Sand Valley Golf Resort (Sand Valley) – Nekoosa, WI

Course Details:

• Architect: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2017)
• Course Type: Resort, Public
• Par: 72
• Rating: 73.2
• Slope: 134

Course Accolades:

• Golf Digest: #1 Best New Golf Course (2017)
• Golf Magazine: Best New Golf Course You Can Play (2017), #111 in World, & #52 in USA
• Golf Week: #42 in Modern USA, #15 Resort, & #2 in Wisconsin

Course Score

• Course Conditions: 9
• Green Complexes: 9
• Amenities: 9
• Practice Facilities: 8
• Service: 9
• Course Design: 9
• Value: 7

Total Score: 8.57

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 second year 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. The Par 3’s may be the best collection I’ve ever played. Practice facility is excellent with full driving range and putting green. 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 are borderline unfair in some areas due to being crowned and all falloff to devilish bunkers. Perhaps a little overpriced at $200+ for a new resort.

The Verdict: Sand Valley is well on its way to being a Top 5 Wisconsin course and one of the best resort courses in the Midwest. While not quite as good as its younger brother Mammoth Dunes, I contend that the most memorable, individual holes are on Sand Valley. 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): The closing holes on each 9 are great, but there is something about the punchbowl green on the long uphill Par 3 17th that is just magical. It is the most unique green complex I’ve ever played.