
Katke Golf Course
Katke Golf Club
About this course
Katke Golf Course is an 18-hole public facility located on the campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Designed by Robert Beard and opened in the mid-1990s, the course serves both as a recreational amenity for the university community and as a training ground for Ferris State's Professional Golf Management program, one of the leading PGM programs in the United States. The course's dual role as both a playable layout and an educational laboratory gives it a distinctive character among Michigan public courses. The routing takes advantage of rolling terrain typical of central Michigan, with tree-lined fairways moving through a mix of open and wooded areas. Beard's design incorporates strategic bunkering and water features on several holes, creating variety in shot requirements while maintaining playability for golfers of different skill levels. The course measures over 6,700 yards from the back tees, providing adequate challenge for competitive collegiate play while remaining accessible from forward tees. Katke Golf Course hosts numerous collegiate tournaments and serves as the home course for Ferris State's golf teams. The facility includes a practice range and short game area that support both recreational play and the instructional needs of PGM students. The course's connection to the university's golf management program means it often reflects current best practices in course maintenance and operations, as students gain hands-on experience in various aspects of golf facility management.
Quick facts
- Location
- Big Rapids, MI, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1974
- Designer
- Robert Beard
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,967 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.5/124
Getting there
Most visitors to Katke Golf Club arrive via Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, roughly an hour's drive to the southwest, though smaller Roben-Hood Airport in Big Rapids serves private aircraft and sits just minutes from the course. The route north traces M-37 through a landscape of rolling farmland and dense hardwood forest, the transition from urban corridor to rural Michigan unfolding gradually as the road narrows and the horizon softens. Katke sits on the Ferris State University campus, its entrance marked by a quiet turn off the main road into a wooded enclave where the hum of student life fades and the serious business of championship golf begins.

FAQ
Common questions about Katke Golf
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Katke Golf was designed by Robert Beard.
Yes. Katke Golf is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Katke Golf is 72.
Katke Golf plays 6,967 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Katke Golf is 124.
Katke Golf is a 18-hole course.



