MONROE — The Monroe Golf Club was packed for its Lil’ Gem grand opening on Tuesday, June 20.
Since a change of ownership in late 2022, new co-owners John Baumann, Mike Sanders and Greg Fedders have been hard at work to make improvements to the course. One of these features included a 2,280-yard, 12-hole course designed for younger players to get a start in golf.
The course tees off as usual on hole 1 and ends on the par 3 12th hole next to the clubhouse. The longest hole is a 345-yard par 5 and the shortest is a 95-yard par 3.
“Our goal is to make sure every local boy and girl is welcome,” Baumann said. “So, we designed this par 45, 12-hole course with them in mind.”
The Mike Muranyi Golf Junior Golf Foundation, named after the local Wisconsin Golf Hall of Famer, currently boasts over 100 kids in the program. Designed to “promote and foster Junior Golf in the city of Monroe and Green County by providing golf memberships, instruction and educational scholarships to youth,” the program allows kids to golf at the Monroe Golf Course with a $5 payback for every 9-hole round and a free lunch.
Aside from local talents like Muranyi, the Lil’ Gem opening also garnered the attention of UW-Madison Athletic Director Chris McIntosh, Badger football coach Luke Fickell and UW women’s basketball coach Marisa Moseley who made an appearance.
Their attendance stems from the nearly 70-year Badger Day tradition, which has since been retired. They also coach local athletes JT Seagreaves and Natalie Leuzinger.
The golf course is open for the summer 8 a.m. from 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Schedule a tee time on the website monroegolfclubwi.com.
The grand opening of the Little Gem 12-hole juniors course at Monroe Golf Club invited families from around the region to celebrate. Children and families could play the course, which is holes 1-12, as well as practice putting, chipping, eat grilled food and listen to music of the Zweifel Brothers. The University of Wisconsin sports department had a three-person delegation attend as well to converse with the crowd and sign autographs. That UW contingent included athletic director Chris McIntosh, football coach Luke Fickell (center) and women’s basketball coach Marisa Moseley.
