Tillinghast’s Alleged Favorite
Family lore claims that Ridgewood was A.W. Tillinghast’s personal favorite of all his designs. Whether fact or fable, the course undeniably reflects his strategic genius and inventive use of the terrain.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Ridgewood Country Club
Paramus, New Jersey
Established
1929
Architect
A.W. Tillinghast/(R) Gil Hanse
Access
Private
Par
Par 71–73
Length
5,854 – 7,501 yds
The verdict
Strategic, historic, Northeast champion
Ridgewood is a private club where championship tradition meets Tillinghast's bold strategic vision, nestled in the rolling woodlands of Bergen County. The course rewards placement and precision, and the aura of historic events and polished conditions sets the stage for a timeless round.
Course DNA
Difficulty
88
Scenery74
Conditioning89
Shot Variety82
Walkability70
Green Complexity83
Wow Factor78
Design Quality87
At a glance
Quick facts
Founded
1890 (Ho-Ho-Kus origins); opened Paramus course 1929
Signature architect
A.W. Tillinghast
Famed short par 4
"Five and Dime"—an iconic risk-reward
Host of the 1935 Ryder Cup
One of a select few U.S. clubs with this honor
Restoration
Gil Hanse led celebrated restoration work
Prestigious clubhouse
Norman Revival design by Clifford Wendehack
Historic status
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The design
The architecture
Ridgewood’s course is a living showcase of A.W. Tillinghast’s strategic mastery. The rolling, wooded property is crafted into three nines, allowing for multiple championship routings, each demanding its own approach. Doglegs keep you honest, elevated greens and restored bunkers force exacting second shots, and the sequence of holes balances brute force with precise thinking. Hanse’s sensitive restoration has reclaimed original vistas and architectural character, ensuring today’s Ridgewood is as tactically engaging as ever. The famous Wendehack Norman Revival clubhouse overlooks the finishing holes, completing the tableau of old-world American golf at its best.
A.W. Tillinghast is one of America’s greatest golden-age architects; Gil Hanse’s thoughtful restoration returned Ridgewood’s historic bones to tournament shape.
Defining features
- Three nines allow for championship composite routes
- Short par 4s that tempt but punish aggression
- Compact, well-bunkered green complexes
- Strong routing that uses terrain and elevation
- Hanse-led bunker restoration recaptures Tillinghast intent
- Tree-lined fairways create demanding corridors
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Opening Challenge
PAR
4
YARDAGE
365 yds
This short-to-mid par 4 instantly grabs your attention, with water looming and a fairway that asks for accuracy over power. A careful tee shot sets up a manageable but nervy approach to a subtly guarded green.
Play it smart
Favor precision; play to your strength off the tee and avoid pushing too close to hazards.
Where it bites
Water lurks on the opening swing, and a stray drive brings bogey or worse into play immediately.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching the short par 4 'Five and Dime'
Weigh risk vs. reward—if your driver is dialed in, go for the green; otherwise, lay up and wedge it close.
Tee shot on opening hole with water lurking
Leave yourself the angle you like best into the green, and don’t try to overpower the opening—control trumps bravado.
Second shot from the trees or rough
Punch out smartly—trying to be a hero brings double-bogey in play fast.
Uphill approach to a back pin
Take enough club and err short rather than challenging deep bunkers or runoffs behind.
Long par 5s bending around corner trees
Position off the tee is everything—hug the correct side for your preferred approach angle.
Approaching small, well-bunkered greens
Favor the safe side of pins—misses here are penal, and getting up and down is never guaranteed.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Superb private-club standards; expect tight turf and fast, true greens, with every detail in shape for major events.
Pace
Club-managed, unhurried; expect a steady pace but not a rushed round.
Vibe
Classic, formal Northeast prestige; a championship ambiance with seasoned local members and a strong sense of history.
Dress code
Traditional golf attire—collared shirts, slacks or Bermuda shorts, no denim.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial in driving accuracy
Errant tee shots are punished—it’s a course for fairway finders.
02
Practice short-iron control
Many approaches are to small, slick targets, where precise distance pays dividends.
03
Build stamina for the walk
It’s walkable and proud of it, but expect hills and some long transitions.
04
Research the short par 4s
Knowing when to attack and when to lay up can save you strokes.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1890
Club founded with golf origins in Ho-Ho-Kus
- 1928
Construction begins on new Tillinghast course in Paramus
- 1929
Course and Wendehack clubhouse open on Memorial Day weekend
- 1935
Ridgewood hosts the 5th Ryder Cup
- 2015
Added to National Register of Historic Places
- 2016
Hosts U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Strategic Genius: The 'Five and Dime'
Ridgewood's shortest par four, the 'Five and Dime,' invites the boldest play in the risk-reward tradition. A driveable green, ringed by bunkers and peril, it embodies Tillinghast’s philosophy: reward the courageous but punish the careless.
The 1935 Ryder Cup
In 1935, Ridgewood made golf history as host of the 5th Ryder Cup, cementing its status among America’s most storied venues. The formal grounds echoed with the footsteps of legends and the voices of the game’s thriving past.
Restoration Revives Tillinghast’s Intent
Gil Hanse’s restoration removed encroaching trees, revived original bunkering, and sharpened Ridgewood’s classic lines. The project reawakened the spirit of Tillinghast’s design, enhancing shot strategy for the modern era.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Only club with both a Tillinghast course and Wendehack clubhouse built together from scratch.
2
Hosted the 1935 Ryder Cup—one of just a handful of American clubs with that distinction.
3
Ridgewood’s classic clubhouse is modeled in the Norman Revival style, adding European flavor to Bergen County.
4
The 'Five and Dime' short par 4 is among the most celebrated risk-reward holes in metropolitan golf.
5
Ridgewood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Bergen County/North Jersey golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Rock Spring Golf Club
Public
A classic public course with history; one of Raynor’s only public designs.
Galloping Hill Golf Course
Public
Championship-style municipal, highly regarded by locals.
Arcola Country Club
Private
Strong local private test, just minutes from Ridgewood.
Plainfield Country Club
Private
Classic Donald Ross architecture with tour pedigree.
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Private
Consistently highly ranked classic; a true parkland gem.
Paramus or nearby Hackensack—easy access to Ridgewood and the region’s public and private options.
Course DNA
If You Like Ridgewood Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.2
NCR Country Club South Course
Kettering, OhioDifficulty
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in NCR Country Club South Course's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.1
TPC Boston
Norton, MassachusettsConditioning
Why it matches: TPC Boston is a natural next stop after Ridgewood Country Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Keene Trace Golf Club (Champion Trace Course)
Nicholasville, KentuckyWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Keene Trace Golf Club (Champion Trace Course)'s own setting.
Community Sentiment
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