Orchard Valley Golf Course

Orchard Valley Golf Course Overview
Beautiful Orchard Valley is 30 years old as of 2023, and the track is as fun as ever. The Fox Valley Park District muni is a challenging test that was ranked the #6 public golf course in Illinois by Golf Magazine in 2016. It has hosted notable events such as the Illinois Open in the past. In January 2023, the club signed a 5-year deal with Troon LLC, the largest golf course management firm in the country. The Fox Valley Golf Academy launched in June 2023 with “progressive instruction at every stop along the way” aimed at 6-14 year olds.

The well-manicured par-72 venue winds through several home communities and measures 6,745 yards from the back tees. Houses actually border a large portion of the course. Orchard Valley has well-designed holes that take thought to execute well. Most holes have generously wide fairways to play from, but missing them can be penal. There’s a huge amount of water here. Blackberry Creek runs southwest of the property and feeds a large lake that covers the western portion of the footprint. As a result, 7 holes run adjacent to this body of water that swallows wayward shots. Holes 5 through 7 contend with a huge sandy waste area several hundred yards long. The longest hole, #16, runs along the lake throughout its 551 yards. Among other things, it also features two long, thin bunkers measuring 175 and 125 yards. Trouble lurks everywhere. The course rating is 72.4, with a slope of 138.

There’s a driving range with grass tees here. A round bunker sits at the eastern edge of the range, which is a nice touch, so you can practice fairway bunker shots. Near the first tee, there’s a large practice green to get your calibration dialed in. Orchard Valley’s clubhouse is modern and houses a pro shop and a restaurant called Orchards. The pro shop is large, with tons of merch, and has a sign saying “Relax & have fun!” Always sage advice in my book.