However, the final Odana Hills design is not ready yet. In fact, the design process is in its early stages, and the City of Madison will have to approve the project and the final design.
However, Beck is excited. “We are looking at taking something from good to great to next level, and we want to be the next NEXT level,” he added.
Madison Parks officials expect the project to move through the approval process in the coming months as plans continue to develop.
If approved, construction could begin later this year, with the course likely closing in 2027 before reopening to golfers in 2028. The Board of Plan Commissioners will hear more about it on March 11.
How Michael Keiser Became Involved in Madison’s Municipal Golf Projects
Michael Keiser moved to Madison with his wife, Jocelyn, in 2016 to raise their family. In the years after settling in the city, he began paying attention to the condition of its municipal golf facilities.
According to Keiser, the idea first came to him after he read a newspaper report discussing the financial struggles of Madison’s public golf courses. The article led him to think about whether he could contribute to improving one of the city’s courses.
That interest eventually turned into a proposal to help renovate Glenway Golf Course, a municipal layout owned by the City of Madison. Keiser and Jocelyn offered to support the project and help guide a redesign of the property.
Speaking about the idea, Keiser said the goal was to rethink how a public golf space could function within the community. “Madison’s such a progressive city,” he said. “I think it would be cool to have a progressive golf course, one that’s inclusive and designed architecturally for all golfers. Most golf courses are designed by men for men.”
The concept was not limited to changes on the golf holes. Keiser also proposed using parts of the land for other public uses, including walking trails and ecological restoration in areas not used for play.
What do you think about private funding transforming public golf courses?