University Ridge Golf Course

What University Ridge Golf Course does

University Ridge Golf Course is a single-location public golf facility owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison athletics department, located at 9002 County Road PD in Madison, Wisconsin. The 18-hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1991 on the terminal moraine of the Wisconsin Glacier, featuring five sets of tees ranging from 5,005 to 7,289 yards and a 33-acre practice facility. The facility serves as the official home course for the UW men's and women's golf teams and has hosted NCAA championships, the WIAA State Tournament since 1994, and the PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship from 2016 through 2023.

The business operates a diversified revenue model beyond green fees, including an on-site retail golf shop, clubhouse dining at the W Grill operated by Levy Restaurants, PGA professional instruction (private lessons, group classes, PGA Junior League), annual Ridge Club memberships at $399, gift cards, and seasonal cross-country skiing on 6 km of groomed trails. Tee time pricing is structured on a dynamic model with 2026 rates ranging from $75 to $145 for 18-hole riding, and the facility operates year-round. In 2026 the course is operating as 17 holes during a full irrigation system replacement featuring HDPE piping, independently controlled sprinklers, and smartphone-enabled diagnostic controls.

The facility is publicly accessible to general public golfers (minimum two per tee time), UW-Madison students with valid IDs (verified through UW DoIT), corporate and group outings (groups of 24+ coordinated by a dedicated Tournament Coordinator), and junior golfers through the PGA Junior League program. Marketing is predominantly organic, driven by persistent rankings across GolfPass, Golfweek, GolfLink, and GolfAdvisor directories, regional PR coverage, and a self-serve online booking engine on universityridge.com.

Name

University Ridge Golf Course

Legal name

University Ridge Golf Course

Website

https://universityridge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

University Ridge Golf Course is a public 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. course owned by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, serving public golfers, UW students, corporate outings, juniors, and collegiate teams with green fees, instruction, retail, dining, and winter skiing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Golf Course

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Golf Equipment, Apparel & Pro Shop Retail (CRAMABAG), Golf Training Aids & Swing Analytics Retail (CRAMAGAG)

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Golf instruction
• Golf events hosting
• Golf retail merchandise
• Cross country skiing

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Fees: 18-hole riding rates range from $75 to $145 depending on date, time, and demand under dynamic pricing model. Includes practice balls for warming up on range 45 minutes prior to tee time. During 2026, operating as 17-hole due to irrigation project with adjusted rates.
2. Ridge Club Membership: Annual discount program offering discounted green fees throughout the season for one-time upfront fee of $399. Members get access to tee times up to 7 days in advance.
3. Golf Shop Merchandise: Retail sales of golf apparel, accessories, and branded merchandise featuring exclusive 'W' crest and motion 'W' logo. Not available online, products change seasonally. Exclusive Bucky Badger headcovers available for purchase.
4. Food & Beverage (W Grill): Clubhouse dining facility operated by Levy Restaurants offering classic Wisconsin cooking and clubhouse staples. Opens 30 minutes before first tee time and closes 30 minutes before sunset.
5. Golf Instruction: Private lessons and group instruction programs taught by PGA professionals. Includes individual lesson packages, group programs like Breaking 100 and Women's Golf, and PGA Junior League.
6. Cross Country Skiing: Seasonal revenue from trail fees (Adult Day Pass $8, UW Student/Faculty/Junior $6) and ski rentals ($10/day). 6 kilometers of groomed trails.
7. Gift Cards: Physical gift cards sold for any amount, redeemable for merchandise, instruction, or golf at University Ridge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

University Ridge Golf Course operates a public 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf course with a 33-acre practice facility in Madison, Wisconsin. The facility sells tee times under a dynamic pricing model, an annual Ridge Club membership program, on-site dining at The W Grill (operated by Levy Restaurants), an award-winning golf retail shop, PGA professional instruction, golf outings and tournaments, and seasonal cross-country skiing on 6 km of groomed trails.

Product overview

University Ridge Golf Course operates as a single-location public golf facility offering an 18-hole golf course (17 holes during 2026 irrigation project), a 33-acre practice facility, on-site dining at The W Grill, a retail Golf Shop, and golf instruction services. The course is the official home to UW-Madison men's and women's golf teams. Supplementary offerings include Ridge Club membership (annual discount program), gift cards, and dynamic pricing for tee times. The facility also operates a cross-country skiing operation during winter months with 6 km of groomed trails. Golf instruction is delivered through PGA professionals offering private lessons, group instruction programs, and PGA Junior League youth programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robert Trent Jones Jr. Golf Course 18-hole public golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened in 1991. Five sets of tees ranging from 5,005 to 7,289 yards accommodate all skill levels. Front nine winds through prairie and marshland; back nine is cut out of Wisconsin woodland. Operating as 17 holes during 2026 irrigation project.
• Practice Facility 33-acre practice facility including short game area with bunker, two 9,000-square-foot hitting areas, and bent grass tees and greens. Serves both public golfers and UW men's and women's golf teams. Range balls included with paid greens fee up to 45 minutes prior to tee time.
• The W Grill Restaurant On-site clubhouse restaurant offering classic Wisconsin cooking and clubhouse staples, operated by Levy Restaurants. Opens 30 minutes before first tee time and closes 30 minutes before sunset from April 17 through end of season (~early November).
• Golf Shop Retail Award-winning on-site golf shop offering exclusive UW Badgers apparel with 'W' crest and motion 'W' logo, Wisconsin golf accessories, golf balls, headcovers, and club rentals. Open year-round with seasonal products. Bucky Badger headcovers available by email order with shipping.
• Gift Cards Physical gift cards available in any amount, redeemable for merchandise, instruction, or golf at University Ridge. Ordered online and mailed to recipient.
• Ridge Club Annual Membership Annual discount program with a one-time fee of $399 providing discounted green fees throughout the season. Members get tee time access up to 7 days in advance. Monday-Thursday greens fees: $40 walking, $60 with cart (17 holes). Friday-Sunday and holidays: $45 walking, $65 with cart.
• PGA Golf Instruction Private lessons and group instruction programs taught by PGA professionals Ryan Wieme, Erik Stenseth, and Kyle Nielsen. Includes individual lesson packages and specialized group programs.
• PGA Junior League Youth golf program part of the PGA of America national program. Four teams of up to 12 players each, 10 practices per season, plus home and away matches. Total per participant: $475 ($330 instruction, $120 instructor fees, $25 PGA JL Team Jersey Kit, $25 UW Admin).
• Adult Group Instruction Programs Group lesson programs including Spring 2-day Tune-up ($40/session), Breaking 100 ($140 for 4 sessions), and Women's Golf ($140 for 4 sessions). Limited to 3-4 people per session.
• Cross Country Skiing 6 kilometers of groomed trails for skate and classic skiing linking with Thomas Zimmer Cross Country Running Course. Open 9am to 5pm daily when conditions permit. Adult day pass $8, student/faculty/junior $6. Ski rentals $10/day (not allowed off property).
• Golf Outings and Events Hosting Tournament and event hosting services for groups of 20+ players. Tournament Coordinator Andy Bacon coordinates availability, rates, and logistics for groups of 24+ players. Includes use of an outdoor pavilion overlooking the course.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45-50 juniors participated in PGA Junior League consistently for 5+ seasons

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Levy RestaurantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLevy Restaurants handles all food and beverage operations at University Ridge Golf Course, including the W Grill restaurant and on-course catering. Levy provides their own staff and manages hiring through their careers website. The W Grill offers classic Wisconsin cooking and clubhouse staples with views of the golf course.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TPC Wisconsin: Premium public-access course in Madison, Wisconsin area designed by Steve Stricker. Direct competitor in the Madison metro premium public golf market and competes for the same corporate outing and tournament hosting business.
• Blackwolf Run (Destination Kohler): Two-course public-access Pete Dye-designed facility in Kohler, Wisconsin; hosted the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Women's Opens. Direct peer as a Wisconsin championship-caliber public venue competing for premium golf customers and outing business.
• Chambers Bay: Premier public-access links course in University Place, Washington, hosted the 2015 U.S. Open. Direct peer as a top-ranked public-access championship-caliber course with strong municipal ownership model and national recognition.
• Erin Hills: Premier public golf course in Erin, Wisconsin, designed by Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. Hosted the 2017 U.S. Open and 2025 U.S. Women's Open. Direct peer as a top-ranked Wisconsin public course competing for the same premium public golf customer and championship-hosting prestige.
• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: Multi-course public golf resort in Bandon, Oregon with multiple top-ranked layouts (Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes). Direct peer as a destination public golf operation with strong national rankings and a multi-course diversified model.
• Arcadia Bluffs: Premier public-access course along Lake Michigan in Arcadia, Michigan. Direct peer as a top-ranked public-access course in the upper Midwest competing for regional premium public golf customers and golf tourism.
• Sand Valley Golf Resort: Multi-course public golf resort in Nekoosa, Wisconsin (Mammoth Dunes, Sand Valley, The Ledges). Direct peer as a Wisconsin public-access premium destination with strong national rankings, competing for premium public golf travelers and stay-and-play packages.
• Whistling Straits (Destination Kohler): Public-access Pete Dye-designed course along Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisconsin; hosted multiple PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup. Direct peer competing for Wisconsin premium public golf customers, championship hosting, and corporate outing business.

Broad incumbents

• Troon: Largest golf management company in the world, operating and managing hundreds of courses across multiple price tiers. Broad incumbent relevant to University Ridge as a comparable operator in the public premium space and as a potential management partner model.
• Pebble Beach Resorts: Iconic public-access golf resort in Pebble Beach, California with multiple courses including Pebble Beach Golf Links (host of multiple U.S. Opens). Broad incumbent peer representing the premium end of public golf, championship hosting, and integrated resort operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uridgegolf
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityRidgeGC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universityridgegolfcourse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University Ridge Golf Course