Ridgewood Country Club

Ridgewood CC clubhouse & 9th hole East

History

Ridgewood Country Club was designed by A. W. Tillinghast and opened in 1929 with three 9 hole loops.

Gil Hanse has been restoring the course(s) since 1995.

Ridgewood has a long history for hosting championships, and is a stringent test of golf.

Championships

In 1935 Ridgewood hosted The Ryder Cup.

Over the years the course has also hosted the 1935 U.S. Amateur, the 1974 U.S. Amateur, 3 senior majors & The Barclays.

Course

When we played the greens were firm and fast to the extreme.

Players need to be accurate enough to stay out of the thick rough and have the ability to stop the ball in the correct section of the green- as putting from above the hole is no bargain.

We played the East and West Courses, and also had a peek at the famous par four, 4th hole (named Nickel & Dime) on the Central course.

This is the par 4 hole that Rory McIlroy hit the green with his tee shot in all four rounds of the ….

He finished 6 under on the hole through the four rounds..

Ridgwood CC- Central Course, hole 4

We played in beautiful weather with a knowledgeable member as our guide.

Off the appropriate tees Ridgewood is not overly long, but it is a challenge.

There is very little quirk factor at Ridgewood, and it is not an overly hilly site.

You need to play good golf for all 18 holes, and even though the fairways can challenge at times, it is the approach shot that is the key.

If you are good enough to hit the greens consistently under the hole you will love your day’s golf.

Notable holes include:

East Course

Hole 2, a gentle early par 3 that is nicely bunkered

Ridgewood CC- East Course, hole 2

Hole 9, a strong par 4 with water right and clubhouse views (see pic top of page)

West Course

Hole 4, a somewhat daunting par 5 which requires players to negotiate cross bunkers, a stretch of long grass crossing the fairway, and a heavily bunkered green.

Ridgewood CC- West Course, hole 4 second shot