Old Mill Golf Club Scorecard and Tees

Old Mill is the newest of the Salt Lake County managed golf courses. In fact, it has only been open for play since about May 15, 1998. It has had a very favorable reception from local golfers and the media which will keep it very busy this summer.

The clubhouse is on the mountainside overlooking the course. Great views of the valley from point of the mountain to downtown contribute to the overall golf experience.

The course, clubhouse, facilities and fees are a step up from the other county courses. Apparently, golf's increasing popularity have given Salt Lake County management the excuses needed to include a few added amenities and increase green fees. Bag drop-off service and a decorative flower garden that spells out the name Old Mill are the main features that differentiate the Old Mill from other area municipal golf courses.

The land the course was built on was an old gravel pit on the mountain slope between Wasatch Boulevard and the freeway. The majority of the course is laid out on rolling mounds and hills devoid of tees. From a distance the course appears to be fairly flat, but this is an illusion. The fairways have been sculpted for hole definition and to provide landing area options. Looking down some fairways you wonder if the architect designed them to resemble the waves and contours of Godzilla's back. From the tee it becomes important to pick a target and then choose the right club. Hitting the fairway is not enough on many holes as bad tee shot placement can leave uneven lies and blind second shots.

The greens were designed to provide a wide variety of easy to more difficult hole positions. Some greens are built in bowls or include mounding that funnel shots onto the putting surface, but severe undulations and multiple tiers still allow the possibility for 3 putts on the wrong side of the green. Putting could be especially difficult if the pin placements were tricked up by the course.

There are a variety of hazards on the Old Mill course to defend against a good score. On the front nine the natural rough and sand bunkers can catch and swallow miss hit balls. The natural rough is a mixture of blue wildflowers, grass and weeds that can leave anything from a clean lie to a lost ball. Most of the sand bunkers are deep and one on hole number 6 is played as a waste area.

The back nine introduces two ponds, a winding stream and a forest to the hazard types. The ponds come into play on holes 10 through 13 by either guarding the greens or adding danger to wayward tee shots. Hole number 11 is short but requires a straight shot to the fairway and an intimidating second shot that must carry a pond to reach the green.

One of the most talked about features of the Old Mill is the dramatic change of scenery the course takes on the last four holes. In complete contrast to the open and treeless terrain of the first fourteen holes the course finishes by cutting its way through a thickly wooded corner of the course property. With the narrow fairways and crisscrossing streams you may think you have made a wrong turn and teleported to Mt. Ogden or Hobble Creek Golf Course.

On the last three holes it's hit the grass or die as balls that disappear into the trees and oak brush bordering the fairways and greens are rarely found. Hole 16 requires a bit of "local knowledge" because it is a short par 4 dogleg. A lay-up with an iron into the dogleg's corner is the safe shot as anything further is blind and must clear some tall trees.

Hole number 18 is the most difficult on the course for several reasons -- it's long, narrow and has a stream crossing the fairway about 220 yards out from the blues. A lay-up is the safe play but leaves a long second shot to the green. A full drive must carry the water and still stay on the short grass.

Overall, the fairways and greens are in excellent shape as the grass has grown in very well for a new course. Walking is allowed but be aware that several long and uphill green to tee treks are required.

Old Mill is a great addition to the collection of public courses in the Northern Utah area. Although it's not one of Northern Utah's signature mountain courses (except the last 4 holes), golfers traveling to Utah will not be disappointed. Local golfers should definitely add the Old Mill to their list of must play courses.