Built to resemble a Scottish links-style course, the 27-hole facility at Orchard Hills nearly pulled it off. Located directly off of Interstate 85 in Coweta County, Ga., the open links-style course gives motorists a brief glimpse of the rolling terrain, high grass in the rough and few trees.
Orchard Hills, located at 600 East Highway 16, is divided into three 9-hole courses: The Orchard (3,006 yards), The Logo (2,946) and The Rock Garden (2,941). The good news is, Orchard and Logo are links courses. The bad news is, Rock Garden isn't. On this day, Rock Garden and Logo were played.
Orchard and Logo strongly resemble one another and give this course taste of Scotland, minus the red clay and Southern twang. Maybe they should import some bagpipes. From several vantage points, you can see several other holes. That's not the case on the Rock Garden, which offers mostly tree-lined fairways.
Orchard Hills forces the golfer to use most of the clubs in his or her bag and offers an array of slopes to hit from. You will have your share of uphill/downhill lies, and even a few lies on perfectly flat terrain. Sand traps aren't a big issue here as most greens feature just one of the hazards.
Overall, the course was in decent shape. Nothing special. Greens were okay. The Rock Garden wasn't exactly picturesque. Work can be done at Orchard Hills to really make the place stand out, as far as cleaning up in some underbrush areas. It's got great potential.
Check out the facility's Web site at http://www.orchardhills.com/ or call 770-251-5683 to set up a tee time. Rates range from $39.95 to $49.95, depending on the day. Special twilight and replay rates are also available.
Several holes stand out. The Logo's first, a 306-yard par 4 gives heavy hitters hopes they can reach the green in one. Except there are three problems: 1) the hole travels uphill, and 2) there's a pesky sand trap directly in front of the green, and 3) much of the fairway travels to the right of the green, forcing those wanting to reach the green in one to carry the rough and the trap.
The fourth hole is a pretty, 141-yard par three with an elevated tee box and small pond in front of the green. Landscapers were busy working on the green the day I played, creating a bizarre mental hazard. They motioned to go ahead and hit, then proceeded to work. Not good.
The 97-yard, par 3 eighth hole also forces the player to carry water. It's not a pretty hole, as much of the lakebed was dry, exposing the red clay, and the rough to the rear of the green was overrun with unsightly weeds.
A fun, yet bizarre hole was Logo's ninth. This 536-yard par 5 featured a number of small hills to the right of the fairway, creating a tough second shot for those who land along their slopes. Also, the facility's driving range is just to the right of the fairway and the hills. Any slice to the right, and your ball is one of hundreds of other white ones. Good luck locating it.
Logo was fun and impressive. I'd play it again. I wish my back nine was the Orchard. Instead, I was treated to the Rock Garden. It's an OK nine, but not a links course like I wanted and not pretty enough to drive 75 miles from home to try. But, I did anyway.
Standout holes on the Rock Garden are No. 2 and No. 8.
The par 4, 304-yard second hole features a wicked, 90-degree dogleg to the left. Power hitters might want to steer clear of their drivers off the tee. Anything beyond 250 yards, and perfectly straight, could be trouble. A good 225-yard shot off the tee sets up a nice approach shot back to the left.
The eighth hole, par 4, 295 yards, has another dogleg to the left, just not as wicked. The fairway is undulated, so the approach shot can be fun.
Orchard Hills isn't the most pristine course on the planet, nor is it Scotland in Georgia, but it's worth a try for those in the Atlanta area who want to experience something different at a reasonable price.
Rating (1 to 10)
Fun: Links courses are often the exception rather than the norm, so just having the opportunity to play one is fun in itself. This isn't the most difficult place, so that helps too. The hills and high grass offer challenges. Score: 7.
Value: At $40-$50, the price isn't bad. I'd like to see some improved course, and rough, conditions for the money. Score: 6.
Amenities: Orchard Hills offers a stocked pro shop and restaurant. It also has a very nice putting green and driving range. Carts were gas-powered, but worked well. Never saw a beverage cart on the course. Score: 6.
Conditions: Fairways and sand traps in decent shape. Greens were ok despite the summer heat. Underbrush area in Rock Garden was hideous. Score: 6.
Difficulty: Overall, pretty easy. Hills provide some challenges, as do a few doglegs and forced carries. But not a bad course to start your kid on, or one to go for a personal best. Score: 6.
Overall: This is a fun place to play, but didn't meet my personal expectations. Orchard Hills has a lot of pluses and a few minuses. With more work and dedication to making this "Scottish links" course in near-perfect shape, Orchard Hills could really be one of the stronger venues in west central Georgia. I'd enjoy this place more, and give it better ratings, had I played the links-style Orchard nine rather than the Rock Garden. Que sera, sera. Score: 6.2
No comments:
Post a Comment