A “NLE” (No Longer Existing) course is one of the saddest sights in the world of golf. Once thriving properties filled with the joys of a great game, NLE’s quickly become uninspiring greenspaces with farmland, weeds and residential development encroaching and only traces of the golf layout left behind.
The past five years, in particular, have seen an alarming increase in NLE properties despite the incredible post-COVID boom in golf construction, with many layouts shuttering due to the unsteady impact of the pandemic on business.
Near the Illinois border, the small town of Monroe nearly bid farewell to its cherished golf property, Monroe Golf Club. Tapped out of financial resources by the end of 2022, this golden age layout faced potential closure just before celebrating its centennial.
A golf property is a tremendously valuable resource to a community, though, offering recreational opportunities and a natural social gathering point for residents, set to a large tract of land showcasing the natural beauty of the area.
With no other courses in town, Monroe faced a bleak future void of places for local residents to enjoy the game.
Local businessman and longtime member John Baumann looked on with concern and, alongside two business partners, purchased the facility in early 2023 to secure a vibrant future for this community stalwart.
“We felt like a golf course was meant to exist in this space, and that there would be no better use for this land in the community” – Craig Franke, General Manager
Not only did the new ownership group infuse the necessary capital to keep the club open, it made the crucial decision to keep it open it up to public play. The club remains semi-private with preferred tee times and other privileges granted to members, but its accessibility to the public makes it a true asset to Monroe locals while making the operation more financially viable.
My first visit to Monroe Golf Club in late June unfortunately came on an unexpectedly rainy day, and while I knew drone photography was a no-go in these conditions, I had a glimmer of hope that heavier rain would hold off long enough to play all 18.
It was pouring when I arrived, though, but this was a blessing in disguise as I had ample time to chat with General Manager Craig Franke, who graciously gave me a tour of the clubhouse and spoke extensively on the history of the property.
First, a word about Craig – he’s exactly the type of GM any golf property would be lucky to have. Overflowing with buoyant personality, he brings great enthusiasm and joy to his job. I saw him connect with members constantly during my visit, greeting every golfer with a smile and striking up conversations as if they were all close friends. He’s the perfect advocate for a golf operation that is quickly gaining steam after hard times.
Craig dove deep into the history of the club, from its beginnings in the 1920’s as a converted farmstead to its current position as a revitalized gem. It’s been a great place to play for casual weekend warriors and elite amateurs alike, and in fact Wisconsin golf legend Mike Muranyi called it his home course for decades while also serving as head pro for 30 years.
I was also introduced to a time-honored tradition at Monroe – Roof Putting.
Playing to a small practice green just steps from the clubhouse patio, this game makes for a great friendly competition over a beverage or two. Contestants throw a ball onto the roof, then play it out from where it settles on the green.
I haven’t had a chance to Roof Putt yet, but it’s sure to be a priority next visit!
After about an hour of chatting with Craig, the rain had lightened to a drizzle and I decided to take my chances on a loop. It was merely a brief respite, though, and I had to hang it up after nine holes when the rain became a steady downpour, resolved to return to the property on a much nicer day.
That day came in early August, when I finally got to experience the full layout under sunny skies. My first bout with the front nine proved valuable, as well, and with some course knowledge I was able to card a solid 82 on this very challenging track.
Pay no attention to the slope rating of 127 from the back tees – this is one of the toughest parkland courses I’ve played all season.
What makes Monroe such a stiff test? For one, it boasts some of the most challenging greens in the state.
Petite in size, smooth as ice, starkly-sloped and elevated, these surfaces are incredibly tough to hit in regulation, and once you’re safely aboard a two-putt is no guarantee. Staying below the hole is imperative at Monroe, even if it means chipping from just off the green.
While demanding, these greens are immaculate, rolling above a 12 for most of the season under the diligent care of superintendent Drew Putzer and his talented team. Monroe claims to have some of the best greens in the state, and after seeing them this summer, I couldn’t agree more.
Width is the other key demand at Monroe, as the course is loaded with tight, straightaway holes that call for lasers off the tee. While mature trees border both sides of fairways consistently, they’re usually placed a decent distance from the edges to allow for shot-shaping.
Joining me for my August round, Contributing Writer Chris Zahn aptly summed up the Monroe experience:
“Monroe is a tremendously fun course. Everything feels wide open and reachable, but there’s little reward and lots of danger in just bombing away without a plan. The trees will humble many a golfer who tries. Narrow fairways and devious greens require precision and patient course management.” – Chris Zahn
One other area of the course that particularly impressed me was its bunkering. Renovating the aging sand traps was an immediate priority of the new ownership group in 2023, tapping Bill Kubly of Landscapes Unlimited for the job with Mike “Squeak” Ufkin lending a hand with shaping.
Bill and Mike, both Monroe natives, did an exceptional job to yield top-notch bunkers that greatly add to the aesthetics of the property. The traps were in perfect shape during my visits, to the point where I’d prefer to find a greenside trap over pitching from the rough into the taxing greens.
A creek winds its way through the property, coming into serious play and dictating strategy throughout the round. Chris, who frequents Milwaukee County courses, remarked that a few holes reminded him of Dretzka Park, with the creek crossing fairways around driver distance on several occasions to force risk/reward decisions off the tee.
Overall, Monroe offers a challenging yet fair round on an extremely well-manicured property with interesting land movement. Continued improvements remain a priority in the near-term including tee renovations and general beautification of the property, promising to make Monroe shine even brighter in the years to come.
Under the careful watch of its passionate ownership group and talented staff, this club has elevated itself into must-play territory for area golf enthusiasts.
Course Overview
Monroe Golf Club
Monroe, WI
Architect: Harry B. Smead & Peter Jans (1923)
Par 70; Tees: Blue – 6243/70.3/127; White – 5828/68.5/122; Gold – 5035/63.8/113
Hole-by-Hole Rundown
#1 – Par 4, 353/338/327 Yards
One of only a few doglegs on the course, the first is a tight, tricky start. With the corner merely 220 yards out, the downhill drive calls for an iron or hybrid shot to start the day.
I opted for driver in a bid to pinch off the corner, only to run through the fairway into a well-placed bunker. A towering maple blocks the route to the left off the tee, requiring a high, booming shot to cut off distance.
The first tee was recently re-done, and in my first visit I played from the neighboring driving range which actually offered a better angle to cut the corner.
The first of many tiny greens beckons on approach with a narrow entrance point and front-to-back sloping, necessitating a deftly-struck short iron to stay on the surface.
#2 – Par 3, 173/137/124 Yards
Playing downhill to a green framed by water right and long, the second will vary considerably in distance depending on the pin placement.
In my first round here, I had 5-iron to a back pin while my more recent loop only required an 8-iron. I found the latter setup much easier as I was able to hit a lofted shot near the pin.
#3 – Par 5, 559/484/470 Yards
The straightaway par five third starts with an intimidating tee shot over water though a narrow chute, with a creek lurking all the way down the left side. From the back tee this is a definitive three-shot hole for the vast majority of players.
A large, elevated green is one of the most receptive surfaces on site, so if you can navigate the first two shots successfully, scoring opportunities abound.
#4 – Par 4, 434/422/298 Yards
The fourth is a slicer’s nightmare with large trees near the tee blocking the left side and the fairway tilting left-to-right. With little room to work my fade, I blocked both my tee shot into the trees right both times and had to punch out.
A plateau green with steep dropoffs long and right complicate the longer-iron approach, making this a beast of a par four.
#5 – Par 4, 335/316/301 Yards
This is the beginning of Monroe’s finest stretch that lasts until the turn. Playing across the most interesting topography on site, holes 5 through 9 delight with shorter yardages and scoring opportunities.
The fifth plays straight downhill, offering a glimpse at a heroic tee shot towards the green. Be sure you’ve got enough distance, though, as a cross-bunker cuts an already-narrow fairway in half about 230 yards out.
I swung away with the big dog despite the fact the bunker is placed exactly in my driver distance, but was fortunate to find the sliver of fairway to the right.
A false front occupying the entrance point to the green got the best of me, though, as my lob wedge came up merely a few yards short of a front pin and rolled back several yards into the fairway. I’ll be sure to play to a slightly longer yardage next time without getting too greedy.
#6 – Par 3, 152/134/118 Yards
While only a short iron shot, the sixth packs plenty of punch with a well-protected green sloping heavily from back-to-front.
I’ve recorded a GIR in both of my rounds here, but only walked away with a par once. In my last round, I ended up in the back-right corner to a front-center pin, contending with a putt that broke about 15 feet and left me little chance of lagging it close.
#7 – Par 4, 374/352/262 Yards
The seventh is home to the most aesthetically pleasing spot on the course and it’s no coincidence that it’s also my favorite hole.
The tee shot crests a hill that’s tightly bordered by towering trees. From there, the approach crosses a valley to a plateaued green with the creek sitting well short and left.
If out of position, the best bet is to chip down the hill, granting plenty of respect to the creek as a punch shot will run out significantly. I say this with experience as I lost my drive right in both rounds this summer, going for the green the first time while playing conservatively the next time out – which led to a triple and a bogey, respectively.
The problem with going for broke from the rough is the severity of the slope to the left of the green – anything pulled in that direction will bound towards (or into) the creek.
#8 – Par 3, 172/133/93 Yards
Medium length from the back tees, the eighth features an intimidating shot over a pond to a shallow green. A brick wall borders the front of the surface, adding to the visual effect and encouraging conservative play towards the back section.
Higher ball flight will be rewarded here, as mid-to-long irons will have a tough time holding the green. Be careful about going long, as I did in my second round – chips from the back side will need to contend with a slippery back-to-front slope that will pull balls back towards the water.
#9 – Par 4, 357/356/273 Yards
A rare dogleg wraps up the front nine, and it’s a gem. Teeing off from the edge of the property, there’s little opportunity to cut off distance on the drive as the corner is bordered by timber on both sides, with the fairway running out at only ~220 yards.
The approach plays over a valley to a green perched on a hillside next to the clubhouse. With two bunkers nestled next to the front-left and front-right corners, you’ll need a particularly deft iron shot to make the turn on a positive note.
#10 – Par 4, 437/427/325 Yards
The back nine kicks off with the toughest tee shot on property, bounding downhill and doglegging left with the fairway cut off by the creek about 220 yards out.
Laying up short of the creek might be wise for shorter hitters, but that will leave 200+ on approach to a green that is small even by Monroe standards, making it a quasi-par 5 for many players.
A booming drive over the creek will need to be particularly sharp, though, as only a sliver of fairway beckons beyond the hazard. I’ve been awful with my 3-wood, hybrid and irons off the tee this year, though, so I grabbed my driver and swung as hard as I could, knowing I’d need an amazing shot to make the second fairway.
That type of approach is a recipe for disaster, but thankfully I hooked it left where the carry is shorter. Even though that put me into the midst of the trees, I was only hitting two and was able to punch one close to the green to avoid a big number.
#11 – Par 4, 385/357/273 Yards
I love a par four where you can see the entire hole in front of you from the tee, and that’s exactly what the 11th presents.
Dead straight and uphill, the tee shot faces a modest carry over the creek to a constricted fairway that’s pinched even more by a fairway trap on the right.
While shorter on paper, the 11th plays much longer than the posted yardage, requiring extra club to reach the green on this semi-blind approach.
The orientation of this corridor was well-aligned with the rising sun, making this one of the best spots to capture from the air during golden hour.
#12 – Par 3, 178/172/160 Yards
Starting right next to the clubhouse, the 12th offers one of the most manageable iron shots of the round, playing to a green site that’s only lightly guarded by sand while sloping sternly from back-to-front.
#13 – Par 5, 552/519/416 Yards
This gorgeous par five starts downhill with the creek crossing the fairway about 150 yards from the green, which may prompt some decision-making on the second shot if you’re out of position.
An uphill approach is particularly daunting from longer range as a pair of deep bunkers covers most of the entrance to the putting surface.
#14 – Par 3, 188/177/161 Yards
Downhill and left-to-right oriented, the par three 14th is a reasonably straightforward mid-iron shot to an inviting green. Only one bunker sits long and right, granting room to run the ball onto the front of the surface.
Given the demands of Monroe throughout the rest of the round, this is a spot to take advantage of with its relative lack of trouble.
#15 – Par 4, 321/295/276 Yards
A stretch of scorable holes continues at the straightaway, short par four 15th. With merely small trees bordering the fairway on both sides, it’s worth ripping driver towards the green to make a charge at birdie.
The putting surface is well-elevated with a false front, though, so you’ll need to earn a good score even if in good position off the tee.
#16 – Par 3, 201/187/165 Yards
While similar in style to the 14th, the 16th plays much longer and requires a long iron to a narrow entrance point.
I was fortunate to escape with a par after pulling my tee shot onto a mound left before executing a delicate flop shot to ten feet.
#17 – Par 5, 567/546/392 Yards
I love to compare and contrast courses against my home club, Nakoma, but I’ve yet to come across another comp as close as Monroe.
Both tracks add up to a par of 70 with shorter yardage and similar challenges around the greens, and they also feature two par fives in the home stretch. While Nakoma’s come on the 16th and 18th, Monroe uniquely boasts back-to-back par fives on the final two holes – particularly unusual for a par 70!
You might think “scoring opportunity” when you get to the 17th tee, but I can assure you that par is a good score here. With stout length, a narrow fairway and a green tightly flanked by water left and sand right, there’s more than enough trouble to derail a good round.
Given the length of the hole and abundance of trouble near the green, it’s probably wise to lay up to short iron range to make this approach more manageable.
#18 – Par 5, 505/474/354 Yards
The 18th is a much less demanding par five than the preceding challenge, bending slightly right around a corner that’s pinched off by bunkers and trees.
If you can carry the corner the green is very reachable in two and is relatively undefended with no greenside bunkers, making this a great opportunity for a walk-off birdie.
Closing Thoughts
My visits to Monroe Golf Club this summer exceeded expectations significantly, and finding this true gem in a less-travelled part of the state has been one of the top highlights of a golf-rich summer. Superior course conditions, stout challenge and beautiful parkland corridors make a round at Monroe a tour of excellence across a property steeped in history.
With passionate, resourceful stewards at the helm in its new ownership group, Monroe can faithfully claim status as one of Wisconsin’s best-conditioned public properties, boasting a set of impressive greens and impeccable conditions overall.
The quality of the golf and peak greens fee of $59 with cart add up to one of the best value plays in the state, and in my opinion it’s a must-visit for anyone within a couple hours of town or if you’re passing through the area.
While you’re there, be sure to treat yourself to lunch and enjoy some excellent clubhouse fare. Monroe’s “Good Good” burger placed third in the Green County Beef Producers best burger contest – I can attest that it’s one of the tastiest post-round meals I’ve had all season.
This state is loaded with hidden gems, and Monroe certainly has a special one after its comeback for the ages.
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