The most inviting of the opening holes at Ridgewood, a relatively straight forward par 4 playing 380 yards from the back tees. The fairway has a generous landing space for tee shots, just stay left of the pond and away from the oaks on the right side. There is a cross bunker that stretches across the fairway from the left side about 60 yards from the green. The green is challenging, its big surface is well bunkered and slopes steadily and deceptively uphill and from left-to-right.

 Another classic Tillinghast par 5, number 3 is almost unreachable in two. Out of bounds lines the left side of the fairway, but don't be fooled, the left side is the key to this hole as it meanders over Tillinghast mounds until making a subtle right turn about 470 yards from the tee. Stay left to set up a straight-in approach shot, avoiding the traps left and right. The narrow but deep undulating, multi-tier green is guarded by traps which only the most accurate shots avoid. 

 Known as the 'Five and Dime', number 5 is Ridgewood's shortest par 4. The hole plays only 291 yards from the back tees, yet it's one of the most difficult holes at Ridgewood. The approach is a very tricky wedge shot that must be played accurately(with a soft touch) up to a small and narrow 'plateau green' surrounded by six deadly bunkers. Stay away from the bunkers on the left side of the green especially, and hope you can read the green with its subtle and not so subtle breaks that seem almost impossible to be real. This hole claims a place on Golf Digest's 'Top 500 Best Holes in the World' and holds a place among the Sports Illustrated 'Top 18 Tillinghast Holes.' The Met Golfer also rates it in their 'Dream 18.'

 Known as the 'Cemetery' hole, number 7 is an uphill 445 yard par 4. It will take 285 yards to carry it to the top plateau. The left side of this fairway will provide best access to a small green tucked into a tight corner and surrounded by bunkers. Again, the green appears to be flat, but it breaks more than it looks, and it is fast.

 Playing 443 yards uphill with a left-to-right slope to a 'plateau' green, this par 4 requires a strong uphill tee shot to a generous landing, with two bunkers on each side of the fairway. Avoid the tendency to stray off-line, seduced by this hole's left-to-right slope. The second shot is played to a plateau green, surrounded by deep bunkers. This green is very deceiving, subtle breaks make for a very difficult putting.

 Uphill, this dogleg left sloping left-to-right to a 'plateau' green. This par 4 plays 467 yards from the back tees. Both the tee shot and the approach to the green play steadily uphill and fall left-to-right. Be sure to take an extra club for the second shot to account for the uphill slope. The fairway is protected by five bunkers that line both sides. The plateau green is protected by deep bunkers on the left and to the right. Players playing long irons for their approach shots need to account for a severe left-to-right swing on a very fast and tricky putting surface...one of the toughest at Ridgewood. This par 4 often plays like a 'rough' par 5 for the average player.

 At 624 yards from the back, this par 5 opens with a tee shot downhill with bunkers in play on the right and heavy trees on the left. Hit a solid drive and you will be in position to strike a strong second shot over a series of heavily rough covered moguls that run on an angle for 50-75 yards mid-hole, ending about 175 yards from the green, leaving a mid to short iron shot downhill to an understated, deceptively fast and well protected green. Make any mistakes along the way, and you'll understand how naturally clever are Tillinghast's par-5 designs. This design holds a place among the Sports Illustrated 'Top 18 Tillinghast Holes.'

A shot-maker's par 3, the 15th hole is a paradigm of great architecture that features a small green, slightly uphill from the tee surrounded by several bunkers. It's a tough green to hit though only 155 yards from the back tee, but shots that land and stay on the puttin surface will usually leave a good run for a birdie putt. Players who miss this green will have a difficult time making par.

 Dogleg left and long, it's one of the great par 5's in the game. Long Drives from an intimidating tee box must cut the dogleg to avoid very deep rough and trees to the right where the fairway makes a sharp left. A strong second shot is also needed to avoid the cross bunker on the left side of the fairway, and/or to pass the giant tulip tree that sits imposingly on the corner on the right side of the fairway. The third shot requires power and accuracy to reach a small green, carry past the false front, but not carry off the back of the green..or to get caught too early in the severe right-to-left swing that can channel a ball steeply downhill into dangerous bunkers. This is a tough green on which many a match has been decided.