Sand Valley
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw found a buried links in the sand barrens of central Wisconsin, and in 2017 they opened Sand Valley, the course that gave the resort its name. A par 72 of about 6,900 yards on firm fescue turf through glacial dunes and heathland, it is walking only, caddie carried golf in the spirit of the great sandbelt courses.
Photo: Brendan S via Google.
The verdict
When the Keiser family uncovered a vast deposit of glacial sand beneath the pines of central Wisconsin, they handed the best of it to Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the most admired minimalist design team in the game. Opened in 2017, Sand Valley is firm, fast and rumpled, the fescue fairways flowing through sandy waste and heathland in a way that feels found rather than built.
It is walking only, played on foot with a caddie or a push cart, golf stripped back to its essentials, with wide fairways, bold contours and greens that reward imagination over power. As the original course at a resort that now runs to several celebrated layouts, it anchors one of the most acclaimed new golf destinations in America, a pure, links inspired round in the heart of the Midwest.
Sand Valley at a glance
- Opened
- 2017
- Designer
- Coore and Crenshaw
- Type
- Inland sand links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,900 yds
- Green fee
- Around $295
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Sand Valley Golf Resort and leading course databases. The eponymous Sand Valley course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2017, a par 72 of about 6,900 yards. The course is walking only. The green fee is indicative, around 295 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, lower off peak. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Sand Valley plays firm and fast across rolling sand, the fescue fairways generous off the tee but the angles into the greens demanding real thought. The ball runs for miles on the dry turf, so the ground game and the bump and run are as valuable here as anywhere outside the British Isles.
The middle holes wind through the heathland and sandy waste, where bold green contours and the firm surfaces reward the golfer who can read a slope and use it. Coore and Crenshaw left the land to dictate the routing, and the variety of shots required is the course's great strength.
The closing stretch returns through the dunes with width and options, encouraging the brave line and punishing the lazy one. Sand Valley rewards the player who embraces the firm conditions and walks every step, and it gives back the increasingly rare pleasure of golf played the way the game began.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course, open to visitors; resort guests get priority on the tee sheet |
| Green fee | Around 295 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, lower off peak (indicative, 2025) |
| Booking | Best secured with a stay at the resort; the season runs roughly April to October |
| On the day | Walking only, with a caddie or push cart; no riding carts, comfortable walking shoes essential |
| Getting there | Near Nekoosa in central Wisconsin, about 2.5 hours from Milwaukee and Madison airports |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and the warmest Wisconsin weather |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Sand Valley Golf Resort offers lodging right on site, from the central lodge to cottages spread around the property, the natural base for a multi day, multi course golf trip. A stay secures the best tee times across the resort's growing roster of courses and short layouts.
The resort is genuinely remote, set in the quiet Central Sands of Wisconsin well away from the nearest cities, which is much of its appeal. It is a destination built for a buddies trip or a few days of nothing but golf, walking, firm turf and long evenings, with several courses and a celebrated par 3 layout to fill the days.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sand Valley.
Build a Sand Valley golf trip
We secure the Sand Valley tee times, pair them with the resort's other courses and short layouts, and book the on site lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sand Valley questions
Who designed Sand Valley and when did it open?
The eponymous Sand Valley course was designed by the minimalist team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2017. It was the first course at the resort, routed across a deposit of glacial sand in central Wisconsin.
What is the par and length of Sand Valley?
Sand Valley is a par 72 of about 6,900 yards, a firm, fast inland links played across sandy dunes and heathland, where the ground game matters more than raw length.
How much does it cost to play Sand Valley?
Indicative 2025 green fees are around 295 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, with lower rates off peak. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Is Sand Valley walking only?
Yes. Sand Valley is a walking only course, played on foot with a caddie or a push cart in the tradition of the great links. There are no riding carts, so comfortable walking shoes are essential.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.