I consider Orange Hills my HOME course. It was the first course I played 3 years ago and is the course I rushed to after work many a days from the train station. This course is as family run as it gets; the whole Smith family takes pride in their course including “Bud” himself who has watched over the course for the pasty 50+ years. You will also get the family feel on the first green where there are sculptures of the  family dogs. Hole 1, which I eagled, is straight away and if you let it get away right you have two fairways wide in play still.  #2  is a decent length par 5 with a stream running through that can swallow up your drive. Best bet is to lay up with your tee shot. It is risk/reward so if you have wind at your back go for it and you can get there in 2 and eagle it like me. Next up is a par 3 with an uphill sloping green. Following that is a slight dogleg right long par 4. This hole is very tough and if you slice your drive at all your ball will not be found. I suggest aiming for the last bunker on the left. The fifth hole is the easiest hole here so let it rip and you will have a short wedge in. #6 is a dog leg left that requires a 230y tee shot to stay left and you will still have a mid iron in. Now its time to take on the hardest hole here. This is a long par 4 that bends left but the fairway slopes hard right; good luck. Closing out the front is a short par 4 and a par 3 who’s green slopes more than it looks to the right. Now for the back nine. Starts off with a long downhill 3, don’t take too much club here as there is water long and right. If you fade your drive you should be able to score on the par 5 11th(eagled this one too).  #12 and 13’s greens are protected by a pond so don’t be short. I am not a huge fan of the 90 degree dog leg right #14 but make sure you get it around that corner or else its a par 5. Tip- you need about 210 to get around the corner from the back tees. If you pure your drive on the next hole you will be left with a wedge in to a somewhat volcano green. Remember that big hill you went down on 10, now its time to go up it on 16. This is the toughest green here as it rolls fast back down the hill and right. You are not in the clear yet. #17  has a very sloped fairway so if you fade your drive I suggest you aim off the fairway left or else your ball may find the OB. The closing hole here usually leaves you with a smile on your face. It is barely longer than #17 but is a par 5(eagled this guy too…wish they were all the same round).

Note- there are not too many yardage markers here but there are small bushes on every hole 150 out if you don’t have your rangefinder.

Last Summer they added the one thing I thought they were missing all this time….a cart girl. And they didn’t just get any girl, this blonde was gorgeous with a beautiful smile and we all hope shes back again this yr.

Tee times can be made on their site and have daily deals on EZLINKS

http://www.orangehillscountryclub.com/

Overall it gets an 8+ and is a very fun, friendly place to visit.

• layout-8
• condition-8
• food- small menu but there s a bar
• staff- 10