Front at Orchard Hills Golf Club

Orchard Hills Golf Club sits in Shelbyville, Michigan, a small community in Allegan County roughly halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The course was designed by Arthur Young, a Michigan-based architect active in the mid-twentieth century who built numerous courses across the state's southwestern region. Young's work typically emphasized playability for everyday golfers while incorporating the natural contours and vegetation of Michigan's glacially shaped terrain. The Front nine at Orchard Hills reflects this approach, routing through rolling farmland that transitions into wooded corridors.

The layout takes advantage of the property's elevation changes and mature tree lines, characteristics common to courses built on former agricultural land in this part of Michigan. Fairways generally offer generous landing areas, though strategic bunkering and greenside hazards require thoughtful approach play. The greens tend toward moderate size and subtle undulation, consistent with Young's design philosophy of rewarding accurate iron play without excessive punishment.

Orchard Hills serves as a community-oriented facility, drawing members and daily-fee players from the surrounding towns and lake communities that dot Allegan County. The club maintains a straightforward, welcoming atmosphere typical of small-town Michigan golf, where the focus remains on accessible play rather than exclusivity. The course provides a solid test of golf within a quiet rural setting, representative of the regional courses that form the backbone of Michigan's extensive golf infrastructure.