LANSING AREA GOLF COURSES Head coach Sam Puryear 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 prepares us to be able compete on a national level at MSU, said Puryear. It offers convenience, while providing the diffi culty needed to test and improve our golf skills. FOREST AKERS WEST GOLF COURSE COUNTRY CLUB OF LANSING LANSING, MICH. 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. 39
A 27-hole premier golf course, Hawk Hollow offers three difficult 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. The Lansing area s newest premier course, Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow opened in early 2003. 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. HAWK HOLLOW GOLF COURSE BATH, MICH. 40
THE EMERALD AT MAPLE CREEK ST. JOHNS, MICH. 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 ninth and 11th fairways and an array of diffi cult par 3s. Located just north of Lansing, the Emerald plays host to numerous junior, amateur and high school events. 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. 41
TIMBER RIDGE GOLF CLUB EAST LANSING, MICH. 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. WALNUT HILLS COUNTRY CLUB EAST LANSING, MICH. The former host of the LPGA s Oldsmobile Classic, Walnut Hills boasts some of the fi nest 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. 42
MSU GOLF CENTER Michigan State team members refine their swings on their own practice tee area. 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 threeacre 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. 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. A 20,000-square-foot putting green provides ample space for several golfers to sharpen their skills. 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. FUNTYME 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-ofthe-art facility is a 120-yard driving range with 32 hitting stations. Golfers are able to work on their games yearround 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. 43
ON-CAMPUS FACILITIES 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 field house is home to the sports medicine facility that serves the MSU golf program. MSU men s golfers can access the 9,000-square-foot weight room located in the Duffy Daugherty Building. Perhaps the most unique facility Spartan student-athletes can use for their benefit 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 former 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. 44
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 fourstar rating from Golf Digest in 1999. 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. Hole No. 18 at Forest Akers West HISTORY BEHIND THE COURSE 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 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, and will play host to the 2008 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 fi rst-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 45
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 year-round 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 Sam Puryear: I am very impressed with our facility. I think right now we are in the top echelon of collegiate programs, especially in terms of facilities. Forest Akers offers a unique challenge and will play a major role in the preparation and development of our program going forward. 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. 46 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.
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 2003-04 school year. The MSU Rearick Golf Complex houses the coaches offices, a team room which will display the Spartans 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 Sam Puryear. 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 Locker Room 47
MSU GOLF FACILITY Rearick Practice Facility Adds Flexibility to Spartan Golf Program The Spartans unveiled their new practice facility at the Rearick Golf Complex in November 2004. 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. The men s and women s golf teams both benefi t from the new facility, sharing the spacious and recently technologically-upgraded facility next door to the teams offi ces. 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 benefi ts, 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. Chipping areas are located at the corners of the green and along one side of the green, allowing players to practice chip 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 Rearick 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 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 confidence and work on short putts. 48 Phase II of the Rearick Golf Complex is beginning this fall with the creation of a 30,000 square foot putting green surrounded by fairway chipping areas and bunkers. The green will be located directly adjacent to the team offi ces, locker rooms, and off-season practice facility. The design of the green was generously donated by alumni Arthur Hills, president of Arthur Hills and Associates, and construction is scheduled to begin this fall. This green will dramatically enhance MSU s ability to practice the necessary skills needed to continue to compete at the highest level.
MSU GOLF FACILITY 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 can make the necessary changes and track their progress while they change their swing. 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. The Spartans immediately took advantage of the facility, capturing the program s fi rst Big Ten Championship since 1969 in 2005, and again in 2007. Using the V-1 Video System, players can analyze their swings from three different camera angles. 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. 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. 49
Each year, Michigan State opens its spring schedule with the Green and the White alumni match in Texas. The 2004-05 team celebrates its Big Ten Championship in front of Sparty in the atrium of Spartan Stadium. The men s and women s golf teams show off their catch after their fishing trip during the 2004 spring break. 50 Michigan State at the 2003 NCAA Regionals at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan.