Ridgewood Country Club: A New Jersey championship golf course review

11/4/2024 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

The A.W. Tillinghast gem offers peak views of the Manhattan skyline, and a hole known as the "five and dime"

Ridgewood Country Club, located in Paramus, New Jersey, is a celebrated A.W. Tillinghast design that has long been regarded as one of the finest examples of classic golf architecture.

A course that has stood the test of time, Ridgewood has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, including the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship. With its deep, rough, imposing trees and daunting bunkers, Ridgewood provides a stern challenge. Tillinghast's genius lies in the course’s balance of length and strategy, making it a rewarding yet unforgiving experience for those who take it on.

In addition to the U.S. Amateur, Ridgewood has tested the finest professionals in the world—hosting the PGA Tour's Barclays Championship three times and, most recently, the Northern Trust Championship won by Bryson DeChambeau. The course’s demanding layout ensures that competitors must be at their very best from the first tee to the final putt as they face obstacles designed to punish even the smallest mistakes.

The Course
From the very start, Ridgewood’s defining features are evident. The rough is dense and nearly impossible to navigate, forcing players to keep the ball in play if they wish to score well. The regal trees, towering and stately, serve as natural barriers, requiring precision off the tee. The bunkers are deep and unforgiving, lying in wait to gobble up errant shots and penalize those who don’t approach the greens with care.

Hole No. 12 on Ridgewood's championship layout (USGA)

One of Ridgewood’s most famous holes is the short par-4 12th, affectionately known as “Five and Dime.” A par-4 of just over 300 yards, it may seem like an opportunity to score, but the hole is fraught with peril. The green is perched above the fairway, well-protected by massive bunkers and steep slopes, demanding accuracy and nerve. Members will tell you that missing right is the safe play. But to get the ball close to the hole, players must favor the left side of the long skinny green. Watching the best amateurs in the world navigate the hole during the U.S. Amateur in 2022 was like watching a high-wire act.

The balance of Ridgewood's layout ensures that players are tested on every aspect of their game. From the prodigious length of some of the par-4s and par-5s to the precision required on shorter holes like the 12th, no part of the course can be taken lightly.

Tournament Heritage
Ridgewood Country Club’s history as a tournament venue is nothing short of legendary. It has hosted some of golf's most prestigious events, cementing its reputation as a true test for both professionals and amateurs alike. According to tournament records (source: Wikipedia), the following champions have been crowned at Ridgewood:

2022 U.S. Amateur – Sam Bennett
2018 The Northern Trust – Bryson DeChambeau
2016 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship – Seong Eun-jeong
2014 The Barclays – Hunter Mahan
2010 The Barclays – Matt Kuchar
2008 The Barclays – Vijay Singh
2001 Senior PGA Championship – Tom Watson
1990 U.S. Senior Open – Lee Trevino
1974 U.S. Amateur – Jerry Pate
1957 U.S. Senior Amateur – J. Clark Espie
1935 Ryder Cup – United States victory

A True Test of Golf
What makes Ridgewood truly special is how its design continually tests the finest golfers. The course’s combination of stroke play and match play for the U.S. Amateur highlighted the importance of strategy and adaptability. As the week progressed, the stakes grew higher, and Ridgewood's nuances revealed themselves. Melia described how the shift from stroke play to match play brought new challenges, especially on pivotal holes like Five and Dime, where matches could be won or lost.

Surviving Ridgewood with a clean scorecard requires skill and mental toughness—a hallmark of Tillinghast’s genius. Ridgewood Country Club is one of Tillinghast’s greatest works, holding a solid position when comparing it to the more famous of his Metropolitan New York area designs like Winged Foot West Course, Baltusrol, and Quaker Ridge. The course provides a demanding yet fair test for anyone brave enough to take it on. Whether it's hosting the game’s best professionals or the finest amateurs, Ridgewood remains a true gem in the world of golf.

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