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4.7
141 Reviews (141)
5 Stars
111
4 Stars
21
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.5
96.7%
Recommend this course
134 out of 141 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
5.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
5 out of 5 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
18
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.5%
Recommend this course
21 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Traditional/Links
Par 72
Length 7286 yards
Slope 142
Rating 75.8

University Ridge Golf Course is just 15 minutes from the University of Wisconsin campus and downtown Madison. The course's name comes from the defining feature of the landscape, a remnant of the last retreating glacier. The course is perched right where the Wisconsin Glacier stopped, providing the backbone of the ridge that divides the terrain into clusters of hills and valleys. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the golf course with distinctly different front and back nines that make it feel like you are playing two courses in one. The front nine plays across grassy meadows, featuring contoured fairways and generous landing areas. Wind will definitely be a challenge on this more open nine. In contrast, mature trees frame most of the holes on the back nine. The golf course finishes with two of its toughest holes: a long par 3 over water and then another long hole, a par 4 that plays uphill.

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University Ridge Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1991
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 11/01

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

Reviews

4.7
141 Reviews (141)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
19th Hole Scenic Views 14
Drinks 14
Patio Dining 12
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 29
Elevation Changes 20
Forced Carries 15
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 24
A Weekend Splurge 20
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 17
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 21
Worth the Drive 15
In the 'Burbs 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

I was looking for more golf in my golf course, University Ridge delivered

Yesterday, upon reflection on of a recent round at Cog Hill #4, I was telling Melanie that I wish we had booked more TPC type courses on the trip. Tournament ready courses that set up for “good old fashioned golf” rather than necessarily being focused on attempting to accomplish breath taking effect on every hole. Enter University Ridge at the University of Wisconsin.

This course feels, from start to finish, like a tournament course; ready to challenge your golf game at least as much as your shot making. It makes sense because, as it turns out, there is a Champions Tour event there in about two weeks. In fact as we hit our approaches on 17 and 18 we were shooting into grandstand construction projects of somewhat staggering proportions (the guy I was playing with said they were expecting a couple hundred thousand people to attend). In other words, University Ridge was set up to play tournament golf at just about the highest level there is.

Most of the holes are straightforward with all of their challenges made clear. Number two has a few surprises in the second shot landing area if you don’t take a peak down the course before you shoot, but the hole clearly states on the tee box what you must carry to cross the creek that wanders across the fairway.

While there are few surprises here, there’s also not a lot of room for poor golf. Plan on giving up a stroke if you mishit a ball. Having said that though, what you don’t have to worry about - for the most part - is giving up multiple strokes to a middling shot. University Ridge plays very fair, and again, in my estimation is a very good test of your golf game.

Fear not though, there is still some shot making fun to be had out there, as exemplified by the three finishing holes. Big hitters will love the par 5 16th with multiple tee shot options (including, as my playing partner described it, the “pro option” which is straight over the trees with a mid-range iron into the green for an eagle try). Shot makers will take pleasure in firing into a pond-protected postage-stamp of a green from 192 (blues tees) on 17. Course managers will enjoy their options on 18, where following the fairway leads to a lengthy approach, but the safety of flat ground; coming up short attempting to cut the corner can leave you firing from thick rough in a series of grass bunkers.

You don’t have to be a monster off the tee to have a good round here. I shot an 89 from the blues using a 6 iron (averaging about 185-190) from the tee pretty much all day (largely due to the fact that my 5 iron broke yesterday and I was playing with a 2nd degree oblique strain which left my woods stranded in my bag). I was forced to lay up on #2 rather than clear the creek (but another 6 iron put me within 100 yards, so I didn’t feel compromised by this), but other than that I really didn’t feel that there were any holes I couldn’t play at least to a bogey. I could have played much better, but I had arguably the worst putting day of my entire trip and was generally average at best around the green.

The course goes from 5752 (whites) all the way out to 7259 (blacks), so there are tee boxes for just about every level of player. I played the 6718 blues (72.5/140). It also mixes a links feel on the front 9 with a parkland woods feel on the back, so bring both your grass and tree jokes, you’ll get to use them all.

On the topic of bunkers, University Ridge does one of the better jobs I have seen of keeping their bunkers very purposeful while simultaneously contributing significantly to the visual appeal of the course. Maintenance on the bunkers was almost flawless, as was the case with pretty much all of the course. I’m struggling to think of any component of the track that was want for attention. Additionally, I’ve played 39 courses in 39 states over the last 39 days, and this was the least “present” grounds crew I have experienced… pretty good for a course in such fantastic condition.

The pace of play was great; we played as a twosome, with a foursome playing behind us that was only about two holes back by the end (and actually caught us briefly on 12). We finished in three and a half hours. All of the groups that we saw coming in as we ate lunch after the round were one after the other, so the pace was clearly maintained throughout the morning.

With Cog Hill fresh on my mind, University Ridge was exactly what I was looking for, if you are looking for a test of your golf game that is largely gimmick free, it’s probably for you as well.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 55
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Track

Greens were punched for late fall, but healing well and had been sanded over. Perfect fall day in WI. Couldn't have asked for anything more to rekindle my love of this course that I haven't been able to play in several years.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course!

I finally had a chance to play this course after a year of living in Madison. A great course. Hard but fun. I will be coming back and playing. Maybe even get a membership so I can get consistent tee times.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Cliff

Beautiful and we’ll maintained golf course with nice practicing areas for putting, chipping and bunker. Definitely worth to come back again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great in every way

From all the friendly staff to fast pace and excellent greens… URidge is a great course. The greens are true and smooth, and ran at about 11 - so try to stay below the hole. Fairways are well manicured and multiple tee boxes for all abilities. Of note, to protect the greens areas the carts have a digital boundary - if you get too close they shut down and you have to go in Reverse out of the restricted zone. Lots of risk reward areas in play through out. I could play here every day and never get bored. Also an excellent range - included with play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 95
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

Best of all university courses.

Better than Purdue and U of I 's new Atkins.
Wonder if better than Phau of Indiana?
Course is alike French Licks' Peter Dye

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tale of 2 9s

The course was in fantastic condition. Well worth the green fees. I really liked that you got 2 different styles of play. The front was more open and links style, where the back was more wooded and had a totally different vibe. The course was challenging without being gimmicky. The greens were fast but once you got the touch they rolled true. Definitely worth the money.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Poor on course bathrooms & no water.

The port-a-poddies on hole #5 were unusable and in horrible condition! Unfortunate for women who were in need of a bathroom on the front 9. All water containers on the course were empty except on hole #17 and it was 92 and humid.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pace of play

I would of expected more coming from the capitol of Wisconsin. Course conditions looked like the Arizona desert. I guess they had one thing going for them at least they had water available on the course. 7.00 for a bottle water. Whoa! Pace of play was literally a free for all. We finished just over 5 hours. The price is normally 100.00 to play I’m glad I got away with 80.00. They had a full landscaping crew all over the middle of the round. No thanks from me and the three I played with.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great fun course, great shape

U Ridge is a great and enjoyable course to play. Greens rolled at 11, smooth - though still early in the year there were signs of last fall aeration - visible but not impacting roll. With good spacing between tee times the pace was nice, waiting for group in front was rare. Friendly service from the pro shop team. One of the best options in madison area by far.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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