| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property named 'Yahara Hills Golf Course'. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office.
The clubhouse at Yahara Hills Golf Course is a two-story Contemporary brick and glass building constructed in 1967. The building is constructed on a hill, so the east-facing elevation is two stories high while the remainder of the building is a single story. The building has an L-footprint and is oriented south, looking toward the golf course. The shorter building unit is constructed of glass with large angular brick piers. It has a broad asymmetrical front gable roof with wide eaves and exposed rafters. Its two-story east-facing elevation features a balcony and walk-out ground floor, while the south-facing gabled end features an outdoor patio and dining area overlooking the golf course. The longer building unit is constructed of brick with little glazing. It has a side gabled roof and is much narrower than the main glass and brick section. The two portions of the L are connected via a covered breezeway which accesses the parking lot. The interior consists of a sitting and lounge area, bar, kitchen, and men's and women's locker rooms. The furnishings may have changed over time, but the floor plan and materials retain good integrity.
Yahara Hills Golf Course opened on May 31, 1968. The facility, which is comprised of two 18-hole courses, a driving range, and diminutive putting green, was designed by landscape architect Arthur Johnson, a prominent landscape architect and principal planner for the Madison city park system. Between the 1950s and 1980s, he designed more than 40 golf courses in Wisconsin as well as the original conceptual design for the Monona Terrace. The clubhouse was designed by Law, Law, Potter, and Nystrom, a prolific Madison architecture firm in the mid-twentieth century. The building meets Criteria Consideration G because it is not yet 50 years old, but it is potentially significant due to its design and association with Law, Law, Potter, and Nystrom, while its low profile, wide overhanging eaves, and large expanses of glass make this a fine example of Contemporary design. It is built into a hill and acts as a sculptural enhancement to the landscape, while also serving a practical purpose. Finally, the clubhouse retains a high degree of interior and exterior integrity, and it does not appear to vary greatly from the original design plans.
Yahara Hills Golf Course is potentially eligible for the National Register under Criterion C. With the US 12/18 Beltline project, reconstruction of the driveway entrance will require construction within the golf course property. In addition, a frontage road will be constructed along the northern and eastern boundaries of the golf course property that may have the potential to affect the property. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “Arthur Johnson Obituary.” Ryan and Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Accessed December 30, 2013. http://www.ryanfuneralservice.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=486242&fh_id=10436.
Derby, Samara Kalk. “Park Planner Arthur Johnson Dies at 82; left indelible mark on Madison’s green spaces.” Wisconsin State Journal, January 5, 2010. Accessed December 30, 2013. http://host.madison.com/news/local/park-planner-arthur-art-johnson-dies-at-left-indelible-mark/article_bee6b154-fa5b-11de-aa98-001cc4c002e0.html.
Miller, Glenn. “And Now Yahara Opens.” Wisconsin State Journal, May 26, 1968. |
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