University Ridge Golf Course

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!

This is an awesome course. Beautiful holes, tough to score. I was hole after hole super impressed with the layout and the requirement of hitting good golf shots.
The front 9 is more open than the back but with the fast greens and undulation putting and ball placement on the greens is a must.
This is a good golfers dream!!!! If you are a hacker that likes to play I would probably stay away..

Course was in perfect shape:
Spotless greens, attentive staff.
The cafe and bar area were staffed by the most personable folk.
Very hot day and having water coolers every four holes is really thoughtful.
I've been fortunate to have played some of the best tracks in the US, and this one is now among them.
Great job.

University Ridge is the finest golf course in Madison. The grounds are meticulously cared for, the clubhouse and facilities top-notch and the staff that I interacted with could not be friendlier! We had the added bonus of being one of the last groups to play before getting into high gear preparations for the AmFam Insurance Open the next week. It was really cool playing in tournament conditions with grandstands and tv towers all about. Greenskeepers though busy, were very accommodating getting players through while they were getting everything ready. Though we got an awesome Hot Deal, I wouldn't hesitate to pay their full price when I come back to Madison! It's worth it!

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.

Like always, the course is in excellent condition. Great practice facility. Great price with the "Hot Deal" from GolfNow.

Always a Great Time and course is in Great shape and Staff is Awesome

I've played U Ridge plenty of times in my life and I really enjoy the layout and the challenge. Overall, the course is in terrific shape...but the greens were not good. They definitely were not up to snuff with some of other "nice" courses in the Madison area. Whatever they did years ago did not work, and in fact I think it made them worse. It used to just be a few on the back 9 had issues, but now most/all were in pretty rough shape.

University Ridge is near and dear to my heart. On Father's Day, June 21, 2009 with my son and his good friend and his father as witnesses, I aced hole number 3. 185 yds with a 21% hybrid.
The Course is a walk in the park or a cart ride, but is a beautiful layout and is home to the University of Wisconsin. Hosted several PGA Champions events, hosted by local hero, Steve Stricker.
One of my favorite all time courses....see above why.

I shot my lifetime low round-I am 74 years old and shot a 76

Fun layout and course was in very good shape.

We played University Ridge two days after the course hosted a Champions Tour event. The layout was in fabulous shape, and it was fun to play a course after watching how the old champs played it. The Ridge is a tough track, with narrow fairways, lots of traps, and many opportunities for both birdies and bogeys. The staff was super friendly, from the pro shop to the cart girl and everyone in between. I highly recommend playing URidge.

I have golfed here many times and would highly recommend playing here.

Love the course, but it was just to cold and very windy! Even with layers to cold had to stop after nine. But paid only $11.00 with cart, so not a problem.
Thank you Golf Now for the great HOT BUY, hope to get it again!

AS usual University Ridge did not disappoint! WE played an afternoon round because of the GolfNow great rate and got our round in just as it was getting dark. Greens were in decent shape and the overall course condition was good. They did a strange aeration on the tee boxes but it didn't affect play. Just a note, the GolfNow rate does not include the golf range or $5 off apparel certificate!

The Good: Fantastic RTJ Jr. design near the University of Wisconsin is one of the best campus courses in the country and future site of Senior tour event. Unique design includes two opposing nines, with the front a prairie feel and the inward nine weaves through woods. Excellent risk-reward Par 5's, nice variety in Par 4's, and some strong mid-length Par 3's. Pristine course conditions and large, challenging greens that putt very well. Superb practice facility includes huge driving range, elaborate short game area, and large putting green. Good pace of play and staff is nice enough. At under $100 during peak season, one of the better values in the state. Layout is devoid of houses! GPS on carts is nice touch (and much needed).

The Bad: Greens, while putting true, don't hold as well as they should. Clubhouse is good, but does not have overly nice dining or area for banquets. On-course service and restroom areas are lacking for a course charging nearly a Benjamin.

The Verdict: University Ridge is consistently ranked in Top 5 campus courses in the US, and rightfully so. The premier public course in Middle Wisconsin (at least for now given Sand Valley development). One of the most fun courses you will ever play.

Best Hole: Most holes are great, but the Par 5 16th with a duel fairway and tee cluster to carry is awesome. A hole that can easily lead as many 10's and eagles.

Fantastic course. Drove two hours to play there and would do it again and again. Beautiful scenery and the course was in great condition.

The overall course condition was great but the green were a little beat up. I can imagine they get a lot of play out there & most of the ball marks were repaired. I got a smoking deal off of Golfnow. I would not pay $80 to play this course. I thought $7 for a brat was pretty outrageous. Played from the blue tees, plenty of course from there.