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4.9
180 Reviews (180)
5 Stars
143
4 Stars
28
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.8
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.7
98.4%
Recommend this course
172 out of 180 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
5.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
9 Reviews (9)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
5.0
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
9 out of 9 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
This course delivers outstanding value with inclusive pricing, excellent practice facilities, and a layout where each hole offers a distinct experience. The contrasting open front nine and wooded back nine keep rounds engaging, backed by consistently impressive conditions and friendly staff.

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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Course Details

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

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs 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

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Reviews

4.9
180 Reviews (180)

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
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great experience

Always a great experience, with a great layout, elevation change,, tough but fair holes. The course conditions were very good, although the greens were a little scruffy, surprising because they have been really nice in the past.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

fab course

this was a great experience. highly recommend this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great!

I play this course several times each year while visiting relatives. Close to perfect. I travel a lot and play golf a lot and this course is a favorite.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

University ridge

This was in excalent course lots of bunkers ruff was thick thou the greens were slower than antisapated the people working outside the club house were very nice
The head gentleman behind the the front desk was not the friendliest when asked about a replay rate he avoided the question because it was late in the day and never answered me thought that was a little less than impressive

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Madison WI golf

University Ridge is beautiful and challenging. Can't wait to play there again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 59
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very nice track

Great course difficult course for an average golfer but a great experience

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging and scenic course

University Ridge is my favorite Madison area golf course. It combines beautiful scenery with a great hole layout to provide a challenging, yet rewarding golf experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Second time will be my last

I waited a few weeks for the greens to grow and I'm back again to try the track out. The greens are in finally but the divots from the players are abundant. My suggestion might be to move the pins as there wasn't much movement from the last time I had played. At one point i was forced to move my ball as a chunk was taken out of the green. Hole number 5 plays 152 from the green tees and the ball marks were equal to a green that has a 100 yard elevation yet there's only a small elevation. Another green on the back side had a strip of yellow grass in the green. Again it's early so they still have months to get ready for people paying over $90 a round. Enough about the greens...lets talk about going 14 holes on a Saturday without seeing a drink cart...I'm not going to go on and on about the service in the Lake Geneva area but everything from the minute you get out of your car to the time you leave is memorable and the courses match the experience. Last review from me on this course...

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Favorite in the Madison area

This is my first summer playing at University Rdige and I liked it so much I went back 5 weeks in a row. The twlight tee times are really affordable. I've never be unable to finish a round. I even started after five on a Friday and still managed to get done with 18 playing by myself. The fairways are in great shape and the greens are a dream to play on. High tech carts and really friendly staff make it even more a treat to hit up this course. The course is challenging and interesting. I would play again in a heartbeat. I have a friend who golfs even more than myself and he says this is by far his favorite course in southern Wisconsin.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Ridge

Had a great day. Got a great rate. The course was plush . I found 13 Pro Vx golf balls.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Variety of play

University Ridge offers a variety of holes, wide, narrow, up and down that make it a fun course to play. They also keep the course in excellent condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Maintenance Needed...overpriced

I wish I could give a great review as I gave them a chance to reply to me before I went with this review. They didn't have time to comment back so I'm giving you what I saw. This being my first time I had high expectations as I had heard it was a great course. Let me start with the last guys comments...the greens are un puttable at this time and they're asking for $70 to pay for the cart I guess. They are Chinese Checkerboards and that's being generous...I had a putt take a right turn 12" before the hole. I've been on aerated greens before but never like this. How could they even open unless they haven't played the course they're charging for....maybe the owners are down south yet? Good luck to all that play here as there is winter kill all around the greens too. I've played a dozen courses in the state already and none of them as bad as this one. You might even ask if the sand traps are raked before starting as this didn't happen either. The overall presentation of the holes are great as the back nine plays much differently then the front. Great course but lacks in maintenance for the price. The bar and clubhouse are great although 4 of the 8 beers listed on the menu didn't exist. Again it's only April and maybe by late July the greens will come in but from the comments of prior years I'm not holding my breath. Lake Geneva courses are nearly 10 times better so I guess I'm spoiled with great conditions. I'm taking this off of my "must play again" list as I've seen enough.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

UW Ridge in April

The greens are poor. They were very slow and bumpy. For greens that were redone two years ago they are very poor

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

University Ridge

Course conditions were excellent considering it's late Fall. Play was very light, so no worries of staying on time or waiting to hit. It's a challenging course appears to be top of the line maintained. The staff was friendly, the brat was good, and it was a good round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Fair weather
Used cart

November golf

Beautiful course.The greens were a little slow because of aeration,but other than that we truly enjoyed the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Always a treat

I try to play this course at least once a year. Usually we come down to Madison in June but June was too wet to plan a visit so Fall it was.
An unbelievable football and golf weekend for the end of October in WI with 65 both Saturday and Sunday.
In every aspect this course is a must play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

the course has a few picturesque holes

I have played a lot of courses of equal condition for less money. Most of the holes are quite nice and challenging. I guess I expected more for my money.
Staff was all business, and not very friendly, except for the starter, who was both friendly and helpful.
It will be a while before I consider playing there again.
Sorry, it's just my opinion, and I have played a lot of courses. I would recommend it ,if you wanted to play some where close to home.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great day of golf

The course was in good shape, play was fast and staff was great!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

University Ridge is a must see course - one of the top courses in the Madison Area

Great course in great shape and great staff too. Course was renewed last year or two and it plays well.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Quality Challenge on a Great Venue

Course was in great late Summer shape. Rough was up and sticky...bent grass fairways were wonderful. Recently revamped greens were rolling true and fast. Sand traps were immaculate. A nice challenge for all levels of golfer. Beautiful setting in the rolling countryside of Madison suburbs. Played white tees and spouse played reds, which was appropriate for our level of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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