
The Ridge Course
The Ridge Golf Club
About this course
The Ridge Golf Club sits in Ridge Manor, a small community in Hernando County along Florida's Nature Coast, roughly an hour north of Tampa. Designed by Hans Schmeisser and opened in the mid-1990s, the course takes advantage of the area's rolling terrain—unusual for Florida—which gives the layout more elevation change than most courses in the state. The property's natural ridges and modest hills provide strategic interest and varied shot-making opportunities uncommon in the typically flat Florida landscape. Schmeisser's design works with the native topography to create a routing that moves through stands of oak and pine, with several holes playing along or across elevation shifts. The course features a mix of risk-reward scenarios where players must decide whether to challenge slopes and natural hazards or play conservatively to safer landing areas. Water comes into play on multiple holes, but the terrain itself often dictates strategy more than forced carries or artificial features. The Ridge operates as a semi-private facility, welcoming both members and daily-fee play. It serves the local golfing community in Hernando County and attracts visitors exploring Florida's less-traveled golf destinations away from the resort corridors. The club maintains a straightforward, accessible atmosphere focused on the golf experience rather than extensive amenities, reflecting its role as a regional course built during Florida's 1990s golf development boom.
Quick facts
- Location
- Ridge Manor, FL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1954
- Designer
- Hans Schmeisser
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,412 yards
- Difficulty
- 70.8/121
Getting there
The Ridge Golf Club is most readily accessed via Tampa International Airport (TPA), situated roughly ninety minutes to the southwest, or alternatively through Orlando International (MCF), a similar distance to the northeast - both gateways serving the central Florida corridor with equal convenience. The drive from Tampa traces a quiet northeastward arc through the rolling citrus country of Pasco County, where the landscape gradually transitions from suburban sprawl into the gentle, oak-dotted terrain that defines this inland region. For those arriving by private aircraft, nearby airstrips serve the area, though the final approach to The Ridge itself is a serene passage through rural Florida backroads, where the club's understated entrance emerges amid the native palmettos and pines that characterize the quiet heart of Ridge Manor.

FAQ
Common questions about The Ridge
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Ridge was designed by Hans Schmeisser.
Yes. The Ridge is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at The Ridge is 72.
The Ridge plays 6,412 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Ridge is 121.
The Ridge is a 18-hole course.



