Wisconsin Golfer - November/December 2011

The Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin
will hold its annual awards banquet
on Nov. 29 at the Bull at Pinehurst
Farms in Sheboygan Falls. For more
information, click here.

A Golf House of Wisconsin website was created this season which highlights the work of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, the Wisconsin PGA Section and the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin. Those were among the state golf organizations that moved into a shared facility, called Golf House of Wisconsin, in West Allis in 2006. To access the site, click here.

Golfers looking for a
second or primary
home in the Southwest-
ern United States can
access a database of golf course
properties through a new website
developed by Golf Realty Network.
The site offers resources and listings
for buyers and sellers, as well as
general information about purchasing
golf properties. To access the site,
click here.

After a successful 32-year run, Bill Brodell has announced his retirement from Butte des Morts CC in Appleton. Brodell, 61, completed his duties as head professional at the private club in October, just as a search committee began to focus in on his replacement.

Brodell, a native of the Milwaukee area who lives in Hortonville, was highly respected as a teacher and player over the last three decades. His former students include PGA Tour player J.P Hayes and LPGA player Susan Ginter.

Brodell himself teed it up in the U.S. Open (1982) and the PGA Championship (1988), and on the state level he was named player of the year four straight seasons by the Wisconsin PGA Section. Along the way he won the Wisconsin State Open (1986), two WPGA Stroke Play titles (1986, ’89) and two WPGA Match Play titles (1982, ’85).

Before arriving at Butte des Morts, Brodell worked for six years in the Illinois Section – five as an assistant and one as a head pro.

“You always hope that you can find a
good opportunity, and I did,” he said of
landing the Butte des Morts job. “I feel
very fortunate. I think it was a good fit for
both the club and myself. I have nothing
but fond memories.”
Over 32 seasons, Brodell has experi-
enced some changes, both personally
and professionally, at the club. He admits
he played a lot of competitive golf in the
1980s, which led to his induction into the

Bill Brodell
Wisconsin State Golf Association Hall of
Fame in 2002. And Brodell was deeply involved in Butte des Morts’ move into a new
clubhouse in 1991.

But Brodell won’t disappear completely. The club has carved out a designation for him as pro emeritus, allowing him to keep on teaching while also serving as a resource for his replacement – if that new professional wants his help.

“It’s a nice honor,” Brodell said. “I certainly didn’t ask for it. It gives me a club member-
ship, and I’ll be able to hang around and teach a little bit. And play golf and enjoy myself.”
And that’s what retirement is for.