Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
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Sand Valley: Sand Valley I
Nekoosa, WI • Public
Sand Valley: Sand Valley I
1697 Leopold Way
Nekoosa, WI 54457-9200
United States
Telephone
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 minimalist inland links style course designed by Coors/Crenshaw and opened in 2017 in a relatively remote area of Northern Wisconsin. This walking only course is spread out across gentle rolling sand hills. The designers have left the natural features of the terrain in play. The course plays 6,959 yards from the black tees but offers ten different tee box lengths to accommodate all ability levels. Off the tee box, it is critical for the golfer to choose the best line of play. There are numerous dog legs and angled shots off of the contoured fairways. The fairways are hard and firm and the golfer will get good rolls but it is important to be at the right angle to approach the greens. In a number cases, the greens are partially or fully hidden so it is important for the golfer to understand the routing and slope of the greens. The greens are hard and fast and run relatively true with gentle contours. Overall, the course provides a fun round of golf particularly if the golfer is accurate off of the tee box. Firm, fast fairways provide extra distance for the golfer. Scoring can be enhanced if you manage angles and approach accuracy to the greens. In sum, Sand Valley provides a fairly unique and enjoyable golfing experience without overly penalizing the golfer."
Read More2026
Review
“Wonderful mix of short and longer holes, especially the 3's and including a drivable par 4. Well bunkered. Course was aerated recently but recovered very well and fairways were firm (course plays less than its yardage given some of the downhill tee shots) and greens were outstanding."
Read More2026
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
