University Ridge Golf Course
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7286 yards | 75.8 | 142 |
| Blue | 72 | 6718 yards | 73.4 | 139 |
| Green | 72 | 6245 yards | 70.4 | 134 |
| Green (W) | 72 | 6245 yards | 76.7 | 139 |
| White | 72 | 5752 yards | 68.6 | 129 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5752 yards | 73.8 | 134 |
| Red | 72 | 5005 yards | 65.3 | 116 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5005 yards | 69.5 | 124 |
| Junior | 72 | 3813 yards | 61.3 | 103 |
| Junior (W) | 72 | 3813 yards | 62.9 | 110 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 75.8/142 | 396 | 555 | 242 | 467 | 198 | 623 | 429 | 207 | 587 | 3704 | 483 | 569 | 200 | 336 | 398 | 352 | 554 | 250 | 440 | 3582 | 7286 |
| Blue M: 73.4/139 | 376 | 546 | 195 | 398 | 172 | 608 | 379 | 162 | 554 | 3390 | 456 | 537 | 174 | 330 | 377 | 321 | 533 | 192 | 408 | 3328 | 6718 |
| Green M: 70.4/134 W: 76.7/138 | 370 | 515 | 174 | 354 | 169 | 570 | 345 | 151 | 475 | 3123 | 424 | 504 | 159 | 316 | 358 | 312 | 514 | 164 | 371 | 3122 | 6245 |
| White M: 68.6/129 W: 73.8/134 | 355 | 461 | 170 | 332 | 140 | 534 | 325 | 144 | 442 | 2903 | 375 | 462 | 124 | 294 | 322 | 280 | 471 | 155 | 366 | 2849 | 5752 |
| Red M: 65.3/116 W: 69.5/124 | 293 | 428 | 135 | 304 | 126 | 442 | 298 | 83 | 421 | 2530 | 342 | 412 | 95 | 222 | 309 | 245 | 434 | 130 | 286 | 2475 | 5005 |
| Junior M: 61.3/103 W: 62.9/110 | 228 | 305 | 118 | 233 | 124 | 311 | 229 | 79 | 328 | 1955 | 241 | 330 | 78 | 171 | 205 | 173 | 296 | 124 | 240 | 1858 | 3813 |
| Handicap | 11 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
SnacksAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAccolades
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by xpops4x on 08/03/2025
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Photo submitted by Blake3999717 on 09/28/2024
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Photo submitted by Back9Ben on 09/24/2020
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Photo submitted by Back9Ben on 09/24/2020
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Photo submitted by Back9Ben on 09/24/2020
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Photo submitted by Back9Ben on 09/24/2020
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Hole 14 - So much sand Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Hole 12 - downhill par 3 to a tough green Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Hole 11 - one of the 5 really good par 5s Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Hole 10 - My favorite hole on the course Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Hole 8 - my favorite of the five par 3s Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Hole 4 - a challenging up-hill par 4 Photo submitted by GolferJake78 on 09/02/2020
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Photo submitted by mccordgricegolf on 08/27/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 05/29/2017
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
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Photo submitted by DavidLaDuke on 08/14/2015
Greens could be faster
Great, fun course to play! Very playable, but with appropriate challenges. Greens could have been faster. Speed on some appeared inconsistent with others. But overall I gave it. 5 Stars since 4 1/2 wasn't an option
UW Ridge
UW Ridge is fabulous and the greens are in the best shape in ten years....fast and true. This course is always a joy to play and the staff always friendly/attentive. If you are in Madison, you have to play this course.
All around super golf course!
Great golf course, in great condition. I had a friend from Az and he kept saying what a GREAT course. He can't find a golf course in Az like this. Perfect!!!!!!!!
Wonderful golf experience
Perfection!! Impecable fairways & greens price was great on GolfNow.com
Great Time
We da aawsome time golfing to course, will recommand to anyone.
Great customer service
Brian A. in the pro shop was excellent. He made sure everything was in order for us to have a great experience.
Still a beautiful course
This was my first time playing U-Ridge in several years. The fairways were fast and tight and the greens rolled true. It's always a pleasure to play this course.
Interesting layout, conditions to match multiple skill levels
First time at University Ridge and it lived up to its reputation! Course design is beautiful, interesting and requires consideration for each shot.
The staff was friendly and helpful.
Riding is a necessity from my point of view in order to enjoy the round.
A stunningly beautiful course, which helps keep everything in perspective should you hit a bad shot.
I will make it a priority to play again soon.
Must play course in Madison!!
Absolutely brilliantly laid out course in the heart of a great city. Has a College feel throughout vs. a stuffy private club atmosphere. Youth abounds in this place but don't be fooled, golf is their #1 priority here & they get it. Pace is great & you will not be disappointed w/the premium they charge vs. the local competition. If you’re in town on business or pleasure make this stop, you won't be disappointed.
UW Ridge is a fun, challenging day
Despite the bad weather and terrible mosquitoes, UW Ridge did not disappoint. Excellent course conditions and challenging play. Always a pleasure to play there. Staff is friendly and helpful. Pace of play is good.
Stunning
University Ridge course was worth the drive. Course was in fabulpous shape. Had not been a Badger fan, but after playing the Universities home course, I will be. Transition from Links to more standard american course going from front 9 to back 9 only magnified the beauty of the surroundings.
Always Enjoy U Ridge
We made really good time on the front but it slowed down tremendously on the back - just under 2.5 hours. Unfortunately that was probably due to the cart path only in effect. Course was in great shape and they did well to try and dry out the greens after all the rain from the past week. Greens a little slow but that was expected. Staff was as always very friendly and helpful. Love playing this course.
True Robert Tren Jones DESIGN
GPS can be troublesome at times. Very nice layout and only wish to be able to play it again the next day. Staff very courteous.
Ridge with a view
Getting over the aeration of the greens a few weeks backs- getting faster
Rough coming in nice and thick
Bring your target game
Don't waste your time until the greens improve!
This was the second time playing the Ridge this year and was shocked at how slow the greens are this year. This is supposed to be a "top ten" course in the state and right now with the greens this slow, it's in the bottom ten. Several friends have expressed the same comments and there is no way anyone should pay these rates until the greens get back to some semblance of normal. I'm serious, these greens are terribly slow!
Additionally, unless you are there for lessons, the pro staff seems disinterested in you as a customer. The food seems okay, but they don't have name brand sodas or gatorade type drinks.
A great day of golf
Everything about the day was a great experience. The staff was friendly and the course was in great shape. Grabbed a burger and fries at the turn. It was delicious. Thanks for a wonderful day.
Still Don't Have Greens Fixed
I will play U Ridge in the spring and fall to get good rates, but it just isn't worth it for the full rates. The greens are bumpy, uneven, and fairly slow. For a course that shut down to fix the greens, this is still not up to par in the competitive Madison golf market. The city courses have better greens in my opinion.
Tough, but beautiful course!
This used to be one of my favorite courses in the area. It's become a bit too expensive in recent years, so it's been a while since I played the course. The staff is very friendly. They re-did the greens last year and they are in nice shape. The rough was entirely too punitive for a course that is already challenging. Our group had trouble finding balls only a few feet off the fairway. The thick and heavy rough was very difficult to hit from.
Great course to play
Fairways are very playable. Second and Third shot can get you into trouble.
Outstanding
Truly a championship design with a good variety of holes. Aeration had been done recently on the greens, but otherwise in good condition. If you enjoy a challenging and well designed course, it's a must play.