March 2, 2022 – Hartford, WI – There was an intimate gathering at the Washington County Golf Course, 6439 Clover Road, Hartford, WI, on Tuesday morning for a rather large announcement as an endowment has now been created to protect the future of the 250+-acre property from any development.
The deal was started by dedicated community servant Maurice (Maury) Strupp. The former Washington County Supervisor and Hartford Town Chairman was concerned about the future of property and wanted to protect it into perpetuity from possible residential development.
Strupp sealed a deal in 1995 to secure the land for the golf course when he locked in an agreement with former Washington County Board Chairman Reuben Schmahl, Patrick Faragher, Jeff Weber and Walter E. Malzahn the owner of the former Roger Schmidt Farm.
Strupp got nervous when he watched the nearby Family Park annexed into the City of Hartford which then worked to rezone the parcel to residential with eyes on development of a subdivision.
“Then I was really concerned,” said Strupp. “I hated to see what was happening and I was the only one left, so I took the reins.”
Strupp said he wanted to secure the future of the pristine 253-acre
“I was concerned because it is the No. 1 municipal golf course in the state,” he said. “I contacted the Zieglers and Rolfs and this is how it came to fruition.”
Strupp, who was dressed in a long sleeve burnt red collared shirt and suspenders, said he was very proud of the deal finally coming to fruition. “I’m very proud of it and for it to happen,” he said.
Peter Ziegler, representing the West Bend Community Foundation and Washington County Parks and Trails Endowment Fund, said this was a landmark historic transaction to preserve a wonderful piece of real estate in perpetuity for residents of Washington County.
“My father and my uncle, Bob and Tom Rolfs, were really the major fundraisers in this and they would be proud what the next generation was perpetuating but they didn’t quite accomplish it when they didn’t protect this in perpetuity, so it is really wonderful we were able to accomplish that,” he said.
This will be the 25th season for the Washington County Golf Course.
County Supervisor Carol Merry, County Board Chairman Don Kriefall, County attorney Brad Sern, County Director of Community Development Jamie Ludovic, Peter Ziegler, representing the West Bend Community Foundation and Washington County Parks and Trails Endowment Fund, Claire Rolfs, representing the Thomas J. Rolfs Family Foundation, Maury Strupp, County Executive Josh Schoemann, and Craig Czerniejewski, Head PGA Professional and Clubhouse Supervisor at Washington County Golf Course.
