Sand Valley Golf Resort: Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World

Developer Mike Keiser already had Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links on his résumé when he cut the ribbon at Sand Valley in 2017, in the sand barrens of central Wisconsin. No ocean? No problem. Nearest major airport 2.5 hours away? They will come. Now operated by Keiser’s sons, Michael and Chris, who were deeply involved in its development, the resort has emerged as a remote bucket-lister on par with Bandon. The original course, Sand Valley, is beautiful and fair with shot values appealing to a broad swath of players. Mammoth Dunes, in contrast, defies the space-time continuum. Its scale is otherworldly, allowing for shot-making of boundless creativity. While the resort’s 17-hole short course doubles as an architecture lesson with its Biarritz, Lion’s Mouth and Redan greens, the greatest design wonder is the newly opened Lido, a faithful reproduction of a fabled lost course in Long Island. Though it’s a private course, it grants limited tee times to Sand Valley resort guests. As if that’s not enough, more is coming. Work is underway on Sedge Valley, a sub-6,000-yard design by Tom Doak inspired by the heathland courses of England.