Getting To Know: University Ridge

An Insightful Interview With Michael Gaspard, General Manager

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Michael Gaspard who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
University of Wisconsin Golf Course! The apparel, golf shop, W Grill, and staff are all a part of a true Badger experience. Golf course is a tale of two nines. Front nine meandors through prarie like conditions, while the back nine is carved through the woods.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
If you are in Madison and want a true WI Badger experience, then University Ridge is the only choice. Eleven consecutive years of the Gold Medal award for Best Madison Golf Course (Madison Magazine).

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
If you are playing the tips, you better bring your A game in every aspect!

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
12 time winner of GolfWorld's top 100 United States golf shops and being a facility of the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #16. Downhill par 5 off the tee with split fairway and large trees splitting. 15 bunkers surround the approach/green. It is a truly beautiful hole!

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Hole #4. Very difficult tee shot from blue/black tees. A line of trees are on the left side of fairway and the hole is a dogleg right with Morse Pond on the right. Approach shot is to elevated green with a lot of undulation. Tip: Play to the right side of the fairway off the tee and take an extra club and a half (no wind) on the approach.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Buffalo chicken wrap and Capital (Seasonal) draft beer!

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score? Garrett Jones from the black tees: 65

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7259
Slope: 144
Rating: 74.9

More Information
University Ridge
9002 County Road PD
Madison, WI, 53593
608-845-7700
www.universityridge.com

Revised: 04/26/2012 - Article Viewed 35,557 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.