wcohen

The course layout is really fun and challenging. Even though there is a lot of water, there is always a good place to aim. The back 9 doesn't tolerate poor shots off-center but there is plenty of room if you tend toward the safe miss. It's a course that would get more fun the more you play it. There is a lot to learn about the green undulation and on where to aim in general. Mature trees are everywhere which, in fall, makes the place beautiful.

The back 9 was crackin' me up--it has the DuPage river running through it and it was cranking. There was some whitewater, I'm not kidding. Balls in the creeks/river are best left there! The course is well designed into the existing landscape.

The conditions were typical for fall play. It was wet, windy and about 42 degrees. The course was still in great condition. The greens were needle aerated and were basically fine and still quick. I never felt like my putt was knocked off line by the needle marks.

My only complaint is that the course is saturated in goose crap. I've never seen anything like it. Geese are purported to poop about 4 lbs per day and the course was disgusting with it. There is so much water, that to control the mess would require a concerted full-court press. For the summer prices, though, they really should invest in geese mitigation. I probably will play there again, but I shudder to think how much goose crap I touched. To be clear, the amount I encountered was far beyond any course I have ever played before. My shoes, clubs, and ball were basically covered in it from start to finish! Please guys, there are ways to improve that situation, but I understand it isn't easy.

If you are the type who will be annoyed by not warming up, there are range options nearby so stop somewhere else first. The hitting bays they have set up are hopeless.

Back to the positives; it is truly an interesting layout and clearly well-maintained. The staff was super nice. Fall price was fair. Thinking and strategy required, especially in the wind.

I played The Ridge twice in one week and will definitely play it again.The staff was friendly, the range was in good shape (balls are a little old), the course conditions were overall excellent. The issue that people have been commenting about is the greens on 12-15. Frankly, big deal, they'll get better and we were forewarned that there was a problem from winter recovery here. I really liked the course. Wouldn't call it a walker's course, but it's not far off (a few holes had long green-to-next-tee distances). There are no throw away holes and the layout was interesting and required thinking. We played early and quickly. Pace of play was excellent. That's just good planning on our part...
We had lunch on one of the two days and it was good. The restaurant seemed to be designed by someone who dislikes light. Great patio and view of 18th green. First day starter/marshal was super friendly and informative. 2nd day, not so much, but we shook him off quickly. If you are thinking of playing this course, you should.