Orchard Lake Country Club
Introduction & Table of Contents
Brian Sleeman
Head Golf Professional
bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com
Dominic DiLisi
Junior Golf Leader ddilisi@orchardlakecc.com
Junior programming is a hallmark of the Orchard Lake experience, and we are excited about the role golf can play in the club lives of the boys and girls of OLCC. This guide was created to serve as a one-stop-shop for the many programs, policies, and questions you might have given the size and scope of our offerings. From their first golf club to seasoned competition, there’s something here for everyone. Please reach out any time we may be of help, and we’ll look forward to seeing you and your families out on the course!
Junior Golf Staff Directory
BRIAN SLEEMAN
Head Golf Professional
Brian oversees the overall program and works closely with Dominic and the team in coordinating each season’s menu of programs and events. He was a baseball player until he participated in his first junior golf clinic at age 13, and that was it.
DOMINIC DILISI
Junior Golf Leader / Assistant Professional
Dominic is the face of junior golf at OLCC and runs all of our programs. He grew up as a caddie and has played the game since he was a young child. He brings a blend of enthusiasm, expertise, and an engaging sense of fun to each day of junior golf.
SCOTT PATTERSON
Teaching Professional
Scott has been part of the team at Orchard Lake for over 22 years, and in addition to private lessons, will be working closely with Dominic in the administration of the Motown Cup Academy for our more competitive juniors
CHARLIE SCHIEFER
PGA Apprentice
Charlie attended Seaholm High School and played competitive lacrosse in college before turning his attention to golf. He is beginning his career in the golf industry with a goal of becoming a successful instructor, and will be helping us with all of our junior programs.
RYLIE YUHAS
Golf Program Intern
Rylie has been a member of the caddie and golf services program for several years, and is also a member of the golf team at Adrian College. She is an all-around all-star and will be focusing on the summer program as well as time in the Golf Shop.
VISH DAS
Junior Golf Intern
Vish is a multi-sport athlete and will be with us this year for his first full season, focusing exclusively on the summer program. Vish just finished his freshman year at Michigan, and is excited to be joining the team and bringing his passion for golf to our juniors.
Golf Course Privileges
Golf Course Access:
Junior golfers may play as part of a group with an adult any time the golf course is available for open play (barring member-only walk-in periods). All junior golfers are expected to comply with all general policies relating to the use of the golf course and practice areas, including pace of play. Please note that while the pace of play policy is relaxed in the evening hours, groups are still strongly encouraged to invite faster groups to play through.
Junior Golf Certification:
Junior golfers ages 12 and above may qualify to play the golf course without an adult by completing our Junior Golf Certification test. This written and performative test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and focuses primarily on course care and etiquette. Please contact the golf professionals if your son or daughter would like to be certified for unsupervised play.
Reserving a Tee Time:
Tee times may be scheduled via the Orchard Lake website, smartphone app, or by contacting the starter or Golf Shop. Please note that junior golfers may make tee times up to five days in advance, and that same-day reservations are frequently available.
Junior Scorecard & Tees
:
Special junior tees have been set on the course to match the US Kids Golf recommended playing yardages, and are strongly recommended for those aged 13 and under. These tees are set at two different lengths and marked by plates in the ground. Please retrieve a junior scorecard from the starter booth to note their locations and help your kids keep score!
Golf Cart Usage:
Please note that anyone driving a golf cart must have a valid driver license with no exceptions.
Player Responsibilities
All players are responsible for helping maintain our golf course and practice areas for the benefit of all, and it’s a particular area of attention in our summer junior golf program.
DIVOTS
• In the spring and fall, gather the divot and/or its pieces and replace them, using your foot to tap it back into place.
• During the summer, use the sand/seed mix bottles to refill the divot and smooth it out with your foot.
TRASH
• Please use the dedicated receptacles on the course to dispose of any trash.
BALL MARKS
• Using a tee or repair tool, insert at the back of the ball mark and gently push the impacted turf forward - do not lift the turf as this would damage the roots.
BUNKERS
• Enter at the lowest point and use the rake to smooth out the divot and any footprints using the shallow push and rake method.
• Leave the rake outside the bunker and parallel to the line of play when finished.
Practice Areas
JUNIOR GOLFER ACCESS
Junior golfers under the age of 14 must have completed their Junior Golf Certification to use the practice areas without a parent or guardian present. Please contact the golf pros with any questions and we will be glad to assist in making sure your junior golfer is ready for practice!
SHORT GAME AREA
This is an ideal place to work on short shots on and around the green, but please keep in mind the following guidelines to ensure it is maintained at its best for the benefit of all:
Use the area between the tee markers for a variety of pitch and chip shots to the target green, taking divots only in the line formation, and kindly refill your divots afterward with the sand/seed mix as shown in the image to the right. Longer shots are not permitted.
The large practice green is to be used for putting and lowrunning chips only. If the ball flies higher than the short flagsticks on this green, it’s flying too high.
Please use caution when practicing at the bunker green and remain aware of others in the area.
DRIVING RANGE
Please access the range tee by safely walking along the road - do not cross the ninth green or the fairway in front of it.
Our range uses limited flight balls and is primarily set up on mats. Please comply with all posted signage on days when the turf tee is available for use.
Juniors are asked to politely defer to adults when the driving range stations are full.
PATIO PUTTING GREEN
This green may be used for putting onlychipping and pitch shots are not permitted.
Dress Code & Behavior
DRESS CODE
The golf dress code applicable to men and women is extended to their junior counterparts as follows:
Girls
Slacks or shorts/skirts at least mid-thigh in length
Sleeveless shirts must have a collar
Golf shirts with sleeves do not require a collar
Boys
Collared shirts with sleeves, always tucked in
Golf pants or shorts no more than 4” above the knee
Everyone
No cutoffs, t-shirts, or cargo pants/shorts
No leggings or spandex pants or shorts
No athletic wear, tennis apparel, or swim wear
Hats may only be worn facing forward
Shoes must be worn on the golf course and must be golf appropriate (no hard or aggressive spikes)
A NOTE ON FOOTWEAR
One particular challenge on our putting greens on and off the course is minimizing the damage from foot traffic, and this is particularly important for juniors.
Juniors are reminded to walk - never run - and to avoid twisting and scuffing motions by picking up their feet while walking. Proper footwear helps by ensuring less friction with the turf - for that reason, spikeless shoes are preferred, particularly tennis and general athletic varieties. Please see the golf professionals for help.
BEHAVIOR & ETIQUETTE
Golf is a game that celebrates good sportsmanship and demonstrating care for the golf course itself as well as our fellow golfers and staff, and we take the safety and care of your children extremely seriously. Poor behavior, bullying, and other issues will be handled on a case-by-case basis and may include the use of timeouts and, if needed, temporary suspension of golf privileges or junior golf attendance. Please contact Brian Sleeman or Dominic DiLisi with any questions.
Summer Program Overview
The summer program is an eight-week instructional series covering all elements of the game, including dedicated full swing and short game instruction, oncourse play, etiquette and rules tips, and in a schedule that blends into tennis, swimming, and sailing.
Our goal is to create golfers and prepare them for time on the course with their family and friends. We use concepts from US Kids Golf, Operation 36, and other programs with game-based instruction tailored to each age and ability. Four instructors will be available for each session to maintain effective class sizes and maximize instruction.
Mondays
Mondays are full-swing days on the practice range, making use of the new junior tee to ensure all children have more opportunities than ever before to hone their long game - from wedges to drivers and everything in between!
Tuesdays
This is the day we take to the course! Participants are sorted into groups and play a set number of holes with parent and instructor supervision. In addition to game improvement and playing formats, we focus on how to properly conduct one’s self on the golf course, from basic rules to course care and other points of etiquette.
Wednesdays
Wednesdays are all about short game, from putting and chipping to pitching and bunker shots. We make use of the short game practice area with a different topic and variety of games and drills each week tailored to each ability level from beginners to all-stars.
Summer Program Schedule
Age Group Mondays Tuesdays
Ages 5-6 OFF 1:45 - 2:45 1:45 - 2:45
Ages 7-8 1:15 - 2:15 12:30 - 1:30 12:30 - 1:30
Ages 9-10 9:00 - 10:00 10:00 - 11:15 8:00 - 9:00
Ages 11-12 12:00 - 1:00 7:45 - 9:15 10:30 - 11:30
Ages 13 & Up 10:45 - 11:45 8:45 - 10:45 9:15 - 10:15
Season Start: Monday, June 9
Season End: Wednesday, July 30
Bonus Day: Tuesday, August 5
Program Fees:
Ages 7 & Up: $425
Ages 5-6: $295
Attendance for each date is optional.
Please note that there will be no junior golf sessions on July 28 or August 4.
Summer Program Logistics
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP LOCATION
On Mondays and Tuesdays, our rallying location prior to and following instruction or play will be in the bag drop area near the Halfway House (except for Ages 5-8 - see below). For their safety and the benefit of the golf operation, children are not permitted to hang out or lounge in the cart staging area or the Halfway House itself.
On Wednesdays, we will gather before and afterward near the cart path heading from the parking lot to the short game area across the road as seen in the image below. For everyone’s safety, please be alert and use caution everyday when picking up and dropping off. This is also the assigned location for Ages 5-8 on Tuesdays.
PARENT CHAPERONES
Our success on the golf course on Tuesdays depends on parent volunteers to help chaperone groups while they play their assigned loop of holes. Chaperones may be parents or other adult family members and will be responsible for ensuring the safety and conduct of the players as well as helping transport groups as needed. Please contact Dominic DiLisi to sign up for your two required sessions and with any questions you may have.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Grab-and-go snacks are available on a daily basis in the Racquet House, and the Lakehouse is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for children interested in a more robust breakfast or lunch. Given its small size and focus on serving regularly scheduled golfers, the Halfway House is not an appropriate place for juniors to hang out before, during, or after junior golf sessions.
Iced coolers of bottled water will also be available in both the driving range and short game areas, and a cooler of grab-andgo snacks will also be available on the range on Mondays.
PGA Junior League Overview
The PGA Junior League program is an interclub and instructional series for kids ages 8-13, modeled after Little League Baseball. Participants wear custom jerseys and represent their club in light competition with other area clubs. Matches are played in a friendly two scramble format across nine holes, with each nine match split into three three-hole segments called flags (and each flag is worth one point). In addition to jerseys, each player receives a backpack, team hat, custom golf balls, and other goodies. The total cost is $410 per player.
Orchard Lake has two teams - the Anchors and Waves with joint practice schedules and individual match schedules (see the following pages). Note that when the two teams compete against one another at Orchard Lake on August 2, the Anchors are noted as the “home” team and the Waves as the “away” team. Practices will vary between on-course time (focusing on the format, strategy, and course management) and off course instruction in our practice areas.
PGA Junior League - Anchors Team
ANCHORS TEAM SCHEDULE
May 31 Away Match @ CC of Detroit (3:00 - 5:30 pm)
June 3 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 10 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 17 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 18 Away Match @ Meadowbrook TBD
June 24 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 8 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 12 Home Match vs Red Run (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
July 15 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 16 Away Match @ Plum Hollow (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
July 22 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 26 Home Match vs Dearborn CC (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
August 2 Home Match vs OLCC Waves (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
Match dates appear in bold.
Home Matches = Navy Blue Jersey
Away Matches = Teal Blue Jersey
ANCHORS TEAM ROSTER
Brook Blain
Matthew Chon
Russell Gasper
Alex Hughes
Robbie Izzo
Teddy Izzo
Noah Kattola
Noah Kemp
Henry Morgan
Angelo Palazeti
Zachary Zara
Download the PGA Coach App to stay in touch with our coaches for important updates all season:
PGA Junior League - Waves Team
WAVES TEAM SCHEDULE
June 3 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 10 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 14 Home Match vs Meadowbrook (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
June 17 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 22 Away Match @ Dearborn CC (4:30 - 7:00 pm)
June 24 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 29 Home Match vs CC of Detroit (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
July 8 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 15 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 22 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 23 Home Match vs Plum Hollow (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
August 2 Away Match vs OLCC Anchors (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
August 3 Away Match @ Red Run (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
Match dates appear in bold.
Home Matches = Navy Blue Jersey
Away Matches = Teal Blue Jersey
WAVES TEAM ROSTER
Landon Cummings
Greyson Cummings
Jasper Glance
Ainsley Hay
Ivy Honer
Aiden Kattoula
Jameson Knesek
Ben Lough
Reagan Penrod
Cameron Rock
Grant Standring
Download the PGA Coach App to stay in touch with our coaches for important updates all season:
Motown Cup
INSTRUCTIONAL ACADEMY
For those juniors ages 14 and up interested in a competitive high school golf career, the Motown Cup Academy is an ideal fit. Dominic DiLisi and Scott Patterson will once again be conducting a regular series of instructional practices focusing on a personalized approach for each student and covering all areas, from the fundamentals of the short game and full swing to course management and tournament strategy.
Technology is introduced in the form of TrackMan and video instruction, benchmarking progress as the season moves along, and the academy is strongly recommended for those interested in the interclub tournament schedule (though not required). Instructional practice sessions are scheduled on the following dates from 3:00 to 5:00 pm:
June 12, June 26, July 3, July 10, July 11, July 24, July 31
Please contact Dominic DiLisi with any questions!
INTERCLUB TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
June 16 Oakhurst G & CC 1:00 pm Shotgun
June 27 Oakland Hills CC 7:30 am Tee Times
June 30 Birmingham CC 2:00 pm Shotgun
July 9 Pine Lake CC 8:00 am Tee Times
July 14 Meadowbrook CC 12:30 pm Shotgun
August 6 Orchard Lake CC 8:30 am Shotgun
Tournament Scoring & Eligibility:
Tournaments match the traditional high school golf format. Participating clubs send a total of six players for these 18hole events, counting the top four scores from each club. The top individual boys and girls will also be awarded.
Please note that all Motown Cup participants must be able to complete a walking round of golf in less than four hours, and must not turn 19 years of age prior to August 7.
Academy & Tournament Package: $400 Per Player
Tournaments Only: $100 Per Player
Additional Programming
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION
In addition to the summer program, PGA Junior League, and Motown Cup, our team is pleased to share the following instructional opportunities for our junior golfers:
May - After School Golf Clinics (Times & Dates Vary)
August - Mini Camps (Times & Dates Vary)
September - After School Golf Clinics (Times & Dates Vary)
Registration is offered online in advance of each of these programs - please contact Dominic DiLisi with any questions!
FAMILY SCRAMBLE
The Family Scramble has been a popular addition to the golf calendar, gathering families of all ages for some outside-thebox fun in a casual, nine-hole scramble format. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, August 17, with a 4:00 pm start. Keep an eye out for registration to begin in July!
JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
The juniors take to the course August 9-10 for Club Championship Weekend! Competing on the same course as their adult counterparts, the kids are assigned groups and a set number of holes based on age. It’s a great opportunity for the kids to show their stuff and meet and play alongside their peers in light competition. Participants learn how to properly record their scores, apply the basic rules of golf, and practice good sportsmanship, with trophies awarded to the top finishers in each group. Registration begins in July!
Junior Golf Shop
Help your junior golfer look and play their best with a wide variety of apparel from brands like Garb, Greyson, Peter Millar, Johnnie-O, Swannies, and FootJoy. In addition to our online shop and in-stock product, we are happy to special order items from any of our vendors to meet your every preference, with your standard 20% discount on all apparel ensuring maximum value.
We are also able to help your junior golfer with all of their equipment needs, from their first club to golf balls, shoes, and gloves. Club-fitting is incredibly easy and critically important for kids, and we are happy to take trades on their old clubs to ensure they are always playing with the proper equipment at every stage of development. Shipping is fast and our golf professionals are here to help.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for updates throughout the season @orchardlakegolfshop!
Instruction
PRIVATE AND GROUP INSTRUCTION
In addition to the clinics and other instructional programs, our team of golf professionals brings over 150 years of experience and is here to help you make the most of your game. Reach out to any instructor to set up a lesson or gather a few friends and arrange your own private golf clinic. For your convenience, lessons may also be booked online using the OLCC member app!
Dominic DiLisi - ddilisi@orchardlakecc.com
(PrimaryJuniorInstructor)
Brian Sleeman - bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com
Ben Poppy - bpoppy@orchardlakecc.com
Drew Jenkins - ajenkins@orchardlakecc.com
Brandt Kierczynski - bkierczynski@orchardlakecc.com
Scott Patterson - scottyp@pga.com
Private Lesson Rate - $120.00 / Hour
Group Lessons - Contact the Professional
Additional Amenities
LOCKER ROOMS
Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the Men’s or Women’s Locker Rooms without a parent or guardian present. Please note that due to space limitations, lockers are reserved for members and spouses only, though juniors age 16 and over may share a locker with a parent.
BAG STORAGE
Bag storage is available as an option for all OLCC members. Juniors may store their bags in our bag room at the annual rate of $100. Our staff will retrieve and return them as needed, and they will automatically be retrieved in advance for any events or tee times when a junior is scheduled.
HANDICAPS
USGA Handicaps offer all players including juniors who play rated golf courses (red tees and beyond) an opportunity to record their scores, measure their progress, and compete fairly in events. Contact the golf professionals if your junior golfer is interested in signing up!
CLUB REPAIR
Our Club Craftsman, David Liblang, is available on a regular basis offering a wide variety of club repair services, from re-gripping and re-shafting to length and lie adjustments as needed. He may be reached at (248) 682-0100, extension 154, and his office is in the lower level of the Clubhouse.
Quick Reference
SUMMER GOLF PROGRAM
Starts June 10 / Ends August 5 Cost: Ages 5-6: $295 / Ages 7+: $425
Group Full Swing On-Course Short Game
Ages 5-6 OFF 1:45 - 2:45 1:45 - 2:45
Ages 7-8 1:15 - 2:15 12:30 - 1:30 12:30 - 1:30
Ages 9-10 9:00 - 10:00 10:00 - 11:15 8:00 - 9:00
Ages 11-12 12:00 - 1:00 7:45 - 9:15 10:30 - 11:30
Ages 13 + 10:45 - 11:45 8:45 - 10:45 9:15 - 10:15
No Junior Golf on July 28 or August 4
PGA Junior League - Anchors (Ages 8-13)
May 31 Away Match @ CC of Detroit (3:00 - 5:30 pm)
June 3 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 10 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 17 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 18 Away Match @ Meadowbrook TBD
June 24 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 8 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 12 Home Match vs Red Run (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
July 15 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 16 Away Match @ Plum Hollow (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
July 22 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 26 Home Match vs Dearborn CC (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
August 2 Home Match vs OLCC Waves (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
Jersey Assignments:
Away Matches = Teal / Home Matches = Navy Player Fee: $410
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
After School Golf - May / Sept (Ages 5-6 / 7-9 / 10-12 / 13+)
August Mini Camps (Ages 5-6 / 7-9 / 10-12 / 13+)
Junior Club Championship: August 9-10
Family Scramble: August 17
PGA Junior League - Waves (Ages 8-13)
DON’T FORGET…
Junior Golf Certification Test (for playing and practice privileges)
Dress Code Matches Adults
Junior Scorecard in Starter Booth
Junior Online Shop Available Questions?
Brian Sleeman - bsleeman@orchardlakecc.com
Dominic DiLisi - ddilisi@orchardlakecc.com
June 3 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 10 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 14 Home Match vs Meadowbrook (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
June 17 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 22 Away Match @ Dearborn CC (4:30 - 7:00 pm)
June 24 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
June 29 Home Match vs CC of Detroit (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
July 8 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 15 Team Practice (On-Course) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
July 22 Team Practice (Instruction) (3:00 - 4:00 pm)
Jersey Assignments: Away Matches = Teal / Home Matches = Navy Player Fee: $410 Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays
July 23 Home Match vs Plum Hollow (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
August 2 Away Match vs OLCC Anchors (4:00 - 6:30 pm)
August 3 Away Match @ Red Run (5:00 - 7:30 pm)
Motown Cup & Academy (Ages 14-18)
Tournament Schedule:
June 16 Oakhurst G & CC 1:00 pm Shotgun
June 27 Oakland Hills CC 7:30 am Tee Times
June 30 Birmingham CC 2:00 pm Shotgun
July 9 Pine Lake CC 8:00 am Tee Times
July 14 Meadowbrook CC 12:30 pm Shotgun
August 6 Orchard Lake CC 8:30 am Shotgun
Academy Schedule:
June 12 June 26 July 3 July 10
July 11 July 24 July 31
Instruction from 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Instructors: Dominic DiLisi & Scott Patterson
Academy: $400 pp / Tournaments Only: $100 pp