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A Closer Look at The Orchards Golf Course

The game of golf attracts players with skill sets that range from shooting for par, to bogey-golf, to merely hoping the ball remains visible as it heads for the trees. Fortunately, Door County offers a multitude of golf courses for all types of golfers.

Golfers looking for championship-style golf at an elite public course have to look no further than The Orchards Golf Course on the outskirts of Egg Harbor.

Widely regarded as a top public course, The Orchards was designed by William Newcomb before opening in 2000. General Manager Jack Jackson has been at the course from the initial permits in 1998 to the most recent tee time yesterday.

The Orchards is on its way to another successful summer in 2012, but not every season has come this easy. Jackson received a phone call late in the night on August 15, 2007, only to find out that the course clubhouse had been demolished in a fire. But The Orchards’ staff would not let a measly fire ruin golf for the many players it attracts from both inside the county and out. The next day The Orchards pro shop operated out of the back end of a trailer. Golf continues regardless of tragedy at The Orchards.

Although the course lacks an official PGA Professional, it falls short of excellence nowhere else.

Nestled in and amongst cherry orchards, nearly every hole exhibits at least one change in elevation, challenging the distance and coordination of every golfer. The Orchards also employs four sets of tee’s ranging from 5455 to 7206 yards.

The front nine is more wooded than its neighbor, but falls short of the back nine on most distances. The back also features a few beckoning water hazards, weakening the knees of any casual golfer.

Other golf amenities include a well-defined pro shop, golf lessons, driving range, putting green and an extensive bar and grill, displaying cheery employees at every corner.

If it is a Friday tee time that suits your fancy, you may want to make an entire day of it and spend the evening at the clubhouse to enjoy their Friday fish fry.

Whether it is a trip north from Sturgeon Bay or a journey south from the rest of the county, The Orchards at Egg Harbor will undoubtedly provide the golf, service, and nourishment to be well worth the voyage.