Closed since October 2014 for renovations, the former Ackerman Hills Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ind., in the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex is now open to the public, featuring a new layout designed by Pete Dye.

Closed since October of 2014 for renovations, Ackerman Hills Golf Course, now known as the Ackerman-Allen Course, opened to the public in West Lafayette, Ind., this morning, the West Lafayette WLFI TV 18 reported.

The new layout is designed by golf course architect Pete Dye, WLFI reported.

“The thing that I looked at on the Ackerman-Allen that was so amazing, was how you could take a golf course that was already existing, and then completely redo it?” Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex Head Professional Dan Ross wondered. “Basically put the old course on steroids, and now you have a completely new golf course that was sitting in the same area that one already existed.”

Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex Superintendent Jim Scott said there was some concern among area golfers that the new renovation would lose the charm of the old Ackerman Hills, but Scott said that’s not the case, WLFI reported.

“There’s still all of the rolling hills, the trees, just all of the characteristics and the amenities that we had with the old South Course,” Scott said.

The best news for all golfers, it doesn’t matter your handicap, Ackerman-Allen is a course everyone can enjoy, WLFI reported.

“But when you get to the white tees, the gold tees and the silver tees, those holes actually rate easier than the whites, golds, and silver tees on the Kampen Course, so it’s really the best of both worlds.”

The first thing golfers will notice when they cross Cherry Lane is a different first hole. Number one used to run along the road back toward Northwestern Avenue. Now golfers will head straight off into the heart of the course. Also brand new because of the renovation are holes 15 and 16, WLFI reported.

“When we acquired the land a the corner of Cherry Lane, and McCormick that gave us a great opportunity to expand the footprint of the golf course,” Scott said. “Those two holes really set the tone as you’re coming around from 14, and you go into 15. You don’t even feel like you’re at the same place anymore.”

Now with two Pete Dye designs separated by just a couple hundred feet, Purdue is home to two distinctly different style courses. “If you play Kampen in the morning, and come over and play Ackerman you’re like in two different countries,” Scott said. “It is just awesome.”

The rates at Ackerman-Allen Course and Kampen Course are the same. The daily riding fee for 18 holes is $85. ‘Purdue Golf cards’ are available for a one-time cost of $49. With that card the daily riding fee is reduced to $49.