Maple Bluff Country Club (private) | Madison, WI | Par 71

Maple Bluff has been a full 18-hole golf course since 1916, with the basic layout remaining unchanged since 1967. The course features gently rolling fairways and large trees lining nearly every fairway. Most holes feature raised, moderately-sized greens, not the tiny ones that are typically associated with older country clubs. Maple Bluff eases you into your round with a short par-4 that allows you the chance to try and drive the green. Conservative players will try to avoid two greenside bunkers and leaving a yardage that suits them. From there, the course curls out and around the clubhouse, before the par-5 5th hole takes you to the back side of the property, with out of bounds down the entire right side. Water comes into play for the first time on the par-3 6th, with water on both sides (make sure you’re aware of the water to the left) of the long, narrow green. You won’t have to contend with any water until the 16th hole comes back past those same ponds. Trees continue to highlight the back side, much like the front, putting an emphasis on accuracy off the tee. The course has three holes – the 2nd, 12th and 15th – that play as par-4s for men, and par-5s for ladies. Because of that, you wind up with a rather unusual par 36-37-35/37-71/74 setup. There are four tees to play from, including a combo tee that meshes the shortest two tees (red and green).

On the whole, Maple Bluff is a wonderfully well-conditioned golf course. Since I was walking during my last round there, the fairways grabbed my attention the most, as they were absolutely phenomenal. It was a cushioned roll of carpet had been laid out in strips. Normally I don’t get that excited about a course’s fairways, but Maple Bluff’s are special. They aren’t overly firm and/or tight, making those iron shots around the greens not something to be too scared of. Since I mentioned the greens, they are outstanding, too. Exactly what I’d expect from a private country club. The slope is subtle, but it’s definitely there, so you’ll want to be below the hole whenever you can. My most recent playing of Maple Bluff was my third time, and it was easily the slowest I have seen the greens. It doesn’t mean they’re slow, because they’re not. They just weren’t as fast as my memory told me. They roll true, though. A well-hit putt will be rewarded, and that’s all a player can ask.

Maple Bluff’s range has players hitting off mats year-round now, with an eye on protecting the turf. The range is not especially long, so there may be a limit on how far you’re allowed to hit the ball. There are two short game areas. There’s a chipping green near the range mats that offers some fairway and bunkers to practice from. Finally there’s a green dedicated to putting and chipping near the 10th tee. The practice green gave an excellent representation of what you’ll see out on the course. All in all, it’s a nice setup.

Maple Bluff Country Club is one of the oldest country clubs in the state of Wisconsin, and its clubhouse offers plenty of the charm you’d associate with that. The pro shop is rather cramped, with a lot of merchandise and gear available.

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Maple Bluff is a private course, so there is no advertised rate for how much guests have to pay to play.

Maple Bluff is not an overly long golf course, but there are some spots where it feels like it is. The big problem is extremely large trees that are ever present, lurking to grab an errant shot in the air, or leave you without a shot when your ball comes to rest in their vicinity. If you can manage to control your ball and avoid the trees, the greens will absolutely challenge you. They aren’t as small as you’d think for an old country club, but they are quick with a lot of slope that can be difficult to read. Staying below the hole is always a good rule to follow here. If you don’t, you have to putt or chip very defensively, making it all the more difficult.

Maple Bluff is an absolutely beautiful golf course, giving glimpses of Lake Mendota and a wonderful feeling of seclusion through all the large trees. The course is in exceptional condition, which is always fun to experience. The trees that line virtually every hole put pressure on your game, though, and failure to control your ball or make the correct play will lead to punching out and/or the sound of golf balls connecting with wood.

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After the drivable first hole, Maple Bluff fights back with the longest par-4 on the course, the 2nd. There’s OB all the way along this slight downhill hole, but a fairway bunker and some large trees loom on the left. Mounds to the right and behind the green makes up-and-down from those areas pretty tough. Hopefully you made par or better on #1, because #2 is a tough one.

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A truly beautiful day in Madison, and Maple Bluff was in wonderful condition. The fairways were as nice as anywhere I can recall playing. They were like carpet. The greens were nice, but nowhere near as fast as they were in my memory. I left a number of putts short.