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JULY/AUGUST 2008
In Madison, golf competes with a variety of activities throughout the warm-weather season. Defined as it is by its four sprawling, shimmering lakes, Madison features water sports galore. The city’s extensive trail system is packed with runners, bikers, hikers and stroller-pushers year-round. And, come September, University of Wisconsin football takes center stage on those fine autumnal Saturdays. Madisonians are nothing if not sports-crazed. And fortunately for them, they live on a landscape dotted with fine golf facilities. Following is a taste of what Madison golf has to offer:
The Legend at Bergamont, Oregon
Now under new ownership, the Legend at Bergamont is working through a transitional period in 2008. The club, built around an Andy North-designed championship course which opened in 2005, eventually will become a fully private facility. But while membership grows, the course will be open for daily-fee play throughout the 2008 season, and possibly beyond. In preparation for the switch, the club’s elaborate aquatic center was recently completed, and the hilltop clubhouse is under construction and said to be ahead of schedule.
The routing, measuring 7,330 yards from the back tees, comes to a difficult finish. The 18th hole, measuring 417 yards from the back tee, climbs an incline from tee to green, making club selection a challenge.
Open and windswept, the Legend at Bergamont plays through rolling terrain accented by fields of tall fescue grasses growing between fairways. The property also includes a large real estate development.
Contact: thelegendatbergamont.com; (608) 835-6900.
Bridges GC, Madison
This golf course in the heart of Madison’s east side is influenced by ponds, wetlands and the Dane County Regional Airport, so players here get used to jets screaming overhead.
However, Bridges GC betrays its proximity to the airport throughout most of its routing. The course, measuring 6,888 yards from the back tees, is partially wooded and plays though a variety of water features, all of which creates a feeling of relative calm despite its urban location.
Among the most interesting holes is the dogleg-left, par-5 15th hole at 564 yards from the back tee. It begins on a super-elevated tee above a massive landing area. The fairway narrows as it turns to the left beyond the landing area, then left again for the final approach to the green, which juts into a pond and is practically surrounded by water.
The name of this golf course is no accident, as the routing carries players over and around ponds, wetlands, creeks and ditches.
Contact: golfthebridges.com; (608) 244-1822.
Door Creek GC, Cottage Grove
Just west of Madison lies this popular 27-hole golf facility, featuring an 18-hole course measuring 6,491 yards from the back tees and a nice executive course.
The big course was built in 1990, but those who haven’t played it lately will be impressed with the way it has matured over the years. That is particularly true on the back nine, which in the not-too-distant past was littered with small trees. They’re all grown up now, defining fairway lines and causing plenty of problems for wayward drivers of the golf ball.
On the front, a couple of water-influenced par-3s are noteworthy. The short fifth hole measures 154 yards from the back tee and plays to a green with water front and back. The notorious eighth hole is an all-carry par-3 measuring 181 yards over a wetland.
The par-30 executive course, known locally as “the Back Door,” measures under 1,500 yards from the back tees and offers holes up to about 300 yards.
Contact: doorcreekgolfcourse.com; (608) 839-5656.
Foxboro GC, Oregon Just south of Madison in Oregon lies Foxboro GC, an affordable 18-hole golf course with large, contoured greens. At just under 6,000 yards from the back tees and featuring several par-4s in the 300-yard range, Foxboro isn’t exceptionally long. But it plays to a par of 70, and there are enough water features, sand bunkers and elevation changes to keep players honest.
Prior to the 2005 season, Foxboro was purchased by the owners of Door Creek GC and former Door Creek head pro Brook Schmitt, who now works out of Foxboro. Thanks to that cozy relationship between the two courses, discount cards are available which offer reduced green fees at both courses all season long.
The new owners have undertaken an ongoing improvement program since the purchase, including building several new tees.
Contact: foxborogolfclub.com; (608) 835-7789.
Glenway GC, Madison
A nine-hole municipal course on Madison’s near west side, Glenway has challenged generations of Madison players. The course opened in 1927, making it the oldest of Madison’s four munis.
The par-32 course measures 2,348 yards and retains the personality of a bygone era. The fairways are lined with mature trees and occasionally are narrow. Two holes feature blind tee shots and the putting surfaces are small. The longest hole on the course, the par-4 fifth, measures 405 yards from the back tee.
Residing as it does in a neighborhood setting, Glenway is popular with juniors, seniors, moms, dads and league players.
Contact: cityofmadisongolf.com; (608) 266-4737.
Lake Windsor CC, Windsor
This facility just north of town along Interstate 39/90/94 used to be a 27-hole facility before nine holes were taken out of play. What remains are the old Red and White nines, now also known as the front and back. The Blue nine, which was never maintained quite as well as the other two, was taken out of play prior to the 2007 season. That area of the property now contains a nice range and practice area.
The course measures 6,176 yards, but the back nine is a bit longer than the front at 3,145 yards. Both par-5s on the back stretch over 500 yards, while both on the front measure under 500 yards.
Lake Windsor flows over a fairly flat landscape dotted with mature trees and a network of ponds. All of the above may be found on the pretty but difficult par-3 14th hole, at 156 yards from the back tee. It plays over an expanse of water to a green framed by big timber.
Contact: lakewindsor.com; (608) 846-4711.
Meadows of Sixmile Creek GC, Waunakee
Water – and, specifically, staying out of it – is the key concept here.
The Meadows of Sixmile Creek is a Ken Killian-designed golf course which opened in 1997 on a piece of property with expansive wetlands. The routing snakes through cattail-ringed ponds and marshes, so the opportunity exists all around the course for golf balls to bound into serious trouble. In fact, there are only a few holes here that are not influenced by water.
The layout, existing as it does close to the waterline, is relatively flat but offers doglegs in both directions.
The course, owned an operated by Madison Golf Development Group, measures 6,955 yards from the tips. A new White set of tees opened late last fall for the first time at 5,678 yards, in addition to the existing Blue (6,448) and Red tees (5,129).
Contact: madisongolf.com; (608) 849-9000.
Monona GC, Madison
This course has been shortened and reconfigured a few times over the years, but it’s still the same old popular and playable golf course on the east side of Madison. The par-36 nine-holer measures 3,183 yards from the back tees.
The course offers enough challenges to occupy any caliber of player. Both par-5s measure around 500 yards, and the five par-4s average about 360. The par-3s can be difficult, however. No. 4 is a robust 215 yards from the back tee, and No. 9 is 158 yards but plays over a large pond which attracts plenty of wayward shots.
Monona GC also offers a nice practice range and a small but comfortable clubhouse and golf shop.
Contact: cityofmadisongolf.com; (608) 266-4736.
Nine Springs GC, Fitchburg
This nine-hole executive course south of Madison measures just 1,634 yards, but with small greens and water on six holes, the course has its challenges. Nine Springs offers six par-3 holes and three par-4s, the longest of which is the 302-yard eighth.
Situated in a residential area, Nine Springs caters to a variety of golfer needs. It offers group and individual lessons, junior programs, good practice facilities including a lighted putting green, tasty food and, most important, reasonably-priced golf. Season passes, including junior and senior passes, are also available.
Contact: ninespringsgc.com; (608) 271-5877.
The Oaks GC, Cottage Grove
One of the newer players on the Madison golf scene is this course located just off Interstate-94, east of Madison. The Oaks opened in 2003 and has developed a loyal following.
The course was designed by Illinois golf course architect Greg Martin, and it has hosted many competitive events, including men’s and women’s amateur, high school and college tournaments. It’s also a popular spot for outings of every description.
The Oaks measures 6,763 yards and plays to a par of 71, and there are difficulties aplenty located from 150 yards and in, including some exceptionally deep and nasty bunkers and a variety of contoured putting surfaces.
Most of the course is relatively open and visible from the interstate, but a pesky creek is in play on several holes and the routing also explores an oak forest. In fact, The Oaks is a celebration of all things oak, as the facility’s Oakleaf Restaurant and Little Acorns junior program attest.
Contact: golftheoaks.com; (608) 837-4774.
Odana Hills GC, Madison
This bustling city of Madison municipal course lies on the west side of town and is visible from the Beltline Highway. The course measures 6,572 yards and wanders through subtle elevation changes in a park-like setting. A few holes are influenced by a large lagoon located on the property, most notably the par-5 15th hole (504 yards) featuring water down the entire left side.
Slightly shorter at 454 yards is the tough third hole, the longest par-4 on the course, which plays along the Beltline and features out-of-bounds left of the fairway. There are bunkers guarding the green here, but simple length is the primary challenge.
No. 16, another long par-4 at 424 yards, was the site of an historic clout by “The King.” Yes, Arnold Palmer hit a 300-yard drive on No. 16 in an exhibition match at Odana Hills against Gary Player in 1961. A boulder along the left side where the ball came to rest is still known as “Palmer’s rock.”
Contact: cityofmadisongolf.com; (608) 266-4724.
Pleasant View GC, Middleton
The name says it all at Pleasant View. High atop a hill overlooking Lake Mendota and Madison’s far west side lies this facility owned and operated by the city of Middleton. Pleasant View offers three nines – Wood View, Prairie View and Lake View – plus a popular nine-hole par-3 course. The Wood View is the longest of the nines, playing 3,338 yards.
The par-3 course measures 1,014 yards.
The entire property has been remade in recent years, beginning in 1995 when the city purchased the course from a corporate owner. A major golf course renovation project in 2002 added a third nine to Pleasant View, and a brand new clubhouse was constructed prior to the 2007 season.
As the name implies, the view from the clubhouse, the golf courses and even the driving range can’t be beat.
Contact: golfpleasantview.com; (608) 831-6666.
Sun Prairie GC, Sun Prairie
Accented by trees of all sizes and a creek that comes into play on the back nine, Sun Prairie GC plays over rolling terrain on the northern edge of the city of the same name. The course, which opened in 1961, measures 6,658 yards from the back tees and features large, sloping putting surfaces and huge landing areas.
The landing areas make driver a good choice off most of the tees, but hitting the ball too far on either of the final two holes, both par-4s, could be problematic. That’s because the aforementioned creek bisects the fairways on the 453-yard 17th and the 351-yard 18th holes.
Another dramatic hole is the par-4 ninth. At 389 yards, No. 9 features a gently arching dogleg to the right ending with an approach shot over a picturesque pond and water fountain.
Contact: spgcgolf.com; (608) 837-6211.
Tumbledown Trails GC, Verona
Not too expensive, not too difficult, Tumbledown Trails is a popular 18-hole facility just west of Madison offering leagues, lessons, food and beverage and banquet facilities.
The course was designed by Wisconsin architect Art Johnson and opened in 1994 on land that was once a sod farm. The rather featureless terrain has been transformed over the years with a network of ponds, plenty of sand and an extensive tree-planting program. Flower beds, covered bridges and gazebos also have been added to the property by the Watts family, which built and still operates the golf course.
Tumbledown Trails measures 6,487 from the back tees. The signature hole is No. 8, a pretty par-3 playing downhill 197 yards from the back tee with bunkers right and left of the putting surface.
Contact: tumbledowntrails.com; (608) 833-2301.
University Ridge GC, Verona
The University of Wisconsin’s golf course now stretches more than 7,200 yards from the back (Gold) tees following a recent renovation project, but U-Ridge still offers everyday players the same great experience from the middle and forward tees.
Among the top golf courses in the state since it opened in 1991, University Ridge now has instructional facilities to match. Along with lengthening the Gold tees to keep up with today’s long-hitting college players, the recent work included upgraded practice facilities, including some strictly for players on the UW men’s and women’s golf teams.
The two nines, created by Robert Trent Jones Jr., each have their own identity, with the front side flowing through meadowlands and the back carved out of mature timber.
Contact: universityridge.com; (608) 845-7700.
Vitense Golfland, Madison
In addition to its miniature golf courses, batting cages and attractions for the kids, Vitense Golfland is serious about golf and golf instruction. The facilities include a nine-hole par-3 golf course which can be played under the lights, a heated golf range open year-round and a well-stocked golf shop.
The George Vitense Golf Academy offers a range of instructional programs, and the facility is staffed by many of Madison’s most-respected PGA professionals.
Contact: vitense.com; (608) 271-1411.
Yahara Hills GC, Madison
Opened in 1967, Yahara Hills offers two 18-hole championship golf courses intertwined on 400 acres on the southeast side of town. The facility hosted the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 1977.
The East Course measures 6,983 yards from the tips, and the West Course is slightly shorter at 6,885 yards. Both courses offer large, contoured putting surfaces, but water comes into play more on the West because the routing visits a large pond near the clubhouse.
The terrain on both courses is rolling and somewhat wooded, but players can usually see the challenges that are going to confront them at Yahara Hills when they stand on the tee.
Contact: cityofmadisongolf.com; (608) 838-3126.
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