Sand Valley Resort- Sand Valley course- hole 10
Mike Keiser's journey from recycled greeting cards to Golf Resorts is well documented.
In my opinion 'Bandon Dunes Resort is the best golf resort in the world'
In recent years the Keiser family has added to their golfing portfolio with a new development at Sand Valley in Wisconsin
In undulating sandy terrain perfect for golf Sand Valley Resort is treading a similar path to Bandon Dunes.
At Bandon the first course was designed by David McLay Kidd, the second by Tom Doak, the third by Coore & Crenshaw, who also added a par 3 course
At Sand Valley the first course was by Coore & Crenshaw, who also added a par 3 course, and then David McLay Kidd and Tom Doak added Mammoth Dunes and Sedge Valley respectively
The most recent addition is the iconic replica of the Lido.
So the Keisers are sticking to a winning fomula!
And why wouldn't you?
Sand Valley Golf Course
Sand Valley was designed by Coore & Crenshaw and opened in 2017 to general acclaim.
It was the first golf course to be completed in the new Sand Valley Resort.
The course plays firm and fast as a true links course should.
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 17
The dunescape is perfect for golf and allows dramatic sandy waste bunkers with jagged edges to merge in with the more traditional bunkers defending greens and lines of play.
Exposed sand dominates the visuals.
It is top quality golf for travelling golfers!
Sand Valley is perhaps not as player friendly as next door neighbour Mammoth Dunes as many of the greens are raised with drop offs which push the slightly errant approach away.
In comparison Mammoth Dunes' greens are most receptive to the 'mostly good' approaches.
There are some wonderful holes on Sand Valley.
I particularly liked the par 3's at holes 8 and 14, and the picturesque short par 4 ninth hole.
It is a big course with significant movement through the site, but still eminently walkable.
And there are tees for everyone- six different colour tees ranging from 3883 to 6938 yards.
Notable holes include:
Hole 7, where the green in particular demands your attention
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 7
Hole 8, a short uphill par 3 with the green high on a hill and well protected by bunkers
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 8
Hole 9, a short par 4 to a beautifully bunkered green set in it’s own copse in the trees
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 9
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 9 green
Hole 14, a longer nicely bunkered par 3 framed by trees
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 14
Hole 17, a longer par 3 that plays its full length.(see pic mid page)
Hole 18, a dramatic uphill par 5 finish protected by huge waste areas
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 18 approach
Sand Valley Golf Course- hole 18 final green
Sand Valley Resort and the Sand Valley course are pretty special.
Better players will appreciate Sand Valley perhaps more than the occasional recreational player.
However all players will enjoy the course and indeed the resort- which is 'one of the great destinations in golf.'
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