college golf. With 36 holes available, Forest Akers offers the finest practice and golfing facilities for collegiate golfers. Hole No. 3 at Forest Akers West Spartan Men s Golf 43

8 Forest Akers West Golf Course Michigan State Golf The Spartan men s and women s teams have their own respective locker rooms, a trophy showcase, a club fi tting room, equipment room, club storage area and offi ces for the head coaches. The golf teams purchased the old West Course pro shop and renovated the area. The Spartans clubhouse is one of the fi nest in the nation, granting the student-athletes a place to play golf as well as relax and work on academics. Housed alongside the clubhouse, MSU also has an indoor practice facility. The facility will allow Spartan golfers to practice their skills yearround in any type of weather. Forest Akers West underwent $1 million renovation in 1992 by former Spartan golfer Arthur Hills, including 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. What People are Saying About Forest Akers West Course... Coach Mark Hankins: Forest Akers West is one of the top fi ve collegiate golf facilities in the nation. It is diffi cult, fair, and maintained at the highest level. The beauty, difficultly, and convenient location are just a few elements of what makes it such a nice place for our programs to call home. Our athletes have access to all of the amenities the course offers, and the outstanding facilities really are impressive to recruits coming in to take a look at Michigan State. Forest Akers Course Manager Ken Horvath: Forest Akers is not only an asset to Michigan State, but to the Lansing area as well. With the recent additions, the West Course will offer facilities to the golfers that it did not offer before. The West Course challenges every type of player. Players need a premium of shot selections with the challenging layout. Those that visit the course are struck by the beauty of its uniqueness with the wide assortment of trees. The West Golf Shop and Snack Bar is located in the lower level of The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development. Hole No. 12 on Forest Akers West Golf Course. 44 Spartan Men s Golf

9 MSU Golf Facility The Spartan men s and women s golf teams moved into a new home The Rearick Golf Complex prior to the start of the school year. The MSU Rearick Golf Complex houses the coaches offi ces, a team room which will display their successful history and lockerrooms for each team. Student-athletes have their own custom-built oak locker with space for all necessary golf equipment. It s a first-class building, said MSU head coach Mark Hankins. When anyone takes a good look at our facilities, they know that we are a top program in the country. This is a big-time facility and our alumni, friends and private donors made it possible. We can t thank them enough. Spartan Lockerroom MSU Golf Facility Team Room Spartan Men s Golf 45

10 MSU Golf Facility Michigan State Golf Bruce and Mary Fossum Practice Facility Adds Flexibility to Spartan Golf Program Men s golf coach Mark Hankins entered East Lansing in 1999 hoping to build the golf program into one of the nation s elite. With highly-touted recruits and first-rate golf courses, Hankins was only missing one piece to the puzzle. Hankins unveiled the program s latest addition two years ago, proudly opening the Spartans new practice facility at the Rearick Golf Complex in November The facility overlooks the 13th hole on the Forest Akers West Golf Course and features an expansive putting green, three hitting stations and the revolutionary V-1 Video Swing Analysis System. We have the best of all worlds; we have two golf courses, coaches offi ces, lockerrooms, and an indoor practice facility all in one place, Hankins said. When you have that, you get a feeling of home. This is our team oasis, in the middle of a great 36-hole golf facility. The new practice facility features four hitting stations and a 1,080 square-foot putting surface. Regardless of the weather, the MSU men s golf team can practice comfortably. The men s and women s golf teams both benefit from the new facility, sharing the spacious and recently technologicallyupgraded facility next door to the teams offi ces. I think having the facility located directly next to our offices, at the golf course, makes it extremely convenient for the coaching staff to be on hand at all times when the student-athletes are here, Hankins said. It s a lot easier to adapt to individual schedules. The players can spend a lot more time practicing because they can come out anytime they want. The on-campus facility is open to the players from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily, creating maximum fl exibility between the players class and practice schedules. In addition to the location benefits, the facility features unique practice resources that allow players to work closely with the coaches year round. Players can concentrate on all aspects of their game - from chipping and putting on the green, to full-swing shots and analysis with the hitting nets and the V-1 System. The putting green is 1,080 square feet and effectively recreates an outdoor putting surface. The green accepts and reacts to spin off chip shots and its speed can be modifi ed by rolling the surface, much like a natural-grass green. I like being able to hit chip shots, because when you start the spring, your chipping and short game is a little rusty, 2005 fi rst-team All-Big Ten honoree Andrew Ruthkoski said. This replicates the actual greens we play on. Chipping areas are located at the corners of the green and along one side of the green, allowing players to practice chip 46 Spartan Men s Golf The Rearick practice facility offers greater flexibility in the players practice schedules, allowing players to shape their practice routine around their classes. shots from various distances and angles. With subtle breaks in the green, players can chip uphill or downhill and onto different terrains from different lies. The players putting remains a high priority with the new practice green as well. The green s size is user-friendly, as players can practice lag putts or choose to build confi dence and work on short putts. It allows us to maximize the use of our practice time. It will keep us sharp and ready to compete in the spring, Ruthkoski said. Staying sharp in the off-season also has been easier because of the new V-1 Video Swing Analysis System. With the V-1 System, players can digitally record their swing and identify specifi c mechanical fl aws. Once a fl aw is identifi ed, players

11 MSU Golf Facility can make the necessary changes and track their progress while they change their swing. I think it s going to really help with our swings, senior Mitch Pierce said. You can analyze a lot of things you can t catch with your naked eye. The video system was built to specifi c V-1 specifi cations for the Spartan practice facility and is one of best video analysis systems in Michigan, Hankins notes. Players can not only analyze their swings and track personal progress, but they also can compare their swings to professionals and learn from the best players in the world. Not too many schools have a video system like this, so to be able to utilize it to make serious improvements is defi nitely an advantage, said Zac Zedrick, a three-time Big Ten All- Academic honoree. said. They re changing golf swings without the repercussions of a bad golf score. Hankins and the squad immediately took advantage the facility, capturing the program s first Big Ten Championship since 1969 at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wis. The team went on to compete in its third NCAA Regional in four years, fi nishing in a tie for 13th. The facilities have distinguished our program from a very equal playing fi eld, Hankins said. But don t think that Hankins checklist is complete. State of the art practice facility check; Big Ten Championship check; continued Big Ten success and National Championships With the combination of the putting green and the V-1 System, Hankins is looking forward to a productive off-season. Though the Spartans do not have the luxury of playing several rounds of golf in the off-season, Hankins said it s not necessarily a disadvantage. Right now, our players are improving mentally and physically without having to go out and score on a golf course, Hankins V-1 Video Swing Analysis MSU s indoor practice facility features the V-1 Video Swing Analysis System. The system gives the coaches and student-athletes the capability to analyze their swing, allowing for a comprehensive analysis. In February 2006, MSU s Men s and Women s golf programs dedicated the practice facility to the programs legendary coaches, Bruce and Mary Fossum. Some of the highlights include: Synchronize two swings in slow motion. Ability to slide a frame in all directions to best line up swings for comparison. Video overlay. Take two videos in Compare Mode and blend them together into one image. Using the V-1 Video System, players can analyze their swings from three different camera angles. Spartan Men s Golf 47

12 Senior Matt Harmon finished third at the 2005 Fossum Invitational. Michigan State at the 2003 NCAA Regionals at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan. Michigan State is covered by both local and national media, including the Golf Channel. Each year, Michigan State opens its spring schedule with the Green and the White alumni match in Texas. The men s and women s golf teams show off their catch after their fishing trip during the 2004 spring break. The team celebrates its Big Ten Championship in front of Sparty in the atrium of Spartan Stadium. 48 Spartan Men s Golf

13