Orchard Valley Golf Course

The course was in very nice shape, particularly with the recent rains. Greens in great shape except for ball marks, which too many golfers don't bother to fix. The course noted via the GPS that the group in front of us was slow, and without prompting came out and asked them to move along. The round was finished in about 4:10, which I thought was very good. Restaurant and bar were nice, with friendly staff.

Orchard Valley is a very good value - $40 senior during the week and fyi they were charging weekday rates on 7/3 and 7/4......so even a better value this week as most courses charge weekend rates these two days. Course overall is in decent shape - sand traps hit and miss. This place gets a lot of play so you have to overlook the divot laced tee boxes but what you can't overlook is the slow play. We were waiting on almost every shot. The time of the round wasn't bad but upon arrival it was clearly obvious there were a few groups that were not even close to keeping pace.....the tee sheet was packed....went to the range and for a solid 1/2 hour did not see one group make the turn.. Greens are okay but slower than other courses. With the huge rain the day before the course drained very well and it was obvious that people were not used to fixing their ball marks (but they never do!!). Good facilities, range, locker room in basement with decent showers, halfway house is open, roving course nurse and we even saw a ranger for the first time in a long time. Nice patio for post round food/beverage. 3.65 stars recommended.

Despite the drought, Orchard Valley was in pristine shape. The greens, fairways and tee boxes were well-watered and luscious green. There was no comparison to some other courses I've recently played. The course has its share of challenging holes but it is a fair course for just about any golfer. My friends and I plan to visit it several more times this summer. The beverage cart also made frequent rounds to help keep golfers hydrated.

The course conditions and pace of play improved after a management change. More rakes are needed in some bunkers. Public courses need to ask golfers to fill divots, take bunkers and repair pitch marks.

4:15 round on a holiday, so pace was pretty good.

Great layout. Good fairways and greens. Greenside bunkers were a bit rough, most of which was due to players failing to rake.

Staff were very helpful and friendly. Good food in the restaurant.

Overall one of the better values in the greater Chicagoland area.

Tee boxes and fairways excellent condition. Greens the best we've putted all year. Challenging, yet fair course.

Nice layout and course was in great shape. I look forward to playing there again soon.

Good: Friendly staff, good restaurant, course lay-out good.

Need Attention: Tee Boxes are in really bad shape. Major fixing needed....... Ball washers are totally dry.

Had 5:30 tee time. Got off early because group ahead wasn't ready. Only backed up couple times through 9.

Open back nine most pairings seem to stop at 9.

Great time

Overall Orchard Valley pleases but does have a few faults. One of the very best senior rates - $40 on weekdays. Sand traps are mostly a miss and very few people even rake them.....just too lazy....and the golfing gods will get them for that. Tee boxes really need renovation. You always are trying to find that one place where your feet aren't in a divot. Fairways have lots of divots but not as much as high end Bowes Creek did. Greens are so so......very speedy downhillers.....however observed several playing partners putts take a hop or two. With the drought hard fast conditions.

Restrooms with running water mid-way through each nine. On course nurse service. Entertaining layout to play and it's great to see the halfway house open by the range and full restaurant service in the club house. Good patio for beverages post round. Locker rooms/showers in the basement.

Much of my deduction results from of the preponderance of slow play at this course.....even during the week.....and it's been an issue for many years now. Observing the clientele they are now drawing - pace will get even worse as this season progresses. We were generally waiting on the front nine on every shot.....but then the weather got iffy on the turn and a few groups probably quit.

Recommend but always gird for some very stupid slow players with no care for the course whatsoever.