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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.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Not worth the money

The course was set up to be very difficult the day we played. Greens were extremely fast and very difficult to read. Roughs were approximately 4 inches deep making it difficult to locate balls not on the fairway. Having worked at a golf course it looked as if the staff rushed to complete the mowing as the lines were made as if the mower was drunk or on a cell phone. I'd much rather play 2 courses for $50 than pay $100 ever again for this one. Obviously paying for the name because i've played many courses with much better conditions. Staff was friendly. Clubhouse is beautiful with a great view.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 39
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Immaculate

The course was amazing. Challenging, both tee to green and the greens themselves. Was in beautiful condition and the greens were smooth and putts rolled true.

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

Top notch!

One of the best courses in the area. One of the best University courses in the country!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
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 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Greens running 13

Course is in prime condition, but set up for a PGA Event. By far the fastest greens in Wisconsin, and the rough is the thickest I’ve played in. Very tough to break 90 even if you are a 5 handicap

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

My first time at University Ridge

University Ridge was the 1st of 4 rounds of our 24-man buddy trip that also included a stop in Lake Geneva. I can say that all of the group was overwhelmed with joy and high praise for U. Ridge when we got done. The one consistency between both 9's is the need for a little course knowledge so being a first-timer I had to make some educated guesses. The front 9 is open and has more of a prairie feel with a few native grass areas that are in play off the tee. My favorite was the back 9 that winds through wooded areas and has a good blend of risk/reward to it. I can't rate this course high enough on my list of Wisconsin public golf courses and the amenities were also 2nd to none with a spacious practice area and a large clubhouse. Kudos also to the staff who was very welcoming and friendly to our group.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 222
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 25 Contributor
Virginia Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

One of the Better Collegiate Public Golf Courses

University Ridge offers a great challenge, impeccable conditions, and a fair price. It's easy to see why it's the pride of Wisconsin college golf courses.

From the carpet-like fairways and smooth greens to the well-maintained bunkers, tees and rough, URGC raises the bar on course conditions. It was a joy to play on and the weather on this day was perfect.

The design offers a variety of holes and shots, making the course a fair challenge and really encourages you back to improve on your missed opportunities. It's not overly flashy or gimmicky, just a straightforward and well-executed RTJ Jr. design.

The price reflects the course and its conditions but is far from overpriced. If I lived in the area this is a course I would treat myself to at least once or twice every year.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 126
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Iowa Advisor
Top 100 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

One of Wisconsin's Best!

Wisconsin has some of the best public courses in the country. Everyone talks about many of the big name courses, and they often overlook University Ridge near Madison, which belongs with the other courses in the pantheon of Wisconsin Golf.

University Ridge is home to the Wisconsin Badgers golf team, and also hosts an annual Champions Tour event. The course is challenging and presents great variety over the 18 holes. The front 9 is a bit more open with native areas and marshes as the main defenses. The back 9 weaves it's way through a wooded area and is absolutely stunning.

As host to a Big 10 golf team and a Champions Tour event, you'd expect the conditions at University Ridge to be perfect, and they really are. Unfortunately for our group, the greens had been punched in the last 2 weeks, so they weren't as fast as I was expecting but they still rolled true. When I played here in 2017, the greens were some of the fastest and best I'd ever played. I suspect that is the normal condition.

The fairways play firm with good roll-out. The rough is fair, but thick, meaning it's not easy to play from, and the sand in the bunkers has great consistency, and the perfect depth.

Every golfer I've asked about University Ridge has a favorite 9 holes, given that they are so different. I definitely prefer the wooded back 9 to the more open front 9. I just like how the trees frame-up the holes.

University Ridge is an incredible value compared to many of the other top courses in Wisconsin. It's fun and challenging, and I can't recommend it enough!

My favorite hole is #10, which is a downhill par 4 that is just so pretty. It's also really difficult, but fair.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Beautiful

The course was in great condition! The greens are fast but we were expecting that due to the professional course that it is! Loved the course and will be back !

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Best College Golf Course Experience

I had high expectations for University Ridge, and my expectations were surpassed. UW has great chipping and putting facilities, and the range is great. While the front 9 and back 9 are completely different, it Ian easy to see why UR is the 3rd ranked college course in the nation. While obviously not on a Winged Foot level, I gave UR 5 stars because I was excited to play, and I still cannot wait to play it again. I also want to go play around on the practice area again. The amount of creativity you can use to practice can really make improving fun.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
5.0
Perfect weather
Used cart

GOLF OUTING WAS PERFECT

I helped organize a first ever golf event, DRIVE FORE CURT. Curt passed away due to his battle with KIDNEY CANCER. Curt was our next door neighbor and his family and our family bonded from day one. Curt and his wife Debbie ended up being GodParents for our son Ryan. Curts daughters were very involved in sports and thus we attended all their games. After Curt's passing, his daughter Kristin said - Dad we're going to have a golf outing in your name. Kristin sdaid, STEVE...WILL YOU HELP ME? I did. We held iut U-RIDGE, home of the university of Wisconsin mens and womens golf teams. Curt loved golf. This was Curt's favorite. The course layout, the management of our event and in specific Andrew Bacon was first class all the way. We plan on future events for Curt and we plan to be at U-RIDGE again and again and again. Thanks you Andy and your entire staff. Your course and your people were superb

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A must play in Wisconsin

Beautiful course even with a couple of holes with problems due to the heavy rain in the area late summer. Staff wanted to be very helpful and accommodating. Definitely would play again if opportunity presented itself.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 43
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

uni ridge

obviously if the course is good enough for the champions tour, us amateurs should have no issue with it..and i did not. layout was extremely challenging but fair, conditions were great..greens were fast and smooth..overall just a phenomenal experience at uni ridge

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

I loved the course . the track was a great challenge I will play again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

U Ridge

Wow....first time playing this course. Even though the greens were being aerated, this course was AWESOME. I broke 100 here which was my goal. I would recommend this course to anyone. One of my playing partners has played this course as much as anyone and it was beneficial to have his experience on how to play it. I will be back for sure!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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