ORCHARD HILLS

Reviewer - Sean
Date - 9/12/09
Course - Orchard Hills- Logo/Orchard
Tees - 3
Fairways - 4
Greens - 3
Bunkers - 3
Layout - 3
Staff - 4
Pace - 5

Comments -
 I stop by and play 9 here and there. Cheap price for the "practice" round.
 Rarely anyone out to play, and with 3 9's they spread people out.
 The course is just getting worn down. Fairways are nice on some holes, and very tight on other.
Some are hardpan and weeds along the edges, and the rough runs into the fairways.
Bunkers have rocks and are on the thin side on majority of the holes.
Not a very long course, and while fun to play, doesn't have a ton of challenge to it.
Logo is one of the BETTER layouts they have, a mix of links and traditional flat courses.
Orchard is the links style, which is open and fun, but WILL cause you to lose a ball with an errant shot.
Rock garden is the traditional, tight wooded, dog-leg laden set up we all love. Great par 3's.
 Carts are old and gas, the cart paths are beaten up, and there are little to no tee markers, or guides on the course. No 150 markers in the fairways.
 The green are generally in good shape, although a bit on the slow side. Thats my personal take, others fine them really nice and pure.
Which I can't argue. Some greens are burned to death, bare, sandy and have other grass growing in them.
Logo is the worse, the shady parts of the greens, and 1 par 3 is just gone. They have attempted to re-sod and work it, but it's one of the worse greens I've ever seen.
 The staff is very nice though.. Very welcoming, easy to stop in and play if you want, without a tee time sometimes.
 The practice area is nice as well, full grass range, and a GREAT practice green.
 Good value for what you might pay, but it seems they've slacked off on the up-keep this summer.

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On July 21, 2009, Skip30263 posted:

Played Sunday the 19th, in the afternoon and it was very busy.
I have played this course for years and continue to be surprised that management doesn't do more.
Fairways were in nice shape and traps were okay, to on the thin side.
Some greens and tee boxes were plain bad. Cart paths are rough. Ball washers missing.
No 150 marker on many holes which made it tough for the long ball hitter playing with us. Seems like some minor attention would go a long way.
 Canongate has bought up a lot of southside courses and it has to be driving play to Orchard.
Certainly that day,  it looked like the money was coming in. It's a value course that could be more.


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On July 14, 2009, watty posted:

Played Orchard Hills last weekend. Staff was friendly and allowed us to jump right on the course when we arrived.
 The first 9 (can't remember which one) was in really good shape with the greens looking really nice.
Once we got on the back 9 (Logo) it was a different story.
Several of the greens were completely burned up and we were shocked they were letting people play them.
Honestly this is a good course when kept up, as we saw in the first nine.
 I enjoyed the layout, although its not really well marked from hole to hole.
All in all I would say a 3.5 out of 5 for total experience,  mainly due to the greens on Logo being shocking.


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On July 11, 2009, AC posted:

Great value! The greens are always in very good condition and roll well.
The layout is fair to all levels of players and the staff is very accommodating.


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On June 15, 2009, James posted:

Great course! Played in a scramble here and had a blast.
Very well manicured and laid out....Enjoy!


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On June 8, 2009, Seasider posted:

Played the original 18 last Sat 6/6 - Orchard and Logo Nines.
Service @ Orchard Hills is always excellent. The staff are very friendly and accommodating.
The grill room is ok. Please note no beer sales on Sunday - county law.
The course allows you to hit driver IF you hit it straight enough. The natives grasses will eat your ball if you are too wild.
And for the first time in a few years due to recent rains the rough is growing nicely enough to make a big enough difference in the shot you are thinking about.
 Fairways are nice and lush. The greens are always great here.
While they don't have big tiers or huge tricked up swales, they aren't easy and can be very fast esp. downhill.
I was only in 1 bunker - it was fine. A couple of tee boxes need work but you are hitting off a tee so not a biggie for me.
Pace of play is generally pretty fast too.
Overall I recommend you play it at least once - make your own mind up but I think you'll have a fun day and go back again ( and again).
Enjoy