Mammoth Dunes
David McLay Kidd's joyous answer to the question of how golf should feel. After a career rethink, the architect of Bandon Dunes set out to build a course that thrills rather than punishes, and at Sand Valley in the Wisconsin sand barrens he succeeded gloriously. Mammoth Dunes, opened in 2018, offers vast fairways, enormous greens and a sense of width and freedom that lets every golfer swing away and enjoy themselves.
Photo: Dave Coey via Google.
The verdict
Mammoth Dunes is one of the most likeable great courses in America. David McLay Kidd, the architect behind Bandon Dunes, designed it as a deliberate change of philosophy, a course built for the joy of the player rather than the defence of par, and it opened at Sand Valley in 2018 to immediate acclaim. Carved from a sea of natural sand near Nekoosa in central Wisconsin, the par 73 runs to about 6,988 yards across a huge V shaped ridge, with fairways so wide and greens so large that the round feels generous from the first swing.
Generous does not mean dull. Kidd's genius here is in the second shot and the short game, with greens that funnel and repel and angles that reward the player who thinks, even as the width off the tee keeps the round flowing and fun. Walking only and beautifully conditioned on fast, sandy turf, Mammoth Dunes is the heart of a resort that has quickly joined the front rank of American golf, a course you finish wanting to turn round and play again. For a Midwest golf trip it is essential.
Mammoth Dunes at a glance
- Founded
- 2018
- Designer
- David McLay Kidd
- Type
- Sandy links
- Par
- 73
- Yardage
- 6,988 yds
- Green fee
- Around $300
The 2018 opening, David McLay Kidd design, par 73 and a length of about 6,988 yards verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases. Mammoth Dunes is walking only at Sand Valley Golf Resort. The green fee is indicative, broadly in the region of 250 to 350 US dollars for resort guests in high season 2026, lower in the shoulder months. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Mammoth Dunes invites you to attack from the start, with enormous fairways framed by sandy waste and native grasses that make the driver feel like a friend rather than a risk. Kidd built width on a scale few modern courses dare, but the strategy is hidden in plain sight, because the ideal angle into each of the giant greens is tucked to one edge of that vast fairway, and the lazy line leaves a far harder second. It is freedom with a quiet catch.
The greens are the stars, sprawling, rolling surfaces that can gather a good shot toward the hole or send a careless one yards away, demanding imagination with the putter and the short game. The par 5s tempt and reward, the par 3s are bold and beautifully set, and a famous short hole that can be driven offers a thrilling gamble. Throughout, the sandy turf runs fast and firm, encouraging the ground game and the kind of creative golf that makes a round memorable.
What you take away is how much fun it is, a course that lets golfers of every standard make birdies and feel the thrill of the game, while still hiding enough subtlety to fascinate the expert. Kidd set out to build joy into the ground, and Mammoth Dunes delivers it in waves, the wide horizons, the big skies of central Wisconsin and the constant invitation to have a go. It is the course that confirmed Sand Valley as a destination to rank with the best in the country.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course at Sand Valley Golf Resort, open to guests staying at the property; walking only with caddies or push carts |
| Green fee | Broadly in the region of 250 to 350 US dollars for resort guests in high season 2026 (indicative), lower in the shoulder months and on multi round packages |
| Booking | Book as part of a stay at the resort, ideally well ahead; the prime summer months book up quickly across all the courses |
| On the day | Walking only with caddies or push carts, layered clothing for the open prairie wind, and a relaxed, golf first resort atmosphere |
| Getting there | Near Nekoosa in central Wisconsin, about ninety minutes from Madison and just over two hours from Milwaukee, a scenic drive into the sand barrens |
| Best months | May to October for the warmest, driest golf; the season is shorter than the coasts, with peak conditions and prices in high summer |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Mammoth Dunes is one of several courses at Sand Valley Golf Resort, a destination property in the Wisconsin sand barrens with its own lodges, cottages and dining, so the natural trip is a stay and play on site. The setting is quiet and rural, a few days of golf and big midwestern skies with the courses a short walk from your room.
The resort's own accommodation is the only practical base, and the multi day, multi course package is the classic way to take it all in. Madison and Milwaukee are the nearest airports, each an easy drive away, making Sand Valley a straightforward addition to a wider Midwest golf trip or a destination in its own right.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Sand Valley and across Wisconsin.
Play Mammoth Dunes and Sand Valley
We build Sand Valley trips around Mammoth Dunes and the resort's other courses, with the right number of rounds, caddies and nights, and sort the travel into central Wisconsin. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Mammoth Dunes questions
Who designed Mammoth Dunes?
Mammoth Dunes was designed by David McLay Kidd, the architect of Bandon Dunes, and opened at Sand Valley Golf Resort in 2018. Kidd conceived it as a deliberately generous and enjoyable course, a change of philosophy from the more punishing designs of his earlier career.
What is the par and length of Mammoth Dunes?
Mammoth Dunes is a par 73 of about 6,988 yards. Its enormous fairways and greens make it feel forgiving off the tee, but the strategy lies in finding the right angle into the vast putting surfaces, which reward the thinking player.
Is Mammoth Dunes walking only?
Yes. Like the other courses at Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes is walking only, played with a caddie or a push cart. Walking the sandy, rolling terrain is central to the experience at the resort.
How much does it cost to play Mammoth Dunes?
Indicative 2026 green fees are broadly in the region of 250 to 350 US dollars for resort guests in high season, lower in the shoulder months and on multi round packages. Rates change by season, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Sand Valley and how do you get there?
Sand Valley Golf Resort sits near Nekoosa in central Wisconsin, about ninety minutes from Madison and just over two hours from Milwaukee. Most golfers fly into one of those airports and drive into the sand barrens to the resort.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.