A big temp course with both bombs and needle lines.

-Amenities: I don't remember precisely and lost my notes, but they were good. Solid baskets, good turf tees I believe, functional tee signs with maps, and very good next tee signage. Also included flags marking C1 and C2, which I always enjoy.

-Challenge: With a layout in the 8,000' foot range and lots of challenging tree placements, this is a difficult course. I think it's rewarding in a fair manner, which would make it enjoyable for high-level players.

-Terrain: Maybe not jaw-dropping, but very good. A pond is in play a couple of times, big hills roll throughout the property, and there's a very useful mix of thick woods, solo trees, and open fields. The course winds throughout this terrain so that it changes up pretty often.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: Plenty of multi-shot holes and a decent variety of par-3s. There are a few shorties on the course that can provide easier birdie opportunities, but even these are marked with treachery from challenging greens or ceilings. Longer par-3s are challenging birdies for the best. Nine holes are the par-4s, which vary throughout but are satisfying two-shot holes. Most common is a tee in the open that works into a woods tunnel at the conclusion. Plus, a huge bomber par-5 thrown in. The elevation where used is fun.

-Temp: First and foremost, this course isn't up much. I played a couple of weeks after the Music City Open and it was set up in a combo of MPO and FPO pin positions. I imagine this will make the layout more prone to regular changes, or the amenities to fluctuate from year to year. That said, it was free to play and wide open when I visited, which is more than for many temp courses.

-Environment: The bugs and grass here aren't totally under control. It's a bit of a prairie tromp at times, but it doesn't affect gameplay, just comfort.

-Openness: The biggest gameplay strike against Mill Ridge is that it's pretty open. A lot of holes have a large margin for error on their first shot, as long as you can make a tunnel second shot. There's also very little between wide open and thick woods, which would round it out better.

-Rough: It's tough in the rough. At times, it's crazy thick - as in hard to reach your disc thick. At most times, it's unforgiving. Probably another virtue of being a temp course in this region.

As is the case for temp courses, I pondered whether or not to even write a review for Mill Ridge. But with the Music City Open returning again, it seemed worth putting out at least one perspective on the track. I enjoyed it, and I think it's worthy of a tour stop. It's difficult and varied, and along with solid amenities, those are the hallmarks of an Excellent course. If you're ready to have a long round in a Middle Tennessee environment, try to give it a swing around tournament time.