University Ridge Golf Course | Verona, WI | Par 72

University Ridge offers an excellent mixture of challenging holes while remaining very playable for most. There’s a good combination of holes that are more demanding off the tee, along with ones that put more importance on the approach shot. I enjoyed that you’re eased into the round a bit, with a relatively wide-open first tee shot and a shorter hole. The two nines are quite different – almost like two completely separate courses. The front nine offers a 3-3-3 setup (three each of par-3s, par-4s and par-5s), which is my favorite. The back nine offers the more traditional five par-4s. The back nine weaves through the woods, allowing the player to feel rather secluded, even with the removal of a great number of trees in recent years. Both sides offer plenty of challenge and beauty, and a common theme is elevation change throughout. One redundancy is within the par threes, as they are all pretty significantly downhill tee shots. The course offers five regular tees, and a junior. It would be nice if there was a tee setup between the Blue and Green, or at least a combo setup, to narrow the gap between 6,200 and 6,700 yards.

You can expect every aspect of the course to be in outstanding condition. Tee boxes and fairways are pristine, and bunkers offer consistent playing conditions. Greens are firm and run with good pace, though speed can be a bit inconsistent across the course. The day I played, short putts were especially treacherous, as there was a lot of break in the last few feet, several times when it didn’t look like there should be. One thing I’ve always thought about U Ridge is that, because they get so much play, the greens tend to take a beating, but I haven’t really noticed that the past few years.

One of the best practice areas you’ll find in the state. Range balls are included with your greens fee. The driving range, a short drive from the clubhouse and first tee, is expansive with a wide range of targets. There are two chipping areas – one by the driving range and one by the putting green – and both have bunkers available. The putting green itself is quite large with a putting course available if you’re really looking to add something to your practice or warm-up.

A small pro shop still has everything you need, with a wide range of University of Wisconsin garb for you to choose from. A $5 pro shop voucher is included with your round, so maybe hold off until afterward if there’s something you have your eye on. A large bar area combined with some table seating offers good atmosphere inside, while some limited patio tables offer stunning views of the course.

All the staff I encountered in my last visit were pleasant and professional. Nothing really stood out, which is a good thing. I didn’t feel rushed in the pro shop, and the staff after my round took care of my clubs and were pleasant. The beverage cart was regularly available on the course. One note is that it only takes card out on the course, so no need to worry about having cash. They won’t take it.

The carts at U Ridge are top notch. I’m not sure when they were bought, but they look and work like they’re brand new. They have the bucket-style leather seating, offer excellent GPS with a point and measure touch screen, and have an individual ball and club washer on the cart. They’re also equipped with some nice plastic tees.

Your greens fee will run you about $100 if you’re riding, which is higher than average in Dane County, but it doesn’t feel expensive when you consider you’re playing a course that hosts a Champions Tour event and is home to the University of Wisconsin golf team. Also, range balls and excellent practice facilities are included, so it’s a good idea to allow yourself time to utilize them.

University Ridge is a tough golf course for your average amateur and it challenges your entire game, tee to green. It’s not overly tight off the tee in most places, which definitely helps keep the round moving, though the back nine does present tree lines on both sides for six of the nine holes. There is a nice variety of holes, so you can employ different strategies throughout your round to take advantage of your strengths. Greens are large, but usually firm and can be difficult to hold. The overall condition of the greens has improved after recent renovations, but they are challenging. You can’t lose focus when chipping or putting or you might find yourself running considerably away from the hole.

It’s always fun to play a place where the pros play and compare your game to theirs (it usually doesn’t turn out so well for us). Aside from that, U Ridge is a dramatic golf course that offers a good amount of challenge and some very memorable holes.

This is not an easy choice, as there are so many memorable holes at U Ridge. Hole #12 is a medium-length par-3 aptly called Dropshot, and it’s always one I look forward to. The hole is very secluded and plays at least a club downhill. The green is very sloped, so even if you hit the green, it’s a task to get down in two. There is a good amount of room to miss, especially left, but you can find yourself with a pretty tough pitch shot.

Another tough decision, as there are several demanding holes. However, #4, a par-4 named Morse Pond, is the hole that I think of first when thinking about challenge. The tee shot from the mid to forward tees goes from visually challenging to downright hard on the back few sets. The hole isn’t especially long, unless you’re on the back tees, but there’s trouble on both sides and the potential for some uneven lies. Getting the ball in play is only one step, though, as a severely uphill approach waits en route to a challenging green.

I can safely say there are no bad holes on this golf course. However, when I think of worst hole, I think back to my younger days when I would walk this course. It’s no easy hoof, but it seems rude to have the 18^th hole be straight up the hill when you’re running on empty. Definitely not an easy finish.

After not getting to U-Ridge in 2025, I was surprised to be able to nab a tee time on Memorial Day Weekend, and just a few days in advance. A lot has changed since I last played. A lot of trees have been taken out, particularly on the back nine. I understand why, but it definitely takes a little something away from the experience. One of the best things about U-Ridge was the feeling of seclusion that it offered. You often felt like you might be the only one on the course. You could see other areas where you knew they were doing something to the course. After I booked my round, I learned that there was a chance that one hole could be closed during any given day. Luckily, that wasn’t the case, but I was curious to see how that would work. Instead, I got to play all 18 holes. The greens were in good shape and rolling well. The rough was especially difficult, even though it wasn’t particularly long, as the ball would really tend to nestle down. There were some shots where I had to basically hack and hope. U-Ridge is still a wonderful golf course, and I almost feel like it’s a good deal with the way local course prices have exploded.