University Ridge Golf Course
The home of Wisconsin Badgers golf and a regular tour stop, this Robert Trent Jones Jr design near Madison swings from open prairie to wooded ridge. A par 72 of about 7,259 yards with a championship pedigree.
Photo: University Ridge Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
University Ridge is the rare college and public course that plays like a tournament venue, because it is one. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 1991, it serves as the home course of the University of Wisconsin golf teams and has hosted top amateur events and a PGA Tour Champions stop, giving it a competitive pedigree that few daily fee courses can match. It sits just outside Madison in Verona, an easy drive from the city.
For the traveling golfer it offers a genuinely varied and demanding round. The front nine runs through open prairie and marshland before the course turns into mature woodland on the back, then opens out again for a dramatic uphill finish to the highest point on the property. At a par 72 of about 7,259 yards with a course rating near 74.9 and a slope of 144, it has real bite from the tips, yet five sets of tees keep it playable for everyone. As a fully public course it is one of Wisconsin's best value championship rounds.
University Ridge Golf Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Jr
- Type
- Prairie & woodland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,259 yds
- Access
- Public
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the course and leading databases. University Ridge is a Robert Trent Jones Jr design that opened in 1991 in Verona near Madison, Wisconsin, a par 72 of about 7,259 yards with a course rating near 74.9 and slope of 144. It is fully public; green fees vary by season, day and resident status, so always confirm the current 2026 rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The routing gives University Ridge its character. The opening holes play across exposed prairie and marshland, where the wind is a factor and the eye has plenty to take in, before the course plunges into thick woodland for a stretch of tighter, tree lined holes that demand precision off the tee. The contrast between the two halves keeps the round constantly fresh.
Jones used the natural ridge and the elevation changes well, with greens that are large and firm and approaches that often play uphill or down across the rolling terrain. The closing holes return to open ground and build to the par 4 18th, which climbs sharply to the highest point on the property and a green set against the clubhouse, a fitting and demanding finish.
It is a course that asks for every club and rewards the player who can shape shots and manage the wind on the open holes while staying disciplined in the trees. Its tournament history is no accident; the design holds up under pressure, which is exactly why the Badgers and the professionals keep coming back.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A fully public course; anyone can book a tee time, with five sets of tees making it playable for all abilities |
| Green fee | Green fees vary by season, day of the week and resident status; book ahead for weekend mornings, and always confirm the current 2026 rate directly before booking |
| Booking | Directly with the course; tee times can be reserved online or by phone, and the course is busiest on summer weekends |
| On the day | Smart golf attire; carts and walking both work well, though the terrain rolls and the closing hole climbs, so a cart suits a hot day |
| Getting there | In Verona, just southwest of Madison, about fifteen minutes from the city and the University of Wisconsin campus |
| Best months | May to October, with summer and early fall offering the best conditions on this northern course |
Access and indicative fees verified June 2026 for the 2026 season; rates change, so always confirm directly before booking. Ask us about University Ridge Golf Course tee times.
Where to stay nearby
University Ridge sits minutes from Madison, so the city is the obvious base, with a full range of hotels, restaurants and the buzz of a college town and state capital. It makes an easy stop on a wider Wisconsin golf trip rather than a destination resort in its own right.
The smart itinerary pairs University Ridge with the state's other great public courses, from SentryWorld and Sand Valley to the courses at Kohler, turning a single round into a proper tour of Wisconsin golf. Madison's central location makes it a convenient hub for a road trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended stays around Madison and across Wisconsin.
Build a Wisconsin golf trip
We build trips around the great Wisconsin public courses, from University Ridge near Madison to SentryWorld, Sand Valley and Kohler, and arrange lodging, transfers and tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
University Ridge Golf Course questions
Who designed University Ridge Golf Course?
University Ridge was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 1991. It is the home course of the University of Wisconsin golf teams and has hosted top amateur events and a PGA Tour Champions tournament.
What is the par and length of University Ridge?
University Ridge plays to a par of 72 and measures about 7,259 yards from the back tees, with a course rating near 74.9 and a slope of 144. Five sets of tees, from roughly 5,000 to over 7,200 yards, keep it playable for all abilities.
Can visitors play University Ridge, and what does it cost?
Yes. University Ridge is a fully public course near Madison. Green fees vary by season, day and resident status, so always confirm the current 2026 rate directly before booking. It is regarded as one of Wisconsin's best value championship rounds.
What makes University Ridge special?
The routing moves from open prairie and marshland on the front nine to mature woodland on the back, then climbs to a dramatic uphill 18th. Combined with its tournament pedigree as the Wisconsin Badgers' home course, that variety and challenge set it apart among public courses.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par, yardage and fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.