One Hole to Note From Each Course at Sand Valley

Sand Valley is arguably the fastest-growing golf resort in the world with four regulation courses, a 17-hole par 3 course, and the brand-new Commons, a 12-hole course opening in 2026. Each course presents its own unique flair, and while nearly every hole on property is worth seeing and playing, here’s one hole from each course that offers extra architectural interest. 

Sand Valley

Hole 9, par 4, 305 yards 

A tempting drivable par 4 that plays downhill to a green perched against a dune. What makes this hole great is the options for all levels of golfers. A simple mid to long iron off the tee takes most of the trouble out of play and allows for a basic wedge shot into the green. If you choose to lay up off the tee, the fairway is nearly 60 yards wide. Closer to the green, it narrows down to 35 yards and is guarded by several deep bunkers. This wonderful Coore and Crenshaw-designed hole has a simple risk-reward strategy. Risk finding trouble in order to drive the green or play it safe and take your chances at sticking a wedge shot close.

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Mammoth Dunes

Hole 9, par 4, 450 yards 

One of the more strategic holes at Mammoth Dunes, the ninth presents a left and a right route off the tee. Hitting towards the centerline bunker or just left of it will provide an unobstructed view into the green and the best angle to approach the putting surface. There’s also a speed slot in this section of the fairway that will propel drives even farther. Those who bail right off the tee will find a lower section of the fairway and a blind approach shot. There’s also a tiny pot bunker that guards the right side of the green. In addition to the blindness, the land short of the green slopes right to left and pushes running approach shots towards the large waste area on the left.

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The Lido

Hole 4, par 5, 550 yards

A hole of epic proportions and historic background. When the original Lido was built by C.B. Macdonald on Long Island in 1917, it was known as one of the greatest golf courses in the United States. By 1942, the U.S. Navy took over the land and demolished the course leaving one of America's great links lost forever. In 2023, Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design faithfully recreated the lost links in central Wisconsin allowing us to experience the historic design.

This burly par 5 is the definition of risk-reward. You can play out to the small fairway floating in the lagoon to shorten the hole dramatically or play it safe to the larger fairway that doglegs around the water. Even if you manage to find the small fairway you still need to carry your approach over the impending 10-foot-tall bunker face that guards the front of the green. The left avenue will likely force three shots to find the putting surface. This golf hole is simply amazing to look at and an absolute beast to conquer. 

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Sedge Valley

Hole 18, par 4, 318 yards

After a stretch of difficult holes on the inward nine at Sedge Valley, Doak provides a chance for some fireworks at the last. Walking off the 17th green provides a shocking reveal to a hole that looks quite different from the previous 17. The 18th fairway is bisected by a massive diagonal ridgeline and tempts players to try and carry the steep slope to reach the upper fairway. From here, players will have the best approach opportunity to all the hole locations. Taking a more conservative line off the tee to avoid the bunkers and hillside means a blind or semi-blind wedge into the epic punchbowl green. 

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The Commons

Hole 10, par 4, ~350 yards (Coming 2026)

The newest course at Sand Valley is chock-full of tantalizing short par-4s, and the 10th may be the most exciting. This hook-shaped hole doglegs around an expansive lake and is littered with visual eye candy in the form of layered bunkering. There are three distinct lines of play to choose from off the tee that range from safe to aggressive to downright risky. The further left you aim, the riskier the shot, but the hole also gets shorter as you do so. Attempting to drive the green means only 280 yards to the putting surface on a direct line, but the small green pitches away and will be tough to hold with the big stick. This hole has it all: beauty, optionality, and fun factor.  

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Sandbox

Hole 13, par 3, 62 yards 

While I could note almost every hole on the Sandbox, the “Lion’s Mouth” 13th stands out due to its complex green contours. Pins on the front wings can make for some inventive putts around the central bunker, but the back left pin location is my personal favorite. This section dips below the rest of the green surface, making it especially hard to judge the distance and get the ball close. The Sandbox is packed full of fun and interesting holes, but this one takes the cake for me.

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