Shepherd's Hollow

What Shepherd's Hollow does

Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club is a privately held golf, wedding, and hospitality destination operating on a leased 350-acre site in Clarkston, Michigan, approximately 30 miles north of Detroit. The property is built around a 27-hole championship course featuring a 7,236-yard, par-72 layout with 160-foot elevation changes and mature pine forest, ranked 42nd among public courses in the United States by Golf Digest. The land is leased from the Colombiere Center, a Jesuit retreat, which constrains replication.

The company operates three integrated revenue lines. First, golf operations — green fees with dynamic, demand-based pricing (adjusting for time of day, weather, and season), cart and rider fees, driving range sales, PGA-led private and group instruction ($80–$140/hour), golf outings for corporate and charity groups of 30 to over 200 players, junior PGA League programming, and roughly 20 organized leagues. Second, events — centered on The Station, a 6,000-square-foot glass and steel venue inspired by 19th-century European train stations, which hosts all-inclusive weddings ($34,000–$95,000+), winter and brunch weddings, corporate retreats, banquets, bridal showers, and Christmas parties for up to 350 guests. Third, food and beverage — a fine-dining restaurant serving refined American regional cuisine (lunch from 11:00 AM, dinner from 5:00 PM) plus banquet catering and a pro shop carrying Titleist, Under Armour, and FootJoy brands.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: self-service online tee-time booking opens 14 days in advance; wedding and corporate event bookings are managed by a dedicated in-house team via phone and inquiry forms; restaurant reservations are taken by phone. Brand reputation is reinforced through WeddingWire Best of Weddings and Couples Choice Awards in 2025 and 2026, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and an e-club newsletter. Shepherd's Hollow also participates in a three-course Stay & Play partnership with sister properties Pine Trace Golf Club and Cherry Creek Golf Club. The owner is Mike Bylen; the legal entity is Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club LLC, a Michigan LLC, and the business has no institutional investors, parent company, or public listing. Headcount is 51–100, structured seasonally across golf operations, kitchen, banquet, pro shop, and maintenance roles.

Name

Shepherd's Hollow

Legal name

Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club LLC

Website

https://shepherdshollow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club is a private golf, wedding, and hospitality destination in Clarkston, Michigan, operating a 27-hole championship course and The Station glass event venue for weddings, corporate events, and dining on 350 leased acres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Course and Event Venue Hospitality

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Championship golf course
• Wedding event venue
• Golf instruction programs
• Corporate golf outings
• Fine dining restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarkston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Golf Operations: Revenue from green fees with dynamic pricing based on demand, time of day, weather, and season. Includes 18-hole and 9-hole play, cart fees, and rider fees.
2. Restaurant Dining: Fine dining restaurant serving refined American regional cuisine with prime beef and fresh seafood. Lunch service from 11:00 AM, dinner from 5:00 PM.
3. Weddings & Events: Comprehensive wedding packages ranging $34,000-$90,000+ including ceremony, reception, catering, bar service, and venue rental. Additional revenue from corporate events, banquets, bridal showers, and Christmas parties.
4. Golf Outings: Customized corporate and private golf outing packages including golf, meals, driving range access, and professional outing services.
5. Golf Instruction: Private and small group lessons with PGA professionals. Pricing: Adult 1 Hour $140, Adult ½ Hour $80, Jr 1 Hour $100, Jr ½ Hour $60.
6. Pro Shop & Merchandise: Golf apparel, equipment, and accessories including Titleist logo balls, Under Armour apparel, and FootJoy golf shoes.
7. League Play: League play on Monday-Thursday afternoons and evenings with exclusive restaurant dining perks for league members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shepherd's Hollow is a 350-acre golf and hospitality property in Clarkston, Michigan, operating a 27-hole championship public golf course (ranked 42nd best public course in the U.S. by Golf Digest) alongside The Station, a 6,000-square-foot glass event venue for weddings and corporate events. The property also runs a fine dining restaurant, a full practice facility, a golf academy offering private and junior instruction, a pro shop, and Stay & Play packages that combine play across sister courses Pine Trace and Cherry Creek.

Product overview

Shepherd's Hollow is a premier golf and wedding destination in southeastern Michigan offering a unified hospitality experience built around three core pillars: golf, events, and dining. The flagship product is its 27-hole championship golf course (Top 40 Public Golf Course in the United States), paired with The Station—a 6,000-square-foot glass event venue inspired by 19th-century European train stations that hosts up to 350 guests for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations. The on-site restaurant provides refined American regional cuisine. Additional offerings include private and junior golf instruction, golf outings for groups of 30–200+, all-inclusive wedding packages ($34,000–$95,000+), corporate event retreats, league play programs, and Stay & Play packages combining play across three sister courses (Shepherd's Hollow, Pine Trace, and Cherry Creek). The Pro Shop and gift card program complete the guest experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Golf Course 27-hole championship golf course across 350 acres with a 7,236-yard, par-72 layout and 160-foot elevation changes, ranked 42nd best public golf course in the United States by Golf Digest. Available for public tee time bookings and private round play.
• The Station at Shepherd's Hollow 6,000-square-foot glass and steel event venue inspired by 19th-century European train stations, accommodating up to 350 guests for weddings, banquets, and corporate events, with panoramic views of the pine forest and golf course.
• Restaurant and Dining On-site fine dining restaurant offering refined American regional cuisine with emphasis on prime beef and fresh seafood, served in a cherry-wood dining room with fireplace and outdoor veranda overlooking the pine forest. Lunch from 11:00 AM, dinner from 5:00 PM.
• Private Golf Lessons One-on-one and small-group golf instruction with a PGA professional, covering fundamentals, swing mechanics, and course management. Adult 1 Hour $140, Adult ½ Hour $80, Junior 1 Hour $100, Junior ½ Hour $60.
• Golf Outings Corporate and charity golf outing packages for groups of 30 to 200+ guests, including 18 holes with cart, driving range access, professional event services, custom signage, live tournament scoring, and full catering.
• Weddings (Ceremonies & Receptions) All-inclusive wedding packages at The Station, ranging $34,000–$95,000+, including ceremony, reception, catering, bar service, and venue rental; ceremony begins at $3,000 when held with on-site reception, with five-hour premium bar, duet plated dinner, floor-length linens, and dedicated coordinator; bridal suite rental $2,000.
• Corporate Events Corporate event and retreat packages including business meetings, social mixers, team-building retreats, product launches, and charity galas, with award-winning cuisine, golf integration options, and 4-hour evening or full-day business-and-golf formats.
• Banquets and Social Events Event catering and venue services for celebrations including engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, anniversary parties, bridal and baby showers, memorials, and holiday parties, held in the clubhouse dining room (25–120 guests) or The Station glass venue (100–350 guests) with champagne punch, mimosa bars, and brunch or dinner buffets.
• PGA Junior League Golf Developmental team-based golf program for children ages 7-13 featuring team competition in a fun, low-pressure environment with Wednesday evening practices, Sunday matches, team jerseys, bag tag, hat, and 15% player discount on range, pro shop, and restaurant.
• League Play Golf league programs on Monday–Thursday afternoons and evenings featuring exclusive restaurant dining perks for league members, with 2026 season registration opening spring. Active leagues include Bogeymen, Buzz Saws, Chunalutis, and 17 others.
• Stay & Play Packages Golf vacation packages custom-built for groups of 8+ golfers playing minimum two courses, combining Shepherd's Hollow with sister courses Pine Trace Golf Club and Cherry Creek Golf Club across Southeast Michigan, with accommodation reservations handled by a dedicated team.
• Pro Shop Full-service golf retail shop offering tee time scheduling, pricing information, and golf apparel including Titleist logo balls, Under Armour apparel, and FootJoy golf shoes. Contact (248) 949-1927.
• Gift Cards E-gift cards redeemable for golf, food, and merchandise, available for purchase online and emailed to recipient. Balance checking available through Club Caddie portal.
• Club Events (Twilight Themed Events) Specialty evening events combining 9 holes of golf with themed dining experiences, including Margaritas and Mulligans ($240), California Winemaker ($280), Steak House Night, and Tour of Italy ($275), featuring four-course dinners with wine pairings.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pine Trace Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister course partnership within Stay & Play package program. Combined offering across three Southeast Michigan courses allowing guests to play multiple properties with custom packages.
• Cherry Creek Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister course partnership within Stay & Play package program. Combined offering across three Southeast Michigan courses allowing guests to play multiple properties with custom packages.
• Stark ReaganminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• CrustminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• Sagacity GolfminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• Club CaddieminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• AjaxminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• OsburnminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• Quality MeatsminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• Poster Point FactoryminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.
• Between ProjectsminorOthersSponsor for Special Olympics Michigan Golf Benefit event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: Destination golf resort with multiple courses, lodging, dining, and event hosting. Relevant as a larger-scale reference point for how multi-course destination golf properties can layer on weddings, corporate retreats, and premium hospitality revenue.
• Pinehurst Resort: Iconic multi-course golf destination combining championship golf with extensive wedding, banquet, and lodging facilities — the gold-standard benchmark for the premium public-golf-plus-destination-events model Shepherd's Hollow aspires to at smaller scale.

Direct peers

• Bay Harbor Golf Club: Michigan destination public golf course with resort-style amenities, banquet facilities, and event hosting capabilities — directly comparable to Shepherd's Hollow as a Michigan-based premium golf-plus-events destination.
• Eagle Eye Golf Club: Michigan destination-style public golf course with strong event-hosting capabilities and banquet facilities, comparable in offering a premium golf-plus-event experience to regional clientele.
• TPC Michigan: Premium Michigan public-access championship course operated under the TPC brand, serving a similar upscale Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan golfer demographic and hosting corporate events.
• Boulder Pointe Golf Club: Michigan golf and event venue with banquet facilities comparable to Shepherd's Hollow's combination of championship golf and dedicated event spaces serving weddings and corporate outings.
• Pine Trace Golf Club: Sister course within Shepherd's Hollow's Stay & Play network located in Southeast Michigan. Directly comparable as a Michigan premium public golf course participating in the same multi-course package offering and serving overlapping Metro Detroit golfers.
• Cherry Creek Golf Club: Third sister course in the Stay & Play partnership network. Directly comparable as a Southeast Michigan public course bundled with Shepherd's Hollow for multi-course golf packages, targeting the same regional golfer base.
• The Orchards Golf Club: Premium public golf course in Southeast Michigan with strong event-hosting capabilities, serving a similar Metro Detroit affluent demographic for both daily-fee golf and private events/weddings.

Regional players

• Indianwood Golf & Country Club: Historic Oakland County country club offering championship golf and event hosting in the same Metro Detroit market as Shepherd's Hollow, providing a comparable regional competitive set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shepherdshollowgolfclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shepherd's-hollow-golf-club
• Instagraminstagram.com/shepherdshollowgolfclub
• Xx.com/sh_golf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shepherd's Hollow