The Sandbox at Sand Valley
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw routed 17 par 3s across raw central Wisconsin dunes and built, in 2018, the most joyful walk in American golf. The Sandbox is short, wild and endlessly replayable, the kind of course you finish and want to start again.
Photo: The Sandbox at Sand Valley via Google.
The verdict
The Sandbox is the short course that proved short courses could be the best part of a golf trip. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw laid out 17 par 3s across the natural sand ridges of Sand Valley, opened it in 2018, and gave traveling golfers a reason to walk straight from the 18th green of the big course to the first tee here. Holes run from roughly 45 to 150 yards, the greens are huge and rumpled, and the whole loop takes under two hours on foot.
What makes it special is that it is genuinely strategic, not a novelty. Coore and Crenshaw used the real movement of the land, so a 60 yard pitch can be as nerve testing as anything on the championship course when the pin sits on a shelf above a bunkered fall away. It is the course you play with friends, a wedge and a putter, a few wagers and no scorecard, and it is reason enough on its own to build a Wisconsin golf trip around Sand Valley.
The Sandbox at a glance
- Opened
- 2018
- Designer
- Coore and Crenshaw
- Type
- Par 3 sand course
- Holes
- 17
- Length
- 45 to 150 yds
- Green fee
- From about 65 dollars
Designer, opening year and format verified June 2026 from Sand Valley and leading course databases. The Sandbox is a 17-hole par 3 course by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened 2018, with holes from roughly 45 to 150 yards. The indicative fee from about 65 to 95 dollars reflects 2026 peak summer rates with priority for resort guests, and changes by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Sandbox has no weak hole, because every green sits in its own natural bowl, shelf or saddle in the dunes. Short does not mean easy here. A wedge to a green that tilts hard and falls away into sand on three sides demands precision, and the wind that sweeps the open sand county can turn a 110 yard shot into a knockdown punch.
The closing stretch is the headline, a run of dramatic one shotters that play across and along the highest ridges with views over the whole property. There is a tiny short hole that tempts you to chase the pin and a longer, exposed par 3 that asks for a real, committed strike. Putting is half the fun, with bold contours that send a careless first putt 20 feet past.
It is a course built for repeat play and friendly competition, walking only, ideally late in the day with the light low across the sand. Most golfers come for one loop and end up playing two, which is exactly what Coore and Crenshaw intended.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public, stay and play resort course; open to visiting golfers with priority for resort guests |
| Green fee | From about 65 to 95 dollars, indicative 2026 peak summer; rates vary by season, day and guest status |
| Booking | Book with a Sand Valley stay, or as a walk on subject to availability; reserve well ahead for summer weekends |
| On the day | Walking only, no carts; a putter and a couple of wedges are all most players carry |
| Getting there | Near Nekoosa, central Wisconsin, about two and a half hours from Milwaukee and three from Chicago by car |
| Best months | May to October for the Wisconsin season, firmest and best in high summer |
Access and fees verified June 2026; resort pricing changes by season and demand, so always confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Sand Valley is a destination resort with on site lodging built for the stay and play golfer, from cottages to larger group homes a short walk from the first tees. The Sandbox sits at the heart of it, so the easy play is to base yourself on property and roll from course to course on foot.
For a fuller Wisconsin golf trip, the resort pairs naturally with the state's golden age classics, and many traveling golfers combine Sand Valley with a round at Lawsonia Links Course a couple of hours to the south.
Looking for a base at Sand Valley? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Wisconsin golf trip
We arrange the Sand Valley tee times, pair The Sandbox with the resort's championship courses and the best of Wisconsin's classics, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Sandbox at Sand Valley questions
Who designed The Sandbox at Sand Valley and when did it open?
The Sandbox was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2018 at the Sand Valley resort near Nekoosa, Wisconsin. It is a 17-hole par 3 short course set across the natural sand dunes.
How long is The Sandbox short course?
The Sandbox is a 17-hole par 3 course with holes ranging from roughly 45 to 150 yards. It is walkable in well under two hours and is designed to be played for fun, often with a single putter and wedge.
How much does it cost to play The Sandbox at Sand Valley?
Indicative rates run from about 65 to 95 US dollars in the 2026 peak summer season, with priority for resort guests. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play The Sandbox at Sand Valley?
Yes. Sand Valley is a public, stay and play resort, so visiting golfers can book The Sandbox. Tee times go to resort guests first, and the peak season runs spring through fall, so reserve ahead.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and format verified June 2026; indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.