Sand Valley

Sand Valley was a wonderful experience, the staff were welcoming, the facility and my room attractive and inviting, and the course was gorgeous and challenging. The view outstanding! I️ cannot wait to go back and experience the 2 new courses.

Coors and Crenshaw learned a lot from their Bandon Dunes experience . These 17 holes are just so much fun to play and practice your short game. You go up and down and around. It is a true test of your distance control and putting abilities. You Do not want to miss the experience when you are visiting Sand Valley.

My group visited Bandon Dunes a couple of years ago and thought it was fantastic because of the golfing experience and scenic views. This is a completely different experience. This has a countryside feeling with beautiful views and some golf skills . Few level lies, some driver carries over natural areas, huge fairways and greens. The rooms are wonderful and the food was especially delicious. Needs to be on any golfer’s bucket list

It took decades for golf course architects to start intentionally moving as little dirt as possible, but such a philosophy is firmly back in vogue, and Sand Valley serves as a great new addition to this genre of course. The heaving central-Wisconsin sand dunes set a wonderful stage for compelling golf, as Coore & Crenshaw routed holes that tackle them in various ways, from the drop-shot par-3 5th to the curling, around-the-dune 16th and the hill-climbing 18th. The turf is bouncy, the greens are fun to putt, the accommodations are comfy and the people couldn't be nicer. Sand Valley is a winner.

I played the course last year and enjoyed it very much. I walked, carried my own bag, and had a wonderful time.

This year, going back I attempted to take advantage of some of the amenities, including the caddie service.

Bad move. The first thing the caddie did was to begin going through my bag, without asking, to unload things and make it lighter. Since I carry my bag, and had done so a few days prior, I know it was not unreasonably heavy.

When I catch him, I offer to lighten the load on my own.

The only personal thing left on my bag was a towel. It was lost. Upon returning home and noticing it is missing, I called the course.

I had to leave a message and after two days, and no call back, I had to call them again. Then, instead of getting a call back from a staff member, or the caddie master, I get a text on my personal phone from the caddie.

Towel lost and still no appropriate response from Sand Valley.

Very unprofessionally handled in my opinion.

Also, the course conditions were too difficult for the average player, and probably nearly unplayable for all but single digit handicappers.

It is a beautiful peace of land though, but best enjoyed walking and carrying your own bag.

This visit was preview play so I'm going to get too picky on course conditions, caddie knowledge, etc as everyone is still learning.

If the first 9 holes are any indication, it will be better than Sand Valley. The property is massive and the name is fitting. Like Sand Valley, you can play a longer tee box as the course plays shorter than the advertised yardages due to the elevated tees, firm fairways and wind depending on the day. When my wife and I played, the wind picked up between 15-25 mph.

I played well that day. Where the caddie told me to hit it, I actually hit it. The massive fairways give multiple options off the tee to make the hole longer or shorter for your approach. If you hit the speed slot, your drive went 30-40 yards longer and nothing more than a wedge into firm, fast greens. The tees are set so every type of player can take advantage of these options. If you're playing well, you can score. If you're not, you will find the only hazard known at Mammoth Dunes, sand. You have to manage your misses on some holes as anything off the green will require a fine-tuned short game to get up and down. Certain holes offer you the chance to play links-style golf and keep it on the ground or close to it.

I cannot wait to play the drivable par 4 14th. It's not included in preview play but just seeing it makes you want to play it more than once.

When having fun on a golf course is not just what you make of it but what the course itself provides, you're in for a memorable experience and Mammoth Dunes is exactly that. I cannot wait to play the full 18.

There is plenty of love for Sand Valley right now and it shows in the staff and the service. The food in the clubhouse was awesome. Walleye tacos anyone? If you haven't tried the rosemary, parmesan fries at the clubhouse you must and can thank me later. .

The Good: David McLay-Kidd is in the process of constructing the flagship masterpiece at Sand Valley Golf Resort, Mike Keiser's budding golf resort in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. Even more expansive in scale compared to Coore & Crenshaw's Sand Valley course, Mammoth Dunes provided preview play for Holes 1-5 & 15-18. The course is engulfed in sand dunes that make it seem like you're on another continent. Excellent variety in Par 4 hole design with good mixture of doglegs and elevation change. Excellent Par 5's that are risk-reward depending the tees you play. Par 3 16th in particular is a masterpiece downhill shot over the largest dune on the course (thus far). Fabulous views of the closing holes from the brand new clubhouse. Great service and friendly staff.

The Bad: No yardage markers yet, but this is typical for a course in preview play stage. The greens are almost TOO large and could lead to a lot of time spent putting. May be a tough hike for those that don't walk many golf courses.

The Verdict: Mammoth Dunes is well on its way to be one of the best public golf courses in the Midwest. A playable, fun experience and can't wait to see the final 9 holes!

Best Hole: The downhill Par 4 #5 is one of the most beautiful settings at the the whole resort. Will be one of many spots where pictures are taken.

The Good: Mike Keiser's "Bandon Dunes of the Midwest" is a majestic sand dunes restoration project in addition to a budding golf resort. The Coore & Crenshaw course is a rugged, sandy masterpiece of playable, yet intimidating golf that gives golfers plenty of options and challenges along the way. Fabulously conditioned despite being in its infancy and huge, large greens that already putt true. The layout is fair with huge fairways and a strong variety of tough holes sprinkled with short Par 3's and drivable Par 4's to improve your confidence. Practice facility is excellent with full driving range and putting green that connects to first tee. Superb service in place with full caddie program and friendly staff. First class clubhouse with extremely nice restaurant and bar, as well as awesome pro shop.

The Bad: Sand and waste area conditions are only course detractor as they need continued improvements as the resort matures. Greens could use another season or two to mature and hold shots better. Perhaps a little overpriced at $200+ for a new resort.

The Verdict: Sand Valley is well on its way to being a Top 3 Wisconsin course and one of the best resort courses in the Midwest. An extremely fun, playable track that will only get better with time. A truly memorable golfing experience that will only get better with age.

Best Hole(s): Each nine closes with fantastic holes: #9 is an excellent short Par 4 that demands precision an the closing #18 is an uphill, beautiful Par 5 that caps a religious golfing adventure.

Need to start this review off with a couple of disclaimers –

1) I have played Keiser’s first property the private 9 hole Dunes Club in New Buffalo, MI. A Nugent design it is truly a special place and the very best 9 hole course I’ve ever experienced. If you are invited there do not miss it!!

2) I have not had the opportunity to experience Bandon Dunes but hope to get there someday.

Yes Sand Valley is in the middle of nowhere. It’s also quite a haul from the Chicago area. You can stay there/you should stay there if you can afford it (everything is extremely expensive) and yes it’s all about golf/golf and more golf. Walking only with caddies (or you can rent/bring your own pull cart). I only played the 6 hole preview of the Mammoth Dunes course – it was a beautiful very hot sunny day with light winds. All facilities are built on a surreal links type site with little shade…..the pictures really don’t do it justice. To be honest my impression walking off the preview holes was negative…..but after a few days of reflection I’ve tempered my opinion for several reasons.

I played the holes in benign conditions (hot/sunny) and everything about these six holes was supersized (I termed it Grand Big Mac size) from all aspects – huge bunkers/fairways/green sites……ever play a course that’s claustrophobic with trees/obtrusive housing? Completely reverse that thought - the vistas and site lines here are so vast it can be off putting. This course when it's complete was designed for much cooler weather and some winds to fend with. Extremely links like and very different unless you’ve traveled to Scotland or Ireland but this is a "supersized American links." I’d highly recommend playing it in the spring/fall seasons when rates are cheaper (a full 9 holes of Mammoth will be open in about a month)because a hot summer day doesn’t provide the intended challenges off the tee (the fairways are that large) so really all you’re dealing with is a long range chipping/putting contest which is what you’ll be doing anyway because the green sites are that large....some are a 4 club depth easy depending on where the flag is. Walking the width right to left on the 18th green toward the clubhouse will take you at least half a minute or more because I swear the finishing putting surface has a larger footprint than the clubhouse and lodging at the top of the dune!

Hole 1 – the opener has a large swaled fairway which gives you an option to go left (low) or right (high)….taking the high route opens up the green and allows a more playable rolling in approach. A very fair start/introduction of what’s to come.

Hole 2 – Nice dogleg left par 4 with a mounded bunker on the left but you must drive your ball as far as you dare right of that….fending off and carrying a large waste area down the right side of the fairway.

Hole 15 – a fairly straight away rolling par 5 which features kind of a double fairway for your drive (again a high and low side) and in some areas it’s probably 100 yard plus wide.

Hole 16 – A nice short downhill well contoured par 3 with sort of a large bowl like green.

Hole 17 – straightway par 4 which features a huge gaping deep bunker protecting most if not all of the green. Driving down the left side opens up the left side of the green a tad.

Hole 18 – a par 5 finisher that had the tightest driving area with deep bunkers on the left and right providing a nice risk reward. Your second shot should be routed as right as possible towards another bunker on the right for an easier approach. Going left you are faced with one of the deepest largest waste areas - containing a large patch of unkempt fescue and finally raked bunker protecting the putting surface except on the far right side….this final hazard should be avoided at all costs.

All of the greens are HUGE. Definitely spend time on practice putting green right out the proshop door to practice your feel for 70/80/90 and over 100 foot putts…..you’ll definitely have some of those.

Didn’t have time to experience the Coore/Crenshaw course but again after reflection I would go back to experience entire Mammoth course upon it's completion definitely with cooler conditions and wind.

So many options that each day this course will never play the same - so vast and so different -well named.

To many Midwestern golfers, Sand Valley might be their first introduction to links-like golf. That reason alone makes Sand Valley a success story.

The first course in this giant sandpit in central Wisconsin probably won't end up being the best course here - just wait until you see Mammoth Dunes by David McLay Kidd - but it might be the most playable.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw routed mostly fun holes through the dunes, which provide some nice elevation changes. Giant wastelands of sand lurk on every shot, so pick your angles of attack carefully. There's really no chance to lose a ball anywhere. The fescue lining a few fairways is still quite wispy in most places. The most intimidating shot is actually the drive on the par-3 17th hole, a mostly blind shot up into a green set in a bowl. It's 220 yards from the men's tees so take enough club and pray you get lucky. In that respect, Sand Valley is very much a links.

My wife and I first came out to SV for the 9 hole preview in July not really knowing what to expect. Being the avid golfer that I am, I had read about it from the beginning and was very curious to see what this place was all about.

It did not disappoint. There are two golfing destinations in this state where you don't feel like you're in Wisconsin, Whistling Straits and now Sand Valley. Both could not be two more different pieces of property which is what makes it even more amazing.

The 2nd time playing was the full 18 with my good buddies from high school. The course plays fast and firm. Even high handicappers will have a tough time losing a golf ball on this course. You can even play a tee longer as the firmness, wind, and elevation changes make it play shorter than the advertised yardages.

Like any high end resort course, you do need to know the best line for your tee shots and where not to miss on your approach shots because there are plenty of big numbers to be had. Coore and Crenshaw lay everything out in front of you and it's up to you to do something with it.

Bandon Dunes is on my bucket list but it looks like I don't have to go very far to get the same experience. I cannot wait to see what more this place becomes and couldn't be more proud that it's in Wisconsin

The Good: Mike Keiser's "Bandon Dunes of the Midwest" is a majestic sand dunes restoration project in addition to a budding golf resort. The Coore & Crenshaw course is a rugged, sandy masterpiece of playable, yet intimidating golf that gives golfers plenty of options and challenges along the way. Fabulously conditioned despite being in its infancy and huge, large greens that already hold and putt true. The layout is fair with huge fairways and a strong variety of tough holes sprinkled with short Par 3's and Par 4's to improve your confidence. Practice facility will be excellent with full driving range, putting green that connects to first tee, and temporary 6th hole for those seeking a shorter round. Superb service in place with full caddie program and friendly staff. Will be very expensive for non-guests, but preview play rates are fantastic. The 19th hole area at tee boxes of #1, #10, and #18 green is awesome!

The Bad: Sand and waste area conditions are only course detractor as they need continued improvements for public play. Clubhouse is only a trailer (for now) and there are no restroom areas on course except for halfway house at turn. Will be a walking only course so may not be accessible for all golfers. A couple of greens were temporary but confident they will be excellent upon formal opening in May 2017.

The Verdict: You won't believe that you in Wisconsin when you set foot on the 1st tee. Sand Valley is well on its way to being a Top 3 course in the state and one of the best resort courses in all the Midwest. An extremely fun, playable track that will only get better with time. A truly memorable golfing experience.

Best Hole(s): Each nine closes with fantastic holes: #9 is an excellent driveable Par 4 that demands precision an the closing #18 is an uphill, beautiful Par 5 that caps a religious golfing adventure.