Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
The Ridge At Back Brook
The Ridge At Back Brook
211 Wertsville Rd
Ringoes, NJ 08551-1305
United States
Overview
Northeast of Princeton is The Ridge at Back Brook, another of those great pieces of property Tom Fazio is given on which to build a course. With 150 feet of natural elevation change, Fazio had little need to reshape the landscape, although he still had crews re-carve fairways for visibility and flow. With patches of mature forest of hardwoods and cedars, Fazio had little need to import trees, although a few were transplanted to emphasize seclusion on particular holes. The front nine sits in a valley formed by meandering Back Brook, while much of the back nine is on a plateau high above the front nine. Rock outcroppings are a prominent feature, including a massive one that poses a cross-hazard on the par-5 seventh, veins of rock behind the ninth and 18th greens and the namesake vertical cliff that provides a stunning backdrop to the par-3 eighth.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked, 2019-'22.
Highest ranking: 182nd, 2019-2020.
Best in State: Ranked Top 10 from 2005-'12 & 2019-'22; Top 15 since its debut.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 14th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Great, fun track. Generous fairways but challenging rough and green complexes. Plays a little shorter than it looks on the card due to 4/5 par 5's playing downhill, but 5 par 3s are very challenging. New routing is interesting with a meaningful gap between 15 green and 16 tee, but the conditioning is one of the best I've played, and is now playing more firm and fast than it has in the past. Would never think you were in NJ."
Read More2026
Review
“The ridge was in my opinion, very well balanced. It had a set of tees for virtually every level of golfer, it also utilized It’s natural topography very well. There was movement in all directions both right and left as well as into the green elevation changes as well as from the Tee elevation changes. It asked the golfer to have many different types of shots yet at the same time was very fair."
Read More2025
Review
“A solid private course that is in good condition with firm and fast fairways and speeding undulation greens. Red rock out cropping on a few holes added to the viewing pleasure."
Read More2023
Review
“Conditioning was nearly the perfect blend of firm, fast and receptive leading to quality golf shots being rewarded and slightly missed shots not being overly punished. For the northeast, the greens were extremely grainy. The strong front 9 offers a wide array of holes that stick in the players mind. The 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th immediately come to mind. The 8th and 9th play along “the ridge” and achieve high memorability and playability. The stretch of 7-9 may be the most fun you will have on the course. One may think after completing the front, they are a strong back 9 away from playing a masterpiece. However, from a design perspective, outside of the 12th and the 17th, the back 9 lacks synergy and distinctiveness and ultimately falls flat. Holes 11,14,15,16 are visually bland and do not blend well with the rest of the course, especially the 16th. The controversial 18th does offer risk-reward, but in my opinion for being a championship course, a short par 5 left an underwhelming feeling. This is a challenging everyday course for the everyday player and certainly fits the bill as a “second club” for most golfers."
Read More2022
Review
“A big, beautiful Tom Fazio design in Western New Jersey, The Ridge is a difficult course and features great conditions and practice facilities. Some of the better holes on the course incorporate the aforementioned ridge (7th, 8th), while others utilize water hazards. In a very good golf state, it's likely on the fringe of the top 10, The Ridge is the best course in the area and well-worth a play."
Read More2022
Review
“Solid Fazio design with some very good holes at the end of each nine. Very high-end conditioning and facility."
Read More2021
Review
“Set in a beautiful, rolling, forested spot in the rural NJ countryside, this course is downright stunning. The views from the clubhouse are astounding. Many gorgeous tee shots and more than a few spectacular approach shots. The par 3 8th hole is a masterpiece, with the soaring red rock backdrop. Several approach shots carry beautiful ravines and red rock outcroppings. Could be a movie set!"
Read More2021
Review
“Immaculate conditions in a serene surrounding. This was some of the best conditioning I played all summer. This course has a premium world class feel from beginning to end and is a pleasure to play and offers beautiful views and great hole after great hole."
Read More2019
Review
“Great golf course. Conditioning is excellent and the routing of the holes forces you to hit a lot of different shots. Very quick greens."
Read More2018
Review
“This place really has a wow factor. Tucked back in horse county, the clubhouse, staff and golf course all exemplify top notch service and friendliness."
Read More2018
