The Takeaway:  One of the Garden State’s finest tracks with world class green complexes, ideal conditioning, and excellent movement in the terrain. Ridgewood is capable of testing the best players in the world while also offering compelling architecture.  Grade A-

Quick Facts

Designer:  A. W. Tillinghast 1929

Cost:  Private

Phone Number:  201-599-3900

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit Ridgewood Country Club (Championship)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - 96 W Midland Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey  07652 – UNITED STATES

Photos:  See additional photos of Ridgewood Country Club (Championship)

Similar Course:

• Plainfield Country Club

What to Expect:  Designed by golden age architecture legend A.W. Tillinghast and later restored by Gild Hanse, Ridgewood is a great championship level course that is worthy of testing the best players in the world. The course features some of the best green complexes in the world and sets the standard of how good that aspect of course design can be. They are complimented by perfect conditions that create firm, yet receptive, putting surfaces and are attacked from perfecting conditioned fairways with a firm base that is still easy to take divots from. A classic parkland layout, the course sits on property that enjoys a nice amount of movement to help facilitate quality architecture opportunities while feeling completely natural. The combination of holes used for the Championship course are fantastic and create a truly memorable and challenging experience. To create that routing, holes 1-7 from the East nine, hole holes 2-6 from the Center nine, and holes 4-9 from the West nine are employed to unveil Ridgewood's finest complement of holes. The course has a long and storied history of hosting professional tournaments including the 1935 Ryder Cup (USA), 1974 U.S. Amateur (Jerry Pate), 1990 U.S. Senior Open (Lee Trevino), 2001 Senior PGA Championship (Tom Watson), as well as four FedEx Cup Playoff events. The course is enjoyed by walking it with a caddie and helps create one of New Jersey's finest golf experiences.

By the Numbers

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  5th Hole – 440 Yard Par 4 – With the famous Five and Dime 12th hole is undoubtedly Ridgewood's signature offering, we are saving it to be featured later and instead will focus on one of the several great two-shotters found on this property. The 5th hole on the Championship course, which is also the 5th hole on the East course, is a Tillinghast classic dogleg right where the inside of the corner is protected by a pair of bunkers. The fairway tilts from left to right which will put the ball enough below your feet to make your confidence wane when eyeing down the narrowest green on the course. The putting surface is just 10 yards wide while it is more than triple that deep, so accuracy comes at a premium considering the entire green is surrounded by a half dozen bunkers. With the approach shot playing uphill, only part of the green is visible from the fairway which can make attacking pins in the back third a combination of trust and execution.

5th Hole at Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (440 Yard Par 4)

5th Hole at Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (440 Yard Par 4)

Best Par 3:  11th Hole – 217 Yards

Best Par 4:  9th Hole – 471 Yards

Best Par 5:  3rd Hole – 588 Yards – The 3rd hole introduces one of Tillinghast's famous "great hazards" that he often employed on par fives to generate extra interest and strategy. Reaching the green in two is unrealistic for the vast majority of players, especially since the great hazard, a series of moguls, consumes the fairway 300 yards from the back tee and demands players to hit a 275 yard cut shot up the hill to find the putting surface. The hole plays almost directly south for the majority of its length, but it makes a 45 degree turn right and ascends slightly to the greensite that is protected by eight bunkers that are begging you to be just slightly off line with your approach. There is a long, steady climb to the back of the green, so the test with your flatstick can be significant if you leave yourself further than 30 feet from the pin.

3rd Hole at Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (588 Yard Par 5)

3rd Hole at Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (588 Yard Par 5)

3rd Hole at Ridgewood Country Club (Championship) (588 Yard Par 5)

Birdie Time:  12th Hole – 294 Yard Par 4

Bogey Beware:  7th Hole – 467 Yard Par 4