University Ridge

If college decisions were based upon the campus course, the University of Wisconsin-Madison would be overflowing with applicants. Simply put, University Ridge in Verona, WI is not only one of the finest, if not the finest layouts one will ever find as part of a college campus, but rivals the greats in the now golf rich state of Wisconsin.

While Uni Ridge may not possess the lakefront locale of Whistling Straits or the acres of flowing natural terrain the comprises the newcomer to the Wisconsin major championship golf scene, Erin Hills, the course seamlessly flows from typical midwestern prairie golf into a wooded final 9 that feels much more like northern Michigan than south central Wisconsin. For those of you familiar with another RTJ II design just north of Chicago, ThunderHawk, University Ridge is essentially ThunderHawk on steroids. While the layouts share that signature prairie-style RTJ look in their green complexes, the undulations on both sides of University Ridge far surpass anything found at THawk.

With many courses that, like University Ridge, have a split-9 layout of prairie to wooded, marsh to dunes, sea to sky, whatever you call it, the contrast never really works, seeming much more like a club with two separate 9-hole courses than a solid 18. This is far from the case with the Ridge. Although trees are really nonexistent on the first 9, the similarity of the green complexes and the seamless flow of the layout overcomes the contrast in lateral hazards.

As I said before, the front nine is what the course staff refers to as the prairie side of the course. From the opening tee shot on the downhill par 4 first, the prairie grass that is typical of RTJ II's midwest designs is an in-your-face part of the golf course and a worthy challenge to every shot. After the picturesque tee shot on number 1, an otherwise benign par 4 sets the stage for a course that is far from it. Number 2 is where the Ridge really begins, a par 5 that double doglegs around a rockbed (not water-filled but nonetheless considered a lateral hazard) as well as a 3-bunker complex that must be carried in order to have a shot at the green. For us short hitters just worried about hitting the par 5 in regulation, a tee shot that either carrys the rockbed left of the bunkers or is laid up short of the hazard sets up a layup that truly is the key shot on the hole. Although the green is framed by a split fairway, the left portion is guarded by a tall oak that leaves that side of the fairway out of the question in terms of setting up a clear approach. After a relatively benign par 3 (the par 3's are a bit disappointing- although I like the elevation changes on the 2 back 9 par 3s, I had 6-iron on all 3 front 9 1-shoters and hybrids in on the back. Perhaps alterations in the tee marker setup could create a bit more variety), the fourth stares you straight in the face. An uphill, dogleg right par 4, the fourth generally leaves you with a long iron or fairway wood into an elevated green guarded by a collection area on the left and three bunkers short right. Add in one of the most undulating greens on the course and you have yourself a solid par 4. The fifth is another one of the benign par 3s, a downhiller that ends at a green surrounded by a bunker short right and 2 more far left. A solid par 5 sixth is followed by a benign short par 4 seventh and yet another downhill 6-iron at the eighth. The final par 5 on the front, nine is one of the more challenging holes on the front side and certainly is not the birdie opportunity one usually finds on a mid-length par 5. After a tee shot through the shoot that must favor the left side (although it doesnt appear that way from the tee box), another precise layup is require to clear yet another oak and leave a manageable approach to the most elevated green complex on the course. Stray left off the tee or right on the second and you have no shot on the double dogleg front nine closer.

While I said that I enjoyed the blend of prairie and woods that University Ridge provides, I would be remiss not to mention the simple fact that the wooded back 9 is what makes the course so special. After a beautiful tree-lined par 4 to open the inward side, the par 5 11th presents a tee shot that must favor the left side so as to avoid bunkers and overhanging limbs that leave any rightward-straying tee shot nearly impossible to recover from. After a well-placed layup, players are usually faced with a short iron to a surprisingly difficult green guarded by a bunker to the left that is a fairly guaranteed bogey. Following that, 12 is a nice downhill par 3 again played to a steeply sloped green that carries any approach straight to the back of the green. Although not the most difficult par 4, 13 is a well-designed short hole that presents options off the tee. While only 316 yards from the blues, any tee shot that doesnt carry 220 will leave an approach to be played off a steep upslope to a green that is guarded by a deep bunker in the front and another on the left. 14 is another par 4, playing a bit longer than 13 and requiring a well-placed tee shot to avoid fairway bunkers on the left and right sides of the landing area. Although the green doesnt have much defense in the way of bunkering or elevation, the back-to-front slope forces players to keep the ball below the hole in order to truly have a look a birdie.

Much like 13, 15 is a truly well-designed short par 4. Framed by a bank short of the fairway on the dogleg right and two bunkers long, the green is only accessible from the right side, as yet another tree blocks the angle to the green from anywhere right of center. Although driver brings the bunkers into play, layups on 15 have to be played far enough left so as to leave a clear approach to another steeply-sloped green. 16 is perhaps the best hole on the course. Although a bit confusing the first time around, the 16th is a classic risk-reward par 5 from start to finish. From the option to go left off the tee and gain an angle to hit the green in two to the second fairway that begins up by the green a la 18 at Valhalla, 16 is a par 5 that can make or break a round. Perfectly designed and perfectly placed toward the end of the round. While 16 can make or break a 17, 17 still stares you in the face as a potential round killer. The longest of the par 3's, 17 requires a downhill approach of over 200 to a small green protected by a pond short left and a bunker right. If anything, 17 is too tight for the length of approach required. 18 caps off a round at University Ridge perfectly. No, it doesnt have a waterfall next to the green or a vista across the state. Instead, it requires a well-placed draw hit over two fairway bunkers on the left and then a well hit mid to long-iron into a green that is the deepest on the course. Pin placement is key and three putts are surely a possibility.

Just like its closing hole, University Ridge is a simple and yet well-designed layout that is among the most enjoyable I have had the privilege to have played. It deserves its sterling reputation and is a sturdy foundation for the growing golf destination that is Madison, Wisconsin. At $30 walking for students, I look forward to playing the Ridge on a regular basis for the next three years and beyond.