Madison Golf Trip Planning Guide
Madison punches above its weight with a walkable downtown isthmus between two lakes, a top-tier food and bar scene driven by UW-Madison, and several excellent public courses. University Ridge hosted the NCAA Division I championships and Steve Stricker's AmFam Championship is a PGA Tour Champions stop.
5 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
MSN (15 min drive)
$35–$115
$400/night
5 of 5
~$340/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Madison. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
University Ridge Golf Course — parkland, $69–$115 · 4.5★
Home of the AmFam Championship — Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with tournament conditioning and stunning views of the Wisconsin hills
Tornado Steak House — steakhouse, $$$
Madison institution — old-school supper club with huge steaks, strong pours, and a retro vibe
The Tipsy Cow — dive · Open late
Capitol Square dive with strong drinks and a rowdy late-night scene — classic college-town energy
Day 2
The Oaks Golf Course — parkland, $42–$70 · 4.4★
Cottage Grove's well-conditioned track through oak groves — great value and excellent greens
Capitol Square Bar Crawl — 2-3 hours, $20–$40/pp
Walk the full square hitting dive bars, cocktail lounges, and brewpubs — everything is within blocks
The Old Fashioned — casual, $
Wisconsin comfort food — cheese curds, brats, Friday fish fry, and the state's best brandy Old Fashioned
Karben4 Brewing — brewpub
Madison's favorite taproom — creative brews, trivia nights, and a spacious beer garden
Day 3
The Legend at Bergamont — parkland, $55–$89 · 4.4★
Oregon, WI gem with dramatic elevation and wooded holes — feels more northern Wisconsin than suburban Madison
Lake Mendota Boat Rental — half day, $40–$80/pp
Pontoon or speedboat on Lake Mendota — swimming, tubing, and views of the Capitol dome
Heritage Tavern — farm to-table, $$$
Refined farm-to-table on Capitol Square — creative seasonal menus with Wisconsin ingredients
Merchant — cocktail · Open late
Prohibition-era craft cocktail bar — exposed brick, dim lighting, and expertly made drinks
Course-by-Course Guide
Madison has 5 courses worth playing. 5 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
University Ridge Golf Course
PremiumHome of the AmFam Championship — Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with tournament conditioning and stunning views of the Wisconsin hills
The Oaks Golf Course
SolidCottage Grove's well-conditioned track through oak groves — great value and excellent greens
Hawks Landing Golf Club
SolidArnold Palmer design on the west side — great for groups with a comfortable layout and strong facilities
Pleasant View Golf Course
Budget27-hole county facility — excellent conditioning for the price, great warm-up or double-round option
The Legend at Bergamont
PremiumOregon, WI gem with dramatic elevation and wooded holes — feels more northern Wisconsin than suburban Madison
Where to Stay
Madison has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $400/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$600–$1800/night
Sleeps 12–16 · Lake Mendota and Lake Monona shoreline
$400–$1000/night
Sleeps 10–14 · Middleton and Verona suburbs
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Tornado Steak House
$$$Madison institution — old-school supper club with huge steaks, strong pours, and a retro vibe
The Old Fashioned
$Wisconsin comfort food — cheese curds, brats, Friday fish fry, and the state's best brandy Old Fashioned
Heritage Tavern
$$$Refined farm-to-table on Capitol Square — creative seasonal menus with Wisconsin ingredients
Graze
$Dane County farmers' market-driven menu right on the Capitol Square — great brunch spot too
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
The Tipsy Cow
Late NightCapitol Square dive with strong drinks and a rowdy late-night scene — classic college-town energy
Karben4 Brewing
Madison's favorite taproom — creative brews, trivia nights, and a spacious beer garden
Merchant
Late NightProhibition-era craft cocktail bar — exposed brick, dim lighting, and expertly made drinks
The Terrace at Memorial Union
UW-Madison's legendary lakeside terrace — pitchers of Spotted Cow and sunset views over Lake Mendota
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Capitol Square Bar Crawl
Walk the full square hitting dive bars, cocktail lounges, and brewpubs — everything is within blocks
Lake Mendota Boat Rental
Pontoon or speedboat on Lake Mendota — swimming, tubing, and views of the Capitol dome
Vitense Golfland
Driving range, mini golf, go-karts, and batting cages — competitive group warm-up
Cave of the Mounds
National Natural Landmark — guided underground cave tour 25 min west of Madison
Getting There
Fly into Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) — it's a 15-minute drive to Madison. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Madison Party Bus and Badger Bus). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.