Katke Golf Course At Ferris State Univ

Katke Golf Course opened in 1974 as Ferris State University's course in Big Rapids, Michigan, laid out by architect Robert Beard atop the highest point in Mecosta County. The par-72 design blends links-style openness with tree-lined holes across rolling terrain, reaching nearly 7,000 yards from the championship tees while offering five sets of tees to fit every player. The course is named for Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Katke; Marvin, a Mecosta County native and Ford Motor Company manufacturing vice president, received an honorary Ferris degree in 1967, and the couple's gift helped launch the project. Katke is home to Ferris State's PGA Golf Management program, the first such program in the nation, where the clubhouse doubles as a hands-on learning lab for students preparing for careers in golf operations. The course marked its 50th anniversary in 2024.