Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.853.suffix/1573350177068.jpeg)
Overview
Sand Valley is the fifth course that the firm of Coore and Crenshaw has designed for resort maven Mike Keiser, and the first not located close to an ocean. No matter. It’s still on a thousand acres of rolling sand hills in Central Wisconsin, and Coore and Crenshaw were given carte blanche to route their course. (Rumor has it Coore routed a hole outside the property line, and Keiser reluctantly bought that additional parcel.) Given the name, many conclude Sand Valley is a combination of Nebraska’s Sand Hills Golf Club and New Jersey’s Pine Valley. But Sand Valley has its own personality, with some dual fairways, gigantic sand spits, enormous greens and even a hidden putting surface. Sand Valley was Golf Digest’s Best New Course of 2017.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
Highest ranking: 110th, 2019-'20.
Previous ranking: 116th.
2025-'26 ranking: 134th.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since its debut in 2017.
Previous ranking (highest): 17th.
2025-'26 ranking: 21st.
Best in State: Ranked fifth, 2019 to previous.
Current ranking: 6th (previously: 4th).
Best New: 2017, Best Public winner.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Sand Valley is a great golf resort and its name sake course is elite. The back 9 is as good as golf gets in the United States."
Read More2025
Review
“Sand Valley requires the player to carefully manage both line and distance on almost every shot. Surfaces are firm, so many of the large, menacing bunkers come into play if line isn't chosen carefully. SV is the resort's most significant golf challenge, as the player faces uneven lies, uphill shots, and loads of choices around green sites. Caddy assistance is important, as some ideal landing areas are hidden by mounds and hazards. Setup makes it almost impossible to lose a golf ball so pace of play is very good, even as the course asks for every club in a player's bag."
Read More2025
Review
“Sand Valley requires the player to carefully manage both line and distance on almost every shot. Surfaces are firm, so many of the large, menacing bunkers come into play if line isn't chosen carefully. SV is the resort's most significant golf challenge, as the player faces uneven lies, uphill shots, and loads of choices around green sites. Caddy assistance is important, as some ideal landing areas are hidden by mounds and hazards. Setup makes it almost impossible to lose a golf ball so pace of play is very good, even as the course asks for every club in a player's bag."
Read More2025
Review
“Fun design by Coore & Crenshaw that plays firm and fast with hole after hole of wonderful sandy aesthetics. The par 3's on this course really stood out, especially hole 14. Unique routing in that there are five par 3's and five par 5's."
Read More2025
Review
“Fun design by Coore & Crenshaw that plays firm and fast with hole after hole of wonderful sandy aesthetics. The par 3's on this course really stood out, especially hole 14. Unique routing in that there are five par 3's and five par 5's."
Read More2025
Review
“Wide fairways and massive sloping greens provides exceptional shot options both from the tee boxes and approach shots. When playing the course for the first time, a caddy is essential to properly assessing the options and strategizing your way around the course."
Read More2025
Review
“great course to play, A Sand Hills experience, fast and firm fairways, greens roll true, Variety of shot options, making you thinks before executing your play. Very enjoyable."
Read More2024
Review
“a great Sand Hills type of course, it was in great conditions when played, fairways fast and firm, greens were true. Holes had a good variety of layout and offered an array of options, making the golfer think before executing shots."
Read More2024
Review
“Probably the most “championship” quality course on the property due to its length and high score in shot options compared with Lido, which is short by today’s standards. Very much in character with modern courses built on ideal sandy soils."
Read More2024
Review
“Sand Valley lives up to all the hype. This a golf course you could play every day and never get tired of. It presents enough mix of challenge and fairness to keep the round interesting while providing opportunities to post a number."
Read More2024
