The Course
The Thomas Zimmer Championship Course is a world-class course offering challenging and exciting terrain for runners and elevated viewing for spectators.
Located adjacent to University Ridge Golf Course, UW's cross country course features an exterior loop of approximately 2,500 meters and an interior loop of 1,000 meters. Both loops cover the area's rolling hills and valleys, while the outside loop also runs through a section of dense woods, which are aflame with color in the fall.
The course is built to accommodate race distances of 4K, 5K, 6K, 8K and 10K and features a wide starting area designed to host major championship events.
Spectators enjoy outstanding elevated views of the entire course from a berm situated between the starting area and finishing chute. Numerous pedestrian trails and cutouts make it easy for spectators following the races to move freely throughout the course.
History
The course opened in the fall of 2009 with the inaugural Wisconsin adidas Invitational. Now in its 12th year, the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational  is viewed as one of the premier cross country events in the country.
In addition, Wisconsin hosted the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championship, the 2010 Big Ten Championship, six NCAA Great Lakes Regionals. UW will also host the 2023 Big Ten Championship and the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championship
Naming
The Zimmer Course is named after Thomas Zimmer, a longtime Badgers supporter and former collegiate runner at UW-River Falls. Zimmer's generous leadership gift toward the construction of the course helped make the course possible.
Chuck LaBahn, a former UW swimmer and retired CEO of Orion Corporation in Grafton, Wis., also made a significant gift toward the project that allowed for a full-course irrigation system.
Course Updates
The Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course has gone through several updates over the last few years as the iconic arch was added at the finish line in 2015. Thomas Zimmer refurbished and installed the arch, which was previously located at historic Camp Randall Stadium, the home of the Wisconsin football team.
In 2018, fencing was added on the home stretch leading up to the finish line thanks to gifts from Thomas Zimmer and David Glyer.
Directions
The Thomas Zimmer Championship Coure is located eight miles southwest of Madison, Wis., which is served by several major airlines and two major interstates. The course is adjacent to University Ridge Golf Course on the northwest corner of County Road PD and County Road M.
From Interstate 90/39: Take exit 142a onto Hwy 12/18 heading west. After nine miles, take exit 258 (Hwy 18/151, Verona Rd.) and turn left onto Verona Road. After two miles, turn right onto County Road PD. Take the entrance to University Ridge, which is three miles down on the right side of the road. Upon entering the University Ridge complex, the Zimmer Course will be on your left.
From the west side of Madison: Take Mineral Point Road west beyond the Beltline, then turn south on M. Go right at the intersection with PD to the University Ridge entrance. Upon entering the University Ridge complex, the Zimmer Course will be on your left.
