Stone Ridge Golf Club provides a welcoming atmosphere for students and members of the surrounding community while dishing out a challenging golf experience.

Located on Muirfield Drive, the semi-private golf course boasts a design by architect Arthur Hills and is built around a neighborhood community. The links-styled course is used by recreational golfers as well as the University’s golf teams.

“Everyone is treated great out there, whether you walk in off the street or you’re a member,” men’s golf coach Garry Winger said.

Both golf teams’ head coaches emphasized the challenge of the course as well as the quality of the service and workers in making training an enjoyable experience.

“[The players] love it out there,” women’s golf coach Stephanie Young said. “A big thing for our program is that you’re only as strong as the people you surround yourself with.”

Course regular Steve Keys also praised the staff.

“They’re very polite and pleasant,” Keys said. “They put up with the members and guests of the club very well.”

The staff itself is comprised of a sizable number of University students. Director of Golf Tony Czerniakowski said everyone on his outside service staff is a University student, and the kitchen staff features many students as well.

“The course itself … [it’s] kept up very well, very high standards as far as our maintenance staff goes,” Czerniakowski said.

According to the coaches, the course design is very similar to the courses where the golf teams compete during the season, with Young mentioning specific likeness with the MAC Championship courses.

“Stone Ridge is certainly something that we have to have to make a run at the MAC championship,” Young said.

Young said although the team uses various on-campus and off-campus resources, Stone Ridge provides a challenge that allows the team to improve.

“There’s not one hole where you can … let your guard down,” Young said. “You have to stay mentally focused on your game plan from the first tee to the 18th green.”

Czerniakowski said the course is also a great place for golfers to improve their short game, particularly putting. He also mentioned that wind is a major challenge.

“If you play from the tips [of the tees], you’re looking at a 7000 yard golf course,” Czerniakowski said. “[That’s] pretty close to what the pros play on Sunday.”

Because of this, Czerniakowski believes the course is the perfect place for the University teams to play.

“As far as playing a course that is going to improve your game on a daily basis, this is a great fit for [the teams].

Community golfers also find the course to be a good challenge. Keys specifically praised the design.

“They created some rolling nature to the fairways; it’s not a flat course,” Keys said. “They did a very nice job of creating some elevation changes and some elevated greens to increase the difficulty and fun playing the course.”

The course is also accessible to beginners, with course professional David Gigax offering golf lessons and clinics. Gigax said that the game of golf offers networking and physical benefits for players.

“Even if you ride [a cart], it’s getting outside,” Gigax said.

In addition to providing resources for golfers, Stone Ridge provides other services for the community to enjoy as well, including event hosting and banquet accommodations for birthday parties, weddings and fraternity/sorority formals. In addition, the Traditions Bar and Grille restaurant offers a variety of different foods, depending on the day.

“If you’re there playing golf and you need something to eat, they’ve got plenty,” Keys said.

Gigax added that the restaurant’s full menu allows people to come to the course specifically for dinner, even without playing a round of golf.

These amenities help make the course a great place for the coaches to go during appropriate recruiting seasons. Young said the course is a great place for recruits to see what Bowling Green is like.

“You don’t want to take a recruit somewhere where they’re not going to enjoy their dinner,” Young said. “They’re impressed immediately.”

Ultimately, the coaches said they have immense gratitude for the opportunities the course offers.

“I think the community should embrace it and feel very lucky to have such a wonderful facility designed by a world-class designer,” Winger said.