“Well, it’s still golf” – this mantra has traditionally summed up the municipal experience.

Shaggy course conditions and packed tee sheets were commonplace at muni layouts throughout most of my golfing life, but they also offered low greens fees and easy access, making regular play at these properties inevitable.

These days, however, an ever-increasing number of municipal properties are making significant investments to elevate the golf experience and stand toe-to-toe with higher-end public courses as viable alternatives. The time is right, with demand for golf approaching a record high and no slowdown in sight.

In Southern Wisconsin, we’ve been fortunate to see several publicly-owned operations take this next leap forward with multi-million projects to renovate, restore and reinvigorate their golf properties into something the community can take great pride in.

Take, for example, The Glen Golf Park, which with gracious financial assistance from Michael Keiser, Jr. and a team of passionate architects led by Craig Haltom in 2022, re-emerged as an outstanding nine-hole facility and shared parkland.

We’re seeing projects like this play out across the country, with municipalities recognizing the value of golf to the community and its lucrative revenue potential.

Truth be told, many of these properties have great bones and sit on excellent land, which is why their appeal has endured for so long. Most munis are merely rough around the edges, with a magic buried deep in their roots that’s waiting to be unlocked.

In the western Madison suburb of Middleton, Pleasant View Golf Course has been the next local municipal property to take a great leap forward.

Sitting on high ground that’s perfectly-positioned for sweeping views of Madison’s skyline and Lake Mendota, Pleasant View has always lived up to its moniker, offering a dramatic golf experience at affordable rates.

With 36 holes on site, including three full-length nines and a par three course, Pleasant View appeals to golfers of all calibers, whether you’re looking for a scratch-level challenge from the tips or if you’ve just started your golf journey and want a playable and fun experience.

Pleasant View’s history is long and winding, tracing its beginnings to a remedial nine-hole layout planned on a portion of a 150-acre plot of rolling farmland right after WWII.

Just down the road from my father’s childhood farm, this property proved to be significant for my own family’s golfing history. My grandfather regularly played the course after its initial opening, as my father observed closely with a budding interest that would eventually inspire him to pick up the clubs.

My father Ed, his brothers and their friends had a first-hand view of Pleasant View’s early history, so I only find it apt for them to tell the story of how this cherished property grew up.

“My memories of Pleasant View started around 1960, a couple of years after it opened as a nine hole course. I remember my dad played in a weekly golf league after work and he sometimes brought me along to caddy for him … I think it was in the summer of 1961 that my younger brother Steve was invited to play golf at Pleasant View by Greg Hall, a classmate of his at Sauk Trail elementary school. My mother thought it would be good for me to play too, so she called Greg’s mom to ask if I could tag along with Greg and Steve. I remember shooting 103 for my first round and Steve had a 95. We liked golf so much that we started playing with Greg every day during the week that summer.” – Ed Murphy

The original nine opened to the public in 1958, standing on a hillside facing east (now the site of the Billy Goat par three course), and it quickly gained a reputation for its signature view of Madison.

“The first three holes were to the east of the clubhouse. They were a downhill par 4, an uphill par 3, and a par 4 that went back towards the clubhouse. Years later these three holes were converted to a par 3 course. A putting green was to the left of the first tee, which Greg, Steve, and I would compete on while waiting for our moms to pick us up after we were done playing golf.” – Ed Murphy

The first hole on the current Lake Nine is routed in a similar location, offering a chance to bomb the opening tee shot well over 300 yards down the slope. I can only imagine that the opener on the original course was similarly exhilarating.

“My recollection was the view of the Capitol, the severe (for Madison) downhill first hole and developer trees.” -Pat Rohan

A second nine was added to the south in 1965, around the same time that my dad’s younger brothers, Mike and Tom, took up the game and joined Ed, his brother Steve and their friends on their golfing adventures.

“The view to the capital was beautiful, especially on clear days and at dusk and night when it was illuminated. Also on the 15th or 16th tee you could see the (nearby) ski jump.” – Tom Murphy

Pleasant View would continue to evolve with the times, as demand for the game grew exponentially. In 1970, the original nine was converted into a par 3 course, while a new 18-hole course was routed on land that is now home to most of the championship layout.

While Pleasant View has always been an accessible public property, it wasn’t always municipally-owned. In fact, it was nearly repurposed as an insurance headquarters, with CUNA Mutual acquiring the property in 1978 planning to build a home office on site.

It would remain a golf course, thankfully, and its identity as a muni was born when the City of Middleton purchased the facility in 1995.

Unlike many other municipal operations, Middleton took great pride in its golf course and invested in in significantly. Its vision for the property was realized in 2001 when the entire championship layout was expanded into the current 27-hole routing.

The expansion necessitated new land and comprehensive re-routing, utilizing existing greens and fairways while creating new holes altogether. With only a couple minor exceptions, the 2001 expansion and redesign produced the general layout that we have today.

Architects Kevin Norby and Don Herfort paired up for the project, a duo well-known for excellent renovation work across the Midwest in addition to new course design. Pleasant View’s expansion project showed off their creativity and versatility in finding so many compelling holes across the hilly site.

Joining the Rising Tide

Another renovation followed two decades later, one that saw Pleasant View join the rising tide of munis seeking to elevate the golf experience to a level you’d expect at an upscale public venue.

Several years ago, Middleton planned an expansion of Pleasant View Road from a two-lane country road to a four-lane passageway (with a multi-use path added, as well) to accommodate an ever-increasing volume of residential traffic as the metro area continued to sprawl outward.

The construction project would infringe on the eastern border of the golf property, and rather than accepting this as a nuisance, it was identified as an opportunity to improve the course and create something special.

With Norby re-enlisted for the design, seven of the 27 championship holes were altered significantly in this effort, with one (the 8th on the Prairie Nine) completely rerouted and rebuilt. The new greens and bunkers have a modern shine with interesting contours that prompt strategic playing lines. Fescue has also been added in select spots to boost a natural aesthetic across the property.

In my visit this summer I played all 27 championship holes, and the experience was loaded with variety. This is Pleasant View’s greatest asset – set on a sprawling piece of land, you’ll encounter a wide range of challenges that will test every club in your bag.

The Prairie and Lake nines tour rolling, open property with great views of the neighboring community. The Woods Nine, on the other hand, takes a memorable detour through dense forest on holes 4 through 9, encountering significant elevation changes at the edge of Wisconsin’s driftless region.

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Course Overview

Pleasant View Golf Course

Middleton, WI

Architects: Art Johnson (original 18); Don Herfort and Kevin Norby (2001 expansion and redesign); Kevin Norby (2023 renovation)

Yardage/Course/Slope Rating:

• Woods/Prairie: Goat – 6705/72.4/126, Black – 6491/71.3/125, Blue – 6198/70.1/121, Green – 5771/68.4/113
• Prairie/Lake: Goat – 6465/70.9/127, Black – 6143/69.3/124, Blue – 5830/68.0/121, Green – 5435/66.5/110
• Lake/Woods: Goat – 6782/72.9/132, Black – 6430/71.2/130, Blue – 6080/69.7/125, Green – 5606/67.5/114

The Woods Nine

The Woods Nine is my favorite loop on site, thanks to a stretch that ventures away from the main portion of the property into the forest.

The first three holes stay close to home, starting with an extreme downhill tee shot away from the clubhouse on the par five first. After the third, the routing heads west into a forested plot with stark glacial land movement. The topsy-turvy stretch from holes 4 through 9 features several blind, uphill shots and tight corridors lined by towering trees.

The sense of isolation in nature sets this stretch apart from the rest of the Pleasant View experience, and while it was touched the lightest in the renovation, it features the boldest drama and most fun shots on site.

Diving downhill from the clubhouse, the opening tee shot is wider than it appears but still demands a crisp tee shot as the elevation will exaggerate a hook or slice.

Going for the green in two is viable on this mid-length par five, but two greenside bunkers pinch the entrance point to complicate a long iron or fairway wood approach. A slope at wedge distance will help propel layups to short pitch range, making this an ideal spot to target on the second shot.

The fourth begins the journey into deep forest, starting with a semi-blind tee shot cresting a hill and bounding down a steep slope. The approach dives about 50 feet downhill, creating a 1-2 club difference that makes this challenging par five play shorter than the posted yardage.

The fifth is the stiffest test of all 27 holes in my experience, playing straight uphill and still exceeding 400 yards from the back tees. A fairway trap to the left must be avoided at all costs, as it’s placed nearly 200 yards from the green and would almost certainly prompt a layup. The approach plays blind but grants room up the left to bounce a long iron onto the plateaued surface.

While trees block out most of the views from the elevated green, the visuals from drone height are simply stunning, peering out at dramatic bluffs in the distance.

The shorter par four eighth calls for some restraint, with the corner of the dogleg left tightly pinched by fairway bunkers. Cutting the corner requires a powerful draw, a shot that I’ve never had in my bag.

3-wood or hybrid to the corner will help you avoid deep woods and sand and leave a taxing, uphill mid-iron approach, but here it’s best to take your medicine and take what the course gives you.

The long par four ninth is a challenging conclusion to the Woods loop, featuring two demanding shots from tee to green.

The drive ascends a ridge before a downslope will push balls through the fairway of this dogleg right, making a fade that challenges the corner a preferred route. Due to the sheer length of the hole, laying up to the corner is not advisable for most players as it will prompt an approach of over 200 yards.

This was the only Woods hole altered in the 2023 renovation, with its green complex completely rebuilt. The two-tiered green looks fantastic after the changes, featuring internal contours that will make long putts quite interesting.

While the back-to-front sloping of the putting surface will help collect long iron approaches, this remains one of the toughest challenges on the Woods Nine and I’m always happy to walk away with a 5.

The Prairie Nine

Located in the central section of Pleasant View’s sprawling property, the Prairie Nine features more open playing corridors and less imposing hazards than the Woods or Lake loops, and combined with shorter yardage and three par fives it’s the most scorable nine on site.

The “developer” trees that my dad’s friend Pat mentioned from the 1960’s have certainly grown up, though, as many of the trees are now fully mature and line both sides of most fairways to take away some of the width that used to exist.

The second and eighth holes were altered in the 2023 renovation, modernizing their bunkering, green design and overall aesthetics. That said, some of my favorite spots on Prairie were left unchanged, including the 1st, 3rd and 4th holes – these unique original designs stood the test of time featuring options available from tee to green.

At the short par five third, a split fairway creates a decision point off the tee. With a wide, snaking bunker and mounding separating the two corridors, you’ll want to make a clear choice and execute to your spot.

The left fairway cuts off a little distance and steers well clear of a pond to the right, but mid-sized trees and a greenside bunker block the direct line to the putting surface on the second shot. I can imagine this was a more optimal path when the course was originally built and the trees were in their infancy.

The right fairway contends more closely with the pond but presents a more straightforward path to the green, making it a more optimal play for the long hitter.

The mid-length fourth is framed beautifully by foliage and land movement, ending on a greensite set against a ridge. The vantage point from behind the green is one of the most beautiful spots on site.

With a fairway tilting from left-to-right, drives challenging the fairway trap to the left will be best-positioned to attack the pin with a wedge.

The par three eighth is the only hole that was completely rerouted in the 2023 renovation. At that time, the course was overweighted with uphill par threes, and the original version was routed up a slope to add to the monotony.

The new eighth descends into a valley, framed by golden fescue with great views of the surrounding hills in the background. It’s a stunning enclave, and I was shocked that the architects were able to find such a gorgeous, previously unused location to create this gem.

The downhill orientation makes this only a short iron shot, but it better be an accurate one as the green is perched on a shelf with a steep dropoff into sand left.

Playing parallel to the Woods 9th, the conclusion to Prairie is only slightly longer than its counterpart but is generously a par five on the scorecard.

The tee shot is relatively open but a trio of fairway bunkers must be avoided to setup a clean look at the green in two.

Take care to avoid the greenside bunker short-right, as its steep front face could lead to a nasty recovery lie, especially for long irons that will naturally run against the lip.

The Lake Nine

The Lake Nine was the most heavily altered stretch in Pleasant View’s 2023 renovation. The routing encouters the eastern border of the property on the par five 2nd, bringing it into direct contact with Pleasant View Road.

So, due to the expansion of the neighboring road, something had to be done with the second hole.

The fairway and green were shifted to the west away from the new lanes of traffic, while bunkers were re-positioned and rebuilt. The refreshed surfaces play much more strategically, with a cluster of fairway traps pinching the left side to make aggressive play off the tee quite risky.

Additionally, a buffer zone of mounding and fescue was installed to prevent errant shots from reaching the road. To my delight, this also moved out-of-bounds further away from playing lines.

The changes didn’t stop there, with holes 3, 6 and 8 also receiving substantial upgrades.

The result was the most impressive nine holes at Pleasant View, complete with a modern flair and aesthetically-sound design.

The Lake Nine plays along a hillside spilling east from the clubhouse, with significant elevation change, groves of woodland and ponds offering a solid challenge and testing many areas of the game.

My re-shoot of the Lake Nine in October yielded some vibrant images in near-peak color conditions. In the morning, this half of the property shines brightest, with the sun rising over the lake (well in sight) and spilling rays across the eastern hillside.

The first hole dives significantly downhill in similar fashion to the opener on the original 1960’s layout. The elevation change allows for a booming tee shot that can reach short pitch range, but a tight tree-lined fairway discourages driver.

Even with hybrid or iron off the tee, many players can setup a short iron into a shallow green that’s protected closely by sand short-right.

The sixth might be home to the most impressive upgrade in the recent project, with bunkers placed strategically from tee to green and an excellent new green complex. At just 323 yards from the black tees, long hitters might be tempted to cut the corner of the dogleg left and sneak their drives past a grove of pines.

This route is now protected by a bunker on the corner, and bigger pokes also have to contend with a pair of greenside bunkers placed short-right.

The green is perched on a shoulder with a right-to-left tilt, encouraging moderately aggressive drives up the left side to optimize the angle of approach.

The eighth, once a sleepy par four, now dazzles after its redesign. A centerline trap stands in otherwise optimal wedge position, forcing a decision and commitment off the tee.

The right side will offer the best angle of approach, but it’s tightly guarded by two traps and is a bit more difficult to access.

I took my standard approach of aiming directly at the centerline trap (in recognition of the fact that I almost never hit it dead straight), and a slight pull found me in the fairway to the left. This isn’t an awful position, but it does require a deft wedge shot directly over a pond.

The new green is placed against the hazard, with a steep bank on its front side that will deny a chunked iron. With contours running hard towards the water, it’s best to err a little long on approach.

Billy Goat Par 3 Course

Situated in the perfect vantage point for Pleasant View’s signature views of Madison’s west side, downtown skyline and Lake Mendota, the Billy Goat Par 3 offers the most dramatic short course setting in the greater metro area.

While most of the nine one-shotters present wedge distances, a few stretch a bit further and prevalent elevation changes will test distance control.

This is essentially the same loop I played as a child a few times, and it’s an ideal venue for beginners or some bonus golf. I didn’t get a chance to play the Billy Goat this year, but I’ll definitely be looking to tack it on to my next visit.

Closing Thoughts

The golfing obsession that took hold in my family in the 1960’s would eventually pass down a generation, and if it weren’t for Pleasant View, I might not have ever been introduced to the game.

So to me, this speaks to the importance of accessible public golf, a vital function that municipal properties have filled for decades. Munis might not be flashy properties with outstanding conditions, but they are the heart and soul of the game, opening the doors for thousands to play.

And they’re getting better in droves.

Simply put, Pleasant View is vastly improved from the last time I had seen it several years ago, thanks to difference-making public investment and an outstanding staff.

In fact, I now have it rated as the 4th best public course in the Madison metro area, when it was merely an afterthought on my golf radar a few years ago.

Not only is the golf excellent here, but the Goat Hill Grill offers tasty fare and a patio with views for days. Be sure to save a little time at the end for lunch and drinks – this special spot is one of the best outdoor dining options in Madison.

Pleasant View has joined the rising tide of munis unlocking their potential, and I look forward to seeing other municipal properties across the state embark on similar efforts.

The game needs it.

Pleasant View Golf Course Website