The charming little city of Madison, Wisconsin sits on the waters of Lake Monona. When the winter ends and springs starts to set in, some truly exceptional golf courses emerge from under their snow blanket. Our guide to Madison golf courses will help you find some great tracks around the city.

University Ridge Golf Course: The Local Favorite

University Ridge is the official golf course of the University of Wisconsin. This course has a PGA Tour feel and is ready to challenge you at every turn. No surprise that it is the frequent host to prestigious tournaments. Simply put, it is widely considered the crown jewel of Madison golf courses.

The Tee selection gives you an almost two thousand yard difference on the size of the course. Plus the course is excellently maintained and each bunker, trap, and the rough seem meticulously planned to have been there. Rates are higher in the summer, but considering how great the course is, they are totally worth it!

Monona Golf Course: A Quick 9

Even if we plan to have the entire weekend free to play golf, sometimes life gets in the way. Monona is a Par 36, 9-hole course. It’s great if you only have a couple hours and the green fees max out at just $15 on the weekend.

Just because it is small, does not mean that it is not nice either. It has well-maintained greens, plenty of bunkers and traps, and a full clubhouse. The city also has a few other municipal courses so be sure to check them out as well.

The Legend at Bergamont: Real Wisconsin Golf

As with most places, you need to get out of the city to find the best courses. Just a short twenty-minute drive from Madison is the Legend at Bergamont. Built in 2005, Bergamont has all the challenges of modern golf. Although the club is semi-private, you can easily book a tee time on GolfNow. With weekend rates starting around $60 including cart.

Hawks Landing Golf Club: Enjoy the Rolling Hills

Most people tend to think of the Midwest as flat, but Hawks Landing doesn’t match that at all. With some gently rolling hills, it is a true gem in the early autumn to play. Although it is a semi-private club, they are very open to guest players provided you have a reservation.

This course is on the more challenging side and many players offer one piece of advice—bring some extra balls because otherwise, you will be digging around in the hay for hours!

Koshkonong Mounds Country Club: Classic Tradition

Originally built in 1870, this is one of the can't-miss Madison golf courses. This is a unique opportunity to get the private club experience for daily-fee players. You will also enjoy some of the most spectacular views of the area.

Watch this brief course tour to see what we're talking about:

Want To Explore More Madison Golf Courses?

Be sure to check out our interactive map which features every single public golf course in Madison, Wisconsin (and beyond). Our unique tool will make it easy to locate courses, instructors, and practice facilities. The video below shows how it works:

There are so many great golf courses in Madison. Are there any courses you think should have made our list? Let us know in the comments section!