Mill Run Golf Club: Top-notch Golf in Durham Region!
Mill Run Golf Club near Uxbridge, Ontario is one of the top golf courses in Durham Region.
For better or worse, I’m someone who adores variety, and so it’s no surprise that Mill Run Golf Club is one of my favourite Ontario golf experiences around.
Located in the rolling hills of Uxbridge Township, Mill Run currently has a 27 hole Championship Course, as well a 18 hole Highland Course to call their own. This means that they have got a little something for golfers of all skill levels and also different schedules.
Some folks might want to play all three unique 9 whole courses that comprise the 27 hole Championship Course in one fell swoop. Another person may want to whip through the Highland Course, and perhaps another might just want to sneak in nine holes after work.
With golf clubs that have one course, you simply don’t have this kind of flexibility, so Mill Run suits my personality and temperament perfectly.
In this article, I’ll run through pertinent information about the course, relay my personal experience where applicable, as well as addressing any frequently asked questions about Mill Run Golf Club to ensure that after you finish reading this, you’ll know whether Mill Run is for you!
A Brief History of Mill Run Golf Club
Firstly, it should be noted that the course was designed by Rene Mulyaert, who is very well known Ontario golf architect. In fact, he was also the brainpower behind another Ontario golf course that I reviewed recently, St. Andrew’s Valley.
I appreciated how challenging St. Andrew’s Valley was, but at the end of the day, I do indeed prefer Mill Run, and largely because of that aforementioned variety. It’s priceless to me that there are so many different quality options to improve your game and appreciate the sport at Mill Run.
Mill Run is a semi-private course, meaning that the membership is the backbone of what goes on there. In fact, the way that they approach leagues and tournaments breeds a genuine sense of community. I get into more of that in the FAQ section near the bottom.
It’s clear that they’re constantly trying to improve, which can be exemplified by the addition of “The Grind,” the nine hole course built in 2007 that differentiated Mill Run since they now have 27 championship holes.
The Golf Courses at Mill Run
A drive off the tee at Mill Run on their “Grist” course. No city to be seen, just golf as far as the eye can see.
As I mentioned before, they have three separate nine hole championship courses that can be played in combination - “Wheel,” “Grist,” and “Grind.” Plus, they have their 18 hole Highland course, which is one of the top short golf courses in Ontario. The four ways Mill Run is most commonly played is as follows.
Wheel-Grind is 18 holes with a par of 72, and coming in at 6633 yards.
Grist-Wheel is 18 holes with a par 71, and is the longest combination at Mill Run as it comes in at 6690 yards.
Grind-Grist is 18 holes, a par 71, and is slightly shorter at 6407 yards.
The Highland Course is their short course, and typically plays around 3500 yards.
Highlights of Mill Run’s “Grist” Course
Since I’m a fairly lengthy driver, I’ll take a 350 or so yard par 4 any day of the week. That’s what you’ll get on Hole 1 at Grist. There’s some sand on either side of the fairway around the 225 yard mark, but other than that it’s quite straight forward and a fairly forgiving opening hole, all things considered. Par is quite doable if you’ve got some length in your game.
Hole 3 offers that classic par 3 appeal. You’ve got the water hazard to the right that makes the hole both beautiful and challenging, and a touch of sand to the left of the green. It’s about 170 yards to the pin, so it’s not an easy Par 3 by any means, but it shouldn’t be too hard on the scorecard if you hit a decent tee shot.
Hole 6 is a lengthy par 5 that makes sure that if you’re walking the course, you’re going to hit your daily step count. This hole is a 514 yard behemoth. I like that this hole feels world’s away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You’re far from the clubhouse and the parking lot, and simply surrounded by sweet, sweet golf. You’ve also got 6 sand traps at play here, and 7 if you count the trap on the hole just to the right. A hole that is daring you to make a mistake - I love it.
Most golf courses ensure that the first and last hole of a particular course are memorable, and I think Hole 9 fits that bill. This is not a hole that you want to flub your tee shot on, since the the fairway only really starts about 170 yards from the tee. From there, it’s a slight dogleg left, and relatively smooth sailing to the pin. A pleasant way to finish a very pleasant 9 holes.
Highlights of Mill Run’s “Wheel” Course
Hole 1 gives you an immediate sense of how intricately “Wheel” is intertwined with nature. You’ve got dense forest on either side of the fairway, and that extends all the way up the green. It’s a 567 yard par 5 that features a bit of a landing pad around 500 yards between the fairway and the green. Personally, I’m a fan, as it means some golfers can strategically lay up if their chipping game is particularly on point.
There are dogleg rights, and then there’s Hole 2. Seriously, there’s nothing gradual about the shift right here, and it’s not necessarily something you can take advantage of or bypass considering the reasonably dense forestry on the right. It’s best to go with the safe play and shoot this straight down the fairway (ideally past the 200 yard mark), and then take your shot at the green on your second shot on this par 4.
Hole 6 is a little something different, and I’ve always appreciated seeing a little creativity from the architect of a golf course. Roughly 250 yards in front of you, you’ve got 3 sand traps and a couple of trees, so the play here is to hit to the left, or try to crank a drive over the sand traps. You’ll need to hit it about 270, though. Then you’re shooting for a bit of an elevated green that has a touch of sand on the front right. It’s not an easy hole, but it sure is a fun one.
I actually like both Hole 8 and Hole 9 as both holes are influenced by the line of the forest on the right, and are dogleg lefts. Hole 8 is a bit shorter, the turn to the left is more pronounced, and it’s a par 4. Hole 9 is long and narrow, with little room for error, and it’s a par 5. If you like being out in nature, you’ll like these two holes. I could play them back-to-back all day!
Highlights of Mill Run’s “Grind” Course
Hole 1 is a deceptively difficult par 4, since the green is quite elevated. I like that there’s a sand trap here around 165 yards, which forces you to make sure you get enough on it with your opening drive. Then, around 250 yards, you’ve got two more sand traps, so it’s far from forgiving. It’s a memorable way to kick off the round, and you can be happy if you walk away with par here!
Hole 2 is a narrow par 5 that will seriously test your accuracy, but not in an obnoxious way. Stay straight and true here, and you’re solid, but even if you head a bit to the right or left here, it’s not devastating. It’s just an excuse to see how you fare shooting out of the rough, and how well you can get back on course.
I love the “swing for the fences” approach on Hole 4. It’s elevated, so you need to choose a club with some loft, but you also need some power since the green is about 210 yards away. It’s not necessarily disastrous if you don’t hit the green, but this is a par 3 that can spiral out of hand pretty quick depending on your tee shot. No pressure!
Hole 8 confirms that I apparently have an obsession with tree density. I appreciate that on the tee shot, the trees create a natural alley which you have to “shoot through” and respect. Ideally, you really lay into one and end up at the start of the fairway, which is roughly 180 yards away. From there, the green is up and to the right, but you’ve just got to be mindful of the little sand trap near the green - something you see all over Mill Run’s golf courses!
Mill Run Golf Club’s “Highland Course”
The Highland Course is widely considered to be one of the best short golf courses in Ontario. I won’t give a hole by hole rundown of this course, as I’m not quite as familiar with it, but I’ll provide an overview, so you can get a feeling as to whether this is a course you’d like to play.
One notable feature of the Highland Course is the small greens. Mill Run mentions that these small greens are ideal because they allow experienced players to work on their short game in terms of hitting the green, while less experienced players have a certain level of insurance that they won’t be making lengthy huge putts.
The Highland Course at Mill Run can be played in less than three hours, and I would actually say that if you’re moving quickly, it would be much closer to two or two and a half hours.
The course is comprised of five par fours and thirteen par threes, and comes in right around 3500 yards. It’s shorter than a course like Mayfield, but didn’t necessarily feel like it had too much less substance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Mill Run Golf Club
Memberships: Mill Run Golf Club is semi-private, as mentioned above. They have a variety of equity memberships (full, weekday, weekday plus, couples etc.) available, but also non-equity memberships, intermediate memberships, a membership just for the Highland Course, as well as frequent player packages for those people who don’t want to be full members. You can find out more details here.
Simulators: In the winter, Mill Run has a simulator that you can book with over 20+ real life golf courses loaded in. I’m not entirely sure how this works during this period, but you can find out more here.
Leagues: There are leagues available for both men and women on their championships courses, as well as a ladies league that plays on Thursday mornings at the Highland Course.
Lessons: Mill Run Golf Club has “The Academy,” which is a practice facility headed up by a professional staff of PGA pros. Learn more here.
Tournaments: I personally played in their “Year-End Scramble,” which was a blast. I particularly appreciated that it included lunch, so we were able to pick up some chili at the Clubhouse and keep on playing! They haven’t formally released their 2021 calendar (at least publicly), but I do know that they offer packages for folks to host their own tournament and you get a free membership if the tournament you host is large enough.
Weddings and Events: Mill Run is well known for hosting weddings, events, receptions and everything in between. They have a Ceremony Garden, a Ballroom, and a Sunroom to accommodate event needs.
Durham Region Golf Worth Noting
As I mentioned prior, what I appreciate about Mill Run is that you could golf there a couple of times a week, and always play it a different way They’ve invested the money and the time into not just being a golf course, but rather a golf facility, or, perhaps more aptly - a golf community.
When Bri and I played in the Year End Scramble that they host there, you simply couldn’t escape the feeling that everybody was a part of something, and having a blast. Not to mention, the membership fees are very reasonable, which means that Mill Run, all things considered, it quite accessible.
It’s an easy drive from Toronto, but feels world’s away, in the best kind of way. I look forward to getting back out there when I’m able, and to create some more memories at Mill Run, which I’m confident in saying is one of the best kept secrets in Ontario golf.
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