Northern Ridge Golf & RV Resort

Having never heard of the Northern Ridge Golf Course, we arrived with zero expectations. What a truly pleasant surprise it turned out to be—it’s a genuinely fun and memorable course to play.

The first impression is immediately charming. Driving into the lot, the clubhouse greets you like a beautifully renovated old farmhouse, providing a cozy and welcoming atmosphere perfectly suited for a club of this calibre. The staff in the pro shop were incredibly friendly. We learned that the course was previously known as Long Lake Golf Course and has been undergoing renovations—both to the grounds and the building—since new owners took over a few years ago.

The only immediate drawback we noticed was the power carts, which are in dire need of an upgrade. This momentary lapse in standards, however, quickly faded once we got onto the grounds.

The Front Nine Experience

The first few holes lead you to believe this might be a pushover. The 1st is a straightforward uphill shot to a tiny, "postage stamp" green. Things get more interesting on the 2nd, a short dogleg right where previous knowledge is key: the fairway slopes sharply toward a water hazard, punishing a misplaced drive. The 3rd hole is another very drivable downhill par 4, bending right around a pond.

By the time you reach the 4th, a lovely 130-yard downhill par 3 over water, and the 5th, a fun tee shot down into a valley and back up to an elevated green, you're feeling good. Two of the first five holes are easily drivable for long hitters, or at worst, demand a good drive and a flip wedge. It’s a fun, scoreable start.

This feeling of confidence comes to a screeching halt at the 6th hole, where the course gets mean. At a staggering 660 yards, this uphill par 5 requires a tee shot through a narrow shoot of trees, over a valley, and straight into the wind. Getting away with a bogey here feels like a victory. The 7th is a long par 4 from an elevated tee, dropping to a fairway guarded by a small pond before climbing back up to a small green—at least the wind is at your back this time. The 8th, a 160-yard par 3 into the wind, offers a brief moment of recovery.

The 9th is a fantastic finish to the front side. This dogleg left isn't long but is incredibly tricky. It demands careful club selection off the tee; pulling the drive too far left or pushing it too far right through the dogleg will leave you blocked from the green, even if you’re only 130 yards out. Set back in the trees with a small pond guarding the green, it’s a challenging and pretty little hole you won't soon forget.

After walking off the 9th green, our group agreed: “Wow, was that fun to play or what?” The best part is knowing you get to do it all again on the back nine.

Course Conditions and Amenities

The course's conditioning on the day we played was admittedly not at its peak. The fairways were quite dried out, playing very firm and fast. While this offers some unexpected distance, it also means drives can bounce into trouble you weren't expecting. The greens, however, were in good shape, putting true, though they were a little on the slower side. The course uses water hazards as its primary defense (and they definitely come into play), as there are no sand bunkers to be found.

As mentioned, the clubhouse is newly renovated and features a full food service and a great patio overlooking the 9th hole—perfect for a post-round drink. The pro shop is small but well-stocked with basic equipment. We did note the absence of a practice putting green and a driving range.

The Verdict

Would I recommend Northern Ridge? Absolutely. It’s a truly fun course that offers a great mix of accessible, scoreable holes and genuinely challenging, demanding holes. Our only complaints were the dry fairways (an increasingly common issue) and the tired power carts.

But at a price point of just $38, the value is phenomenal. They are clearly doing a heck of a good job with the resources they have. We are already planning our next trip back.