Mammoth Dunes Golf course in central Wisconsin, designed by the emerging architect David McLay Kidd, opened in August 2018 to rave reviews. Complementing the sensational Sand Valley course designed by Coore-Crenshaw, which opened in 2017, they vault Wisconsin into one of the top state golf destinations in the country. Wisconsin already claimed six spots on the Golf Magazines 2016-17 top 100 public courses before these two courses opened.
Sand Valley is in a remote area of central Wisconsin. Hence, a variety of lodging on site makes this a destination resort. They added grass tennis courts and plan to expand the range of recreational activities. Caddies are available and encouraged. Pull carts with enormous wheels for navigating sand are available for $10. The range is 1/2 mile from the clubhouse and they offer shuttles. Coore-Crenshaw also completed a tremendous Par3 course called the Sandbox. Unlike many Par3 courses, this one is a fantastic challenge and incorporates the same links design elements. They offer small Sunday golf bags for the few clubs you need.
Mammoth Dunes Golf Course
Sand, sand, sand – that characterizes the terrain encountered at both of the Sand Valley golf courses. Think Bandon Dunes of the Midwest – without the ocean. Today, the extent of manicuring does not define the quality of the course. Mammoth Dunes is a minimalist design, the landscaping is natural and less manicured and the golf is an adventure.
David McLay Kidd has developed his design philosophy over the years, from original designs as tough challenging courses that beat up golfers to incorporating links design elements that allow average golfers to score. The other course designed by Coore-Crenshaw, Sand Valley, is more demanding, with holes that are less memorable.
Greens are large, hard but accessible for the average golfer. The green at the 18th hole is reportedly 18,000 square feet! Manicured green-side slopes allow many shot types. Beware of the false fronts.
Mammoth Dunes golf course incorporates deep, strategically placed bunkers. The green-side bunker at the Par5 Hole #7 is nasty. Numerous large waste bunkers cause an illusion of small fairways. In reality, there is consistently more room that appears. A permanent bar with a friendly bartender on the Eleventh Tee is a delightful addition. If you love fantastic links golf, but are frustrated by their difficulty, play Mammoth Dunes. We scored one of our best rounds of the year.
Explore other Midwest golf course profiles from Quintessential Golf Magazine.