Sand Valley Golf Resort — Sand Valley Course
Rome, WI, United States
18 Holes · Par 72 · USD 135–375 · Links
— About
About Sand Valley Golf Resort — Sand Valley Course
Sand Valley Golf Resort arrived in 2017 as the Midwest's answer to Bandon Dunes — a walking-only destination resort built on a vast expanse of sandy Wisconsin terrain that Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw shaped into a links-inspired layout of extraordinary natural beauty. The Sand Valley course — the resort's original 18 — plays through sandy ridges, native fescue, and open duneland that give central Wisconsin an almost coastal quality despite being hundreds of miles from any ocean. Coore and Crenshaw are masters of minimal intervention design: they moved comparatively little earth and trusted the natural landforms to create routing interest. The result is a course where the terrain itself is the primary design element, with fairways that tumble naturally, greens that sit organically in their landforms, and rough areas that are genuinely wild rather than artificially maintained. A second course, Mammoth Dunes — a par-73 designed by David McLay Kidd — opened in 2018 and was named the best new course in the US by Golf Digest. The resort operates on Bandon principles: caddies encouraged, walking mandatory, no development visible from the course. Sand Valley has become one of the most talked-about golf destinations east of the Mississippi.
- Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's 2017 minimal-intervention design on natural Wisconsin sandy terrain
- Walking-only, caddie-encouraged resort built on Bandon Dunes principles — no carts visible
- Companion course Mammoth Dunes (David McLay Kidd) named best new course in US by Golf Digest
- Vast sandy ridgelines and native fescue give central Wisconsin an almost coastal links character
- One of the most talked-about Midwest golf destinations opened in the last decade
History
Mike Keiser — the same developer behind Bandon Dunes — and his son Chris Keiser identified the vast sandy terrain in Adams County, Wisconsin in the early 2010s as one of the few inland sites in America capable of supporting genuine links-style golf. They commissioned Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to design the Sand Valley course, which opened in 2017 and was immediately acclaimed as among the finest new courses built in America that decade. Mammoth Dunes followed in 2018, with David McLay Kidd's wide-fairway, high-visibility design being named best new course in the US by Golf Digest. A third course, The Sandbox (a short course), completed the portfolio.
Signature Holes
The par-4 2nd plays from an elevated tee across a sandy plain to a fairway that curves around a tall sandhill, with the natural duneland visible in every direction. The par-3 7th is a short hole across a sandy hollow, requiring a precise mid-iron to hold a green with severe fall-offs on both sides. The par-5 18th finishes downhill to a green at the bottom of the valley, visible from across the property, with a run-up approach rewarded by the firmer sections of the fairway near the green.
Best Time to Visit
May through October is the season at Sand Valley, with June through September the most popular and the busiest. Wisconsin's continental climate means summer days are warm and dry, ideal for walking golf. September is often the finest month — cool mornings, colourful scrub vegetation, and lighter crowds than the peak summer weeks. Book well in advance for any weekend in summer.
Playing Tips
Sand Valley is a walking-only resort — caddies are available and carts are not permitted on any course. Green fees range from USD 135 to 375 depending on the course and season. Accommodation is available on-property and multi-night stay packages are the recommended way to experience multiple courses. The resort is 3.5 hours from Chicago and 2 hours from Milwaukee.
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Visit Sand Valley Golf Resort — Sand Valley Course
Rome, WI, United States
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Practical Information
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Sand Valley Golf Resort — Sand Valley Course
How much does it cost to play Sand Valley?
Green fees range from USD 135 to 375 depending on the course (Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, or Sedge Valley) and the season.
Are carts available at Sand Valley?
No — Sand Valley is a walking-only resort in the Bandon Dunes tradition. Caddies are available and encouraged; push carts are also permitted.
How many golf courses does Sand Valley Resort have?
Three 18-hole courses (Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, and Sedge Valley) plus The Sandbox short course, all walking-only.
How far is Sand Valley from Chicago?
Sand Valley is approximately 3.5 hours north of Chicago and 2 hours north of Milwaukee by car.
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