Mike, I played Akers West a number of times in the 1970s, before they changed the course. 18 was not a par 4 back then. It was an uphill par 3, that I used to hit 4 iron or 5 iron into. Can't recall if we could see the pin, but definitely couldn't see the green or the hole. The short par 4 was 10, which (real) long hitters could drive.
I liked Akers OK, but never felt it was great. Most memorable experience: I saw an encounter between a hawk and a squirrel, between the 3rd green and the 4th tee, where the hawk had the squirrel dead to rights, but somehow the squirrel stared down the hawk and made it to the nearest tree safe and sound.