Sand Valley

Overview: Sand Valley, the first course built at the premier Sand Valley Resort in central Wisconsin, is a dramatic inland links course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Winding through massive sand blowouts, open oak savannas, and fields of native fescue, the course features wide fairways and large, undulating greens. It plays firm and fast, encouraging players to utilize the ground contours and bounce their shots into the putting surfaces, mimicking the classic heathland courses of Great Britain.

History: Opened in 2017, the course was envisioned by resort founder Mike Keiser (of Bandon Dunes fame), who recognized that the remote Wisconsin site,a prehistoric lake bed composed entirely of deep sand,was the perfect geological foundation for true links-style golf. Coore and Crenshaw worked closely with the natural sand dunes, using minimal earthworks to ensure that the fairways flow naturally over the rolling ridges and sand barrens.

Did You Know? The sand deposits on the property are over 100 feet deep in some areas, providing the perfect drainage for the fescue turf to remain firm and fast even after heavy rain. The signature par-3 5th hole features a massive, sprawling bunker that completely surrounds the green, requiring a highly precise short iron shot that is highly vulnerable to the wind.