By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@
themonroetimes.com
MONROE — The Monroe Golf Club (MGC) celebrated 100 years of operation with a tournament and social gathering Sunday, Aug. 11. The club’s official anniversary was Aug. 8.
“Over the years, there’s been a lot of changes out here, but there is a lot of history on this golf course,” co-owner John Baumann said. “It’s beautiful to see 100 years later that this place is active and successful.”
As local historian Matt Figi mentioned in his Aug. 10 Back in the Day column, MGC formed in 1923 to control the 3-hole course that was located at the fairgrounds. Membership didn’t officially open, though, until 1924. At that time, the course was nine holes. Now, it sports a full 18 with a Little Gem 12-hole course incorporated for novice players or kids.
Baumann, along with Mike Sanders and Greg Fedders, purchased MGC in March 2023 at the precipice of misfortune — would the club get to even celebrate its 100-year anniversary?
“From a financial standpoint, this course was in distress for a number of years,” Baumann said. “There was no obvious way to flip it around unless we were going to change how we operated.”
The change came in three aspects — the people, the course and the clubhouse.
To begin its rebrand, the owners had to get the right people on board that shared the same vision. Craig Franke, the general manager, fit the mold for Baumann and the others. He, too, wanted to see MCG as a community-centered place.
“Our staff have a very welcoming attitude. We want everybody to come out and have a great time, whether dining, golfing, putting on the green, playing with the kids,” Franke said. “Monroe is such a friendly town and we are just trying to emulate those attributes for everybody.”
The course also got some updates. On June 20, 2023, MGC had its grand opening of the Little Gem 12-hole course, designed for younger players to get a start in golf. The layout was incorporated into the larger 18-holes, ending back at the clubhouse.
The event garnered the attention of UW-Madison personnel Luke Fickell (football), Marisa Moseley (women’s basketball), and Chris McIntosh (athletic director). Their attendance hearkened back to Badger Booster Days from 1954-2019, where Badgers spent time golfing as part of a fundraiser.
A bunker renovation project, which began in 2023, concluded this spring. Bill Kubly, a Monroe-native who founded Landscapes Unlimited, offered to improve the course. After learning of its purchase, he contacted the new owners to get the project under way.
“We got a great assist from Landscapes Unlimited and Bill Kubly to really make this golf course shine,” Baumann said. “This golf course really sings right now.”
Also in 2024, MCG introduced the Fat Badger Pub. The owners, after upgrading the course, spent time developing a high-quality menu. It includes items such as nachos, wings, cheese curds wraps and burgers. In fact, they entered the 2024 Best Burger Contest with their Badger Smash Burger.
“When people show up to Monroe Golf Club, we want to see smiles on their faces. We want them to immediately feel like, ‘Hey, I enjoy this place. I can come out here,’” Baumann said. “This isn’t Monroe Country Club from years ago, this is Monroe’s Golf Club.”
