Madison: Reimagining and Reinvesting in Odana Hills Golf Course
Wisconsin Eagle/10331985

~ Madison Parks Division Announces Partnership with Keiser Family and Madison Parks Foundation for Odana Hills Golf Course Revamp

The City of Madison Parks Division has recently announced an exciting new partnership with Michael and Jocelyn Keiser and the Madison Parks Foundation. This collaboration will bring about a much-needed transformation to the Odana Hills Golf Course, thanks to the Keisers' philanthropic vision and generous donation.

The community may already be familiar with the Keiser name, as this partnership builds upon their successful collaboration in transforming The Glen Golf Park. With their professional knowledge, expertise, and construction services, the Keisers approached Madison Parks in 2021 offering to donate their services for a redesign of the Glenway Golf Course. The reimagined Glen Golf Park reopened in 2022 and exceeded all expectations, with a 40% increase in golf rounds played and revenue generated. Additionally, specialty programming allowed for non-golf events such as yard games, movies, live music, and fitness activities. The redesign also had a positive impact on the environment by increasing native plantings by over 1000%, improving natural habitat quality while reducing turfgrass management.

Madison Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp expressed his gratitude for this opportunity to work with the Keiser family and the Madison Parks Foundation in giving Odana Hills the investment it deserves. He acknowledged that generations of memories have been made at Odana Hills and this project will ensure that many more years of memories can be created at this special place.

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Madison Parks Foundation President and Executive Director Stephanie Franklin also shared her excitement about this transformational investment that will benefit not only the golf program but also the broader park system and the entire Madison community for generations to come. She praised the Keisers' continued belief in Madison Parks and their generosity as a testament to what can be achieved when passionate philanthropists join forces with a world-class park system.

The proposed project at Odana Hills Golf Course will follow a similar model as The Glen, but on a larger scale. The course redesign and construction project, including tees, greens, surrounds, and some course routing, will be entirely supported by private donations from the Madison Parks Foundation led by the Keiser family's generous contribution. The extent of improvements will depend on final cost estimates and additional donor support, but the baseline of improvements will be consistent with The Glen project. The project is set to commence in Fall 2026.

This project also presents an opportunity for the City to leverage the private donation from the Keisers to make much-needed investments in public infrastructure within and around the course. Staff are currently exploring opportunities for collaboration with other agencies to improve stormwater management and create multi-use paths that have long been planned for the area. Along with the course work, there is also potential for redesigning and redeveloping the eastern portion of Odana Hills, which includes the clubhouse, parking lot, and park area to better serve the needs of the community and park users.

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District 11 Alder Bill Tishler expressed his excitement about this planned investment in Odana Hills Golf Course. He highlighted that it will not only enhance the natural landscape but also restore wildlife-supporting ponds, expand native prairie habitat for pollinators, and preserve the course's mature tree canopy while improving stormwater management. He also mentioned that he is pleased with plans for a new year-round clubhouse for community gatherings and a safe bike route connecting Southwest Commuter and West Beltline paths, making Odana Hills one of the city's most accessible courses for walking and biking.

Madison Parks will present an outline and timeline of proposed project plans at Wednesday's Board of Park Commissioners meeting on March 11th at 6:30 pm. Interested parties can join virtually to learn more about this exciting partnership between Madison Parks Division, Keiser family, and Madison Parks Foundation in revamping Odana Hills Golf Course. For updates and more information, visit the Odana Hills Golf Course and Park project page.

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