This Wisconsin Golf Resort Has 3 of the Country’s Top Courses—and It’s the Perfect Place for a Multi-generational Trip

I stood on the 18th green of the longest of Sand Valley’s five incredible golf courses, the appropriately named Mammoth Dunes, and stared down a putt for eagle that would put me at even par for the day. To get there, I bombed my drive to the left, nicely mirroring the fairway shape of the 529-yard monster hole, and hit my second shot 210 yards onto the green. It was a long eagle putt on the furthest and second hardest hole of the course, but I had the ultimate cheering section and expert greens readers on my side: my dad, who taught me the game, my brothers and cousin, who grew up playing with me, and a pro caddy who knew every blade of grass I faced between my ball and the cup.

A multi-generational golf trip had been on my bucket list for years, and I found the perfect moment to execute as I stared down 40 and my father turned 70. As I started my research into where to go, all the classics emerged as options, but a golf oasis in the middle of Wisconsin emerged as the place for us. While hardly the first place you think of when you think of golf, this resort in Nekoosa boasts four championship-level courses, a sneakily fun executive course, luxe accommodations, and delectable food, plus a journey that puts it only a 2-hour drive from the Madison airport. A perfect fit for us coming from all over the country.

I missed the eagle putt. I also just missed the birdie. After a weekend across five courses full of 140-yard chip-ins, multiple 300+ yard drives, and countless miraculous recoveries from sand traps, I had finally run out of luck. But I made par, scored a personal best, and enjoyed a celebratory drink that tasted better than any I had before. It was a feeling I’ll never forget, and I have Sand Valley’s wonderful staff and setting to thank (and, of course, Dad’s instruction not to overthink; it’s just a game, after all). Here is my review of the Sand Valley Golf Resort, a proper golf heaven and top-tier resort in the U.S. that you should plan for your next outing, no matter the occasion.

The Rooms

There are a myriad of room options when staying at Sand Valley, but all are comfortable, modern, and close to the action. We stayed in the lodge rooms, which are hotel-style, single king or two queen rooms with generous space, high ceilings, closets and nooks, and big bathrooms with double-sink vanities (the shower had the best water pressure I’ve ever experienced away from home). All have incredible course-facing views, and the lower level rooms have a walk-up patio, so you can enjoy the sunrise outside your room or at night after dinner.

A step up in price and luxury are the executive suites for the single, couple, or small group looking for a more private space within walking distance of the main clubhouse. The Crenshaw and Wisconsin Cabins have a king bed, each in a modern space with upgraded amenities like a soaking tub, a fireplace, and a wet bar. The Mammoth Suite gives your small group four king-bed rooms connected to a comfortable common area with a fireplace, balcony, full modern kitchen, and your own private Golden Tee machine for when you just can’t get enough golf at night.

For large groups who want their own secluded space, there are cottages that face the beautiful Lake Leopold. Featuring the same plush amenities and spaces as the aforementioned rooms, these houses also have waterside fire pits and a huge common area with couches. Also on the property are two- and four-bedroom residences and estate homes for families and groups who want the “home away from home” experience while enjoying championship golf and outdoor activities, all with the same modern design and attention to comfortable detail.

Food and Drink

You don’t necessarily go on a golf trip to experience fine dining or even adventurous cuisine, but at Sand Valley, you’ll find a top-tier culinary program across four restaurants. Each space is rustic-meets-refined, focusing on quality ingredients and genuinely delicious dishes while enjoying classic Wisconsin hospitality. The Mammoth bar is the center of the experience, where you can grab food to go, sit-down lunch with drinks, and solid pub food for dinner (as you can imagine, don’t sleep on the cheese curds). It’s open early and late to sling fantastic breakfast sandwiches, after-round transfusions, and fire-side drinks at night. The Gallery is a more upscale Italian restaurant that also has to-go pizzas that hit the spot as much as the extensive wine list. Bill’s BBQ is an outdoor smokehouse that earns its reputation with the staff and visitors. But the standout for our group was Aldo’s Farm to Table, an American bistro with all the hits: steaks, chops, and formidable cocktails, including a dirty martini worthy of the best steakhouse in Manhattan.

However—and this is where Sand Valley’s food really shines—the best things to eat are on the course. Each of the four championship rounds has its own special low-cost, high-flavor items at the turn, and it’s part of the experience to try them all. Craig’s Porch sits atop the titular Sand Valley course, offering $1 tacos food-truck style and handmade ice cream sandwiches for when the weather is hot. The Lido has diagonal-cut turkey sandwiches that uplevel a course classic, and at Mammoth Dunes, you get an appropriately large sausage hero for only a buck. Sedge Valley’s back nine is where you will find delicious meat pies, Italian beef sandwiches, and some of the best housemade giardiniera this side of Chicago to put on them. And even the Sandbox has its own charm, with a food and drink truck waiting to hand you a cooler full of cold ones for the potentially shoe-less scramble you’re about to play.

Activities and Amenities

At Sand Valley, thanks to the meticulous attention of the Keiser family (who are behind Bandon Dunes and Sand Hill, amongst other top-tier golf destinations), it’s all about golf. The property has five courses, each with a unique story and feel. The eponymous Sand Valley is a gorgeously designed championship course that really tests your short game and hazard play, and the walk up 18 at sunset is a vision burned into my memory. Mammoth Dunes is natural to this unique northern desert landscape—very long but intuitive and thrilling. Sedge Valley is inspired by Old World links courses and boasts similar difficulty. The Lido is also a one-of-a-kind spot that’s a private course built from the designs of a 1920s legend in Long Island—golf history indeed repeated here in central Wisconsin. Finally, The Sandbox is a short and sweet 17-hole executive course that we enjoyed as a warm-up round; it’s a perfect welcome for those new to the resort.

For non-golfers, there is a world-class tennis facility with both grass and hard courts and a fitness center, massage spa, biking program, and fishing. In warmer months, you can swim and hike across the pristine, prehistoric landscape. There is snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and even pond hockey in the winter months.

Location

Nekoosa is nearly the geographic center of Wisconsin, and despite what you may think about that part of the country, it defies your expectations. It’s a desert climate, dry and open, with a vast wealth of trees and hills and natural features that surprise you at every turn, especially while on the golf course. The sand mentioned in the name is prehistoric and fine, lending itself to a diverse landscape that houses lakes and thousand-foot dunes. The resort is located centrally between four major cities; you have many options to fly in, all requiring a drive after landing: Chicago is about four hours drive away, Milwaukee and Minneapolis three, Madison two, and the Central Wisconsin Airport only an hour.

Accessibility and Sustainability

All golf is walking-only, and caddies are encouraged, if not mandatory, for specific courses. Pushcarts are allowed and for rent, and tee times are required, so any accommodations for those with mobility issues can be handled directly with the staff who are focused on a top-tier guest experience. A nice touch we found was a lack of plastic water bottles on the grounds—Lido provided refillable water bottles, and the other courses encouraged recyclable canned water or ways to fill cups and containers at every opportunity. As mentioned, there is no need to get into your car and drive once you arrive; shuttles run between every course, building, and restaurant, and most prefer the beautiful walk between activities. You will walk a lot on this trip, so I also recommend packing with that in mind—there are well-stocked pro shops all over the resort, but I was happy to have packed multiple pairs of my favorite golf shoes (thanks to True Linkswear, whose All Day Knit 3 were the MVP for my group all trip).

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

A destination golf trip to a location not within a major city hub can be challenging to plan, but Sand Valley is truly a destination—you go there to be there. Keep that in mind when planning, and book well in advance for the best rates and times. By planning our trip for later in their season, we saved on some of the peak rates but enjoyed comfortable, if not at times, warm weather in late October. The resort is year-round, and the golf season runs from April through October, weather permitting.