University Ridge Golf Course, Verona, WI

I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and have been playing golf since the third grade, and I'm now a 41 year old, 3 handicap. I decided to play this course the other day for the first time. At the prime time, with a cart, the greens fees are the highest at $69.00. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE BEST COURSE FOR THE VALUE, MAYBE IN THE WHOLE STATE! Where else can you play a well maintained Robert Trent Jones track for that amount of money? I have an issue with courses charging $100-$150+ because the architect's name is Jones Jr. or Sr., Fazio, Nicklaus, and Palmer. And if the course was designed by Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie or A.W. Tillinghast you'll be lucky to even see it up close, let alone have the privlege to play it. However, that is another subject all together. Everyone was very friendly, and the course was well maintained. BRING MOSQUITO AND BITING FLY REPELLENT, I keep some in my bag and I'm glad I did, the biting flys can be more than irritating!!! I did not feel the course itself was very difficult, however, if you spray the ball off the tee you are in for A LONG DAY! The rough is thick and in some cases you'll have to club up 2 clubs, there are also some subtle optical illusions you must watch for. I had a great time, and I'm disappointed it took me so long to finally play it. I played Whistling Straits two weeks ago, and it cost about $500 after greens fees, caddy, and caddy tip, and University ridge was maintained just as well.

Great track. I was in Madison for 3 days and played the University course the first day. Played Hawk's Landing the second. I wish I would have gone back to University and skipped Hawk's. I was a single with an 830 am Friday tee time and was paired with 3 others. Two guys were high handicappers but were a pleasure to be around, mostly because they played quickly. The other was an older gentleman that likely was a player in his earlier years. In fact, he dropped his first ACE ever on #8! Great moment. At any rate, this place is truly top-notch. From the great clubhouse / lounge, to the staff, to the practice area, to the course itself. It's clearly a university course from all of the Badger gear, and as a Mid-Westerner / Big Ten supporter, I thought it was great. On the course, the bag boys, starter, and rangers were all friendly and helpful. And $65 for 18 before 9 am is a bargain. The course is unique. The entire front nine is a prairie / links style track. Open, rolling, tight, and very few trees. The bunkers and rough punish off target shots. While tough, it's very playable. The back nine is a stark contrast to the front. Narrow, plenty of elevation changes, and heavily wooded. Actually, you're straight in the woods. It really is great. The bunkers were soft, white sand. The fairways were in pristine, actually perfect, condition throughout. The greens? Wow. The greens. Big, fast, and true. Classic Robert Trent Jones. Multi-leveled and deceptive. Tough reads. But when you get the right line and correct speed, there are makeable putts out there. Speed is the name of the game. On approach, they're firm. Good shots will hold, bad ones won't. Bring your A game. Even if you don't, you'll still enjoy the scenery and you'll get much needed practice with the thick, nasty 2nd cut. If I'm ever in the Madison area again, I'm playing this course.

a must play if golfing in madison.