Old Mill Golf Club Review
Designer: Gene Bates (1997)
https://slco.org/golf/old-mill/
385-468-1440
6080 S Wasatch Blvd Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Utah Golf Guy Grade
| OVERALL | 7.63 |
| BEAUTY | 8 |
| VALUE | 7 |
| PRACTICE FACILITIES | 7 |
| CLUBHOUSE | 8 |
| PACE OF PLAY | 7 |
| CONDITIONS | 9 |
| FRIENDLINESS OF STAFF | 5 |
| FUN | 10 |
| NOT INCLUDED IN OVERALL: DIFFICULTY | 7 |
| TEES | OUT | IN | TOTAL | RATING | SLOPE |
| BLACK | 3326 | 3250 | 6576 | 70.4 | 128 |
| BLUE | 3079 | 3017 | 6096 | 68.1 | 122 |
| WHITE | 2796 | 2816 | 5612 | 65.9 | 116 |
| RED | 2346 | 2375 | 4721 | 66.5 | 120 |
Course Summary
This Salt Lake County golf course is one of the newest golf courses in the area. The course was developed in 1998 and offers spectacular views of the Wasatch Valley. The course sits on a mountain slope of Mt Olympus and is built on top of an old gravel pit.
The tips offer some fantastic elevated tee shots and forced carries. The higher elevation both on the tees and greens requires proper club selection. The course is not long but big hitters have an advantage avoiding the decisions to layup and/or having the possibility to land on uneven surfaces in the fairway. Most fairways are rolling mounds but have been designed to provide flat landing areas usually 240 yards past the tee. From the tee it is important to pick a target and choose the right club to hit that distance. Simply hitting fairways is not enough because you will be hitting from uneven lies or blind second shots.
A few years ago, Old Mill flipped the front 9 to the back 9. This is unfortunate, due to holes 6,7,8 and 9 being my favorites on the course which would have provided the perfect finishing holes. These holes are in stark contrast to the open and generally treeless layout of the other 14 holes. This stretch makes its way through the thick wilderness requiring accurate and smart tee shots. Missing the fairway on any of these holes is scorecard death. If this is your first time playing and no group is behind you, the Utah Golf Guy recommends driving up the fairways of #6 and #7 to see the layout before hitting your tee shot. These 4 holes appear to be transported directly from the Hobble Creek Golf Course and make this course highly recommended.
Specifics
Practice facilities are adequate with a good driving range and a large, single putting green that is in good shape. Unfortunately, the staff did not meet the quality of the golf course.
Fairways – Each hole was in EXTREMELY good condition for the beginning of November and the fairways were no exception. Cut and manicured perfectly against the rough and throughout the holes from tee to green. From the tee boxes, rolling waves and contours line almost every Par 4 and 5 fairway. The grass is green with little to no dead spots throughout the course. Firm enough to keep the ball up but soft enough to allow for a good swing under the ball. The rough is a mixed bag, offering a clean lie, thick out or the dreaded lost ball.
Greens – The greens were in great shape and rolled true (minus ball marks) and a little quick (surprising for November). Variety is the name of the game for the greens allowing for lots of different approach shots. Severe undulations, bowls and multiple tiers could all aid in possible 3 putts if hit on the wrong side of the putting surface. Ball marks are everywhere as no one fixes them on this course.
Sand – The majority of the bunkers are deep and lack sand making it tough to put a good strike on the ball.
BEST HOLES
Signature Hole - #7 Par 4 324 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
I could have selected #6 or #8 for the signature hole, but for my money, #7 was the most memorable. From the tips, this hole plays closer to 285 yards but it is a blind tee shot to the dogleg right green. The hole teases you, allowing you to see the front left bunker and just a piece of the far left side of the green. Downhill tee shot into a narrow, dogleg right fairway, this hole requires some strategy and skill. Driver can easily get to the hole but heavy wilderness is behind and to the right of the green. Trees are on the left and can also cause a few lost balls.
If the decision is to layup, make sure you get past the right bunker that is 110 yards from the hole. Hit a 210-220 yard club, and let it roll down the hill finishing with a 80-90 yard chip to a two tiered green. The green slopes from right to left. If you play this short par 4 right, you should have a decent putt for birdie. If you miss your tee shot, this could add quite a few strokes to your round. Ringing a large bell once you are off the tee is required to notify the group behind you that the green is open for them to drive. Beautiful, fun and challenging hole.
Clubhouse: #10
Most Beautiful - #13 Par 4 432 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Elevated tee shot into a downward sloping fairway. The fairway has rolling mounds resembling an alligator’s back, flowing all the way down to the green. On the right side of the fairway are 3 small bunkers that you must clear off the tee, 230 yards from the tips. Approach shot is downhill to a flat green, minus the front right area that creates a large bowl that will collect any wayward shots. Beautiful tee, fairway, green, bunkers, rough and mountains in the background. Get your camera out
Birdie Time - #15 Par 4 402 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
Downward tee shot that will roll forever. The only danger on this hole is the large, deep bunker on the left side. Gauge your distance correctly on the approach and attack the flag on this wide, sloping green. The ridge is on the left side of the green and slopes that way. The entire right side of the green is large and flat. Roll it down the fairway, hit your approach at the flag and roll one in for birdie!
Clubhouse: #14
Likely Bogey - #9 Par 4 420 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Double Bogey
This hole is the most difficult for quite a few reasons – the fairway is long, narrow and uphill. A stream (that has collected quite a few balls) runs parallel across the whole fairway requiring a full driver to clear the 240 yards of carry. Laying up is an option but leaves you with over 200 yards uphill to the center of the green. Trees line the narrow fairway making it necessary to land on the short grass. The green is narrow but deep. The green slopes from the front to the back creating a shelf on the backside. A bunker guards the front right of the green.
Best Par 3 - #3 158 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Bogey
Par 3’s are not the strong suit of this course. Only two really caught my attention but even they were not too memorable. Hole #3 is an elevated tee shot over water into a large, severely sloping green. Gauge the distance right or it could be a possible 3-putt. Green slopes from front to back creating a shelf on the backside of the green.
Clubhouse: #16
Best Par 4 - #2 378 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
A very fun hole that looks tougher than it actually plays. Off the level tee, you must carry the 145 yard pond and attempt to get on the right side of the fairway. The more right you are, the less psychological your next shot will be to carry another pond that protects the whole left side of the green. Fairway has a large sloping mound so those hitting from other tees be aware to not drive into the water on the downslope. The green funnels everything to the middle so depending on where the pin is located make sure you gauge the distance correctly.
Clubhouse: #13
Best Par 5 - #6 500 Yards
Utah Golf Guy score - Par
The beginning of my favorite 4-hole stretch on the golf course. This Par 5 is just plain fun. The tee shot starts just off the I-215 freeway but the second shot is from another dimension, the beginning of the thick wilderness. The tee shot climbs an uphill fairway forcing you to club up to have a change at reaching in 2. From the tee box, you will have no idea if the fairway goes left or to the right ( it goes right). From the angle of the tee box, the landing area for the right fairway looks non-existent, which is not far from the truth. The widest area of this fairway is 40 yards and slims to 20 yards in some areas.
Strategy is a must if you need a birdie on this hole. Drive it too far right and you are in the trees or won’t have an angle to the green. Too far left and you will need a monster approach to get it to the green. The perfect shot is directly over the right dogleg but, hit it far enough that it rolls to the left side of the fairway giving you an angle to the green.
Another option is to pullout the 3 wood and play on the left side of the fairway. Just beware that a creek runs across the narrow fairway 100 yards from the green so you will need a HUGE 2nd shot to reach. At the creek, the trees take over the fairway leaving a tiny opening to see the green. Have your approach shot on the left side of the fairway if you have any ideas of getting a green in regulation. The green is deep and undulating.
Clubhouse: #6