Odana Hills is a nice gem hidden right in the middle of Madison. I always knew it was there, and often saw a hole or two while driving by on the beltline or Odana Rd., but I never actually had played there until recently. I figured it'd be a pretty flat, boring course, so I never looked into it... While it IS relatively flat (great for walking), it's not "boring flat".
They were running a nice Spring deal of $15 for 18 holes (or all you can play), walking. That's a pretty great deal any time, and a nice way to start the season, so we decided to try it out.
My first impression of the course was "hey, not bad!" I learned that there's some character in this city course. There's a little water, enough bunkers, and plenty of mature trees to make you think about your shots.
After the round, I was pretty happy with what they offered. To me, it felt like a "mature Tumbledown Trails". Some of the holes were pretty boring and straight, but most courses will have some of those. What I liked was that there were no crazy-impossible holes that make you wonder what the designer was thinking.
The layout isn't too confusing. Having never golfed there before, I didn't find it tough to find the next hole. I can't address the condition too much at this point, being that it was early Spring and it's hard to gauge green and fairway conditions, however, I found the greens were in really good shape for the time of year, though not as "green" as they likely will be in a month. :) Putting was pretty true and consistent.
All in all, I found this course to be a pleasant surprise. I wouldn't hesitate to play it again for the right deal. Other courses are nicer, but the location and price (early Spring deal) are a great draw.