
Katke-Cousins Course
Oakland University Golf & Learning Center



About this course
The Katke-Cousins Course at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center in Rochester, Michigan, was designed by Robert Beard and Bill Newcomb and serves as both a public golf facility and an educational resource for the university's golf management program. The course occupies land on the Oakland University campus in suburban Detroit, providing accessible golf in a setting that balances recreational play with academic instruction and research. The layout reflects the relatively flat to gently rolling terrain characteristic of southeastern Michigan, with routing that accommodates players of varying skill levels while supporting the center's teaching mission. The course design incorporates features typical of modern public facilities in the region, with strategic bunkering and water hazards that create interest without overwhelming recreational golfers. The property's integration with the university allows for programming that extends beyond traditional daily-fee operations. The Golf & Learning Center functions as a laboratory for Oakland University's sport and recreation management students, offering hands-on experience in course operations, turf management, and hospitality services. This educational component distinguishes the facility from conventional municipal courses, as it serves dual purposes of community recreation and professional training. The center includes practice facilities and instructional areas that support both public lessons and academic coursework. The course provides golf access to university students, faculty, and the broader Rochester community, maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for beginners while offering sufficient challenge for experienced players. Its location within the Oakland University campus creates a distinctive setting among Michigan's public golf options.
Quick facts
- Location
- Rochester, MI, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1975
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Robert Beard, Bill Newcomb
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,225 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.3/140
- Course Vaults score
- 8.2
Getting there
The journey to Oakland University Golf & Learning Center begins at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), roughly forty minutes northwest through the sprawling suburbs that gradually yield to the wooded, rolling terrain of Oakland County. The drive traces Interstate 75 before peeling east onto quieter state routes, where strip malls fade and the landscape opens into the kind of mid-Michigan greenspace that feels surprisingly removed from the metro sprawl. As you approach the Rochester campus, the transition is complete - academic brick and open fairways replacing concrete, the learning center emerging as both a public amenity and a quietly serious training ground tucked into the university's northern edge.

FAQ
Common questions about Katke-Cousins at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Katke-Cousins at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center has a Course Vaults score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 8 logged golfers.
Katke-Cousins was designed by Robert Beard and Bill Newcomb.
Yes. Katke-Cousins at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Katke-Cousins is 72.
Katke-Cousins plays 7,225 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Katke-Cousins is 140.



