Sand Valley Golf Trip Planning Guide
Mike Keiser's inland Bandon: firm, fast, walking-only links carved from 12,000 acres of prehistoric sand dunes in central Wisconsin. Coore & Crenshaw, David McLay Kidd, and Tom Doak all built here. This is a pure golf pilgrimage — you stay on property, you walk, and you play until you can't.
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
CWA (45 min drive)
$75–$450
$300/night
5 of 5
~$383/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Sand Valley. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Sand Valley (Coore & Crenshaw) — links, $195–$395
The original Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw design that started it all — heaving sandy fairways and exposed dunes
Mammoth Bar — casual, $$
The resort's social hub — burgers, beers, and the post-round scene overlooking Mammoth Dunes
Mammoth Bar — patio
Big patio, fire pits, and dune views — where every Sand Valley night begins and ends
Day 2
Mammoth Dunes (David McLay Kidd) — links, $195–$395
David McLay Kidd's wide, generous, dramatic dunescape — playable for the whole crew but visually massive
Lake Leopold paddle & swim — 2-3 hours, $0–$40/pp
Kayaks, paddleboards, and a spring-fed swimming lake right on the resort for a rest-day reset
Aldo's Farm to Table — farm to-table, $$$
Resort's upscale farm-to-table dining room for the big group steak-and-wine night
The Volcano (fire-pit lounge) — patio · Open late
Open-air fire-pit gathering spot for cigars, whiskey, and settling the day's bets
Day 3
Sedge Valley (Tom Doak) — heathland, $150–$325
Tom Doak's 2024 heathland tribute to England's classics — short par 68 that plays bigger than the card
Sand Valley Tennis & Pickleball — 1-2 hours, $20–$50/pp
On-property grass tennis and pickleball courts for a non-golf competitive outlet
Craig's Porch — casual, $$
Sandwiches, breakfast, and turn food at the Sandbox — easy daytime fuel between loops
Sandbox Bar — patio
Order a beer at the turn and play the 17-hole par-3 with a drink in hand
Course-by-Course Guide
Sand Valley has 5 courses worth playing, including 3 bucket-list tier layouts. 5 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Sand Valley has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $300/night for the whole house.
$400–$1600 /night
On-resort cottages and lodge rooms at Sand Valley — book a cluster of cottages for the group
$300–$800 /night
Lake-area rentals around Wisconsin Rapids / Nekoosa / Castle Rock Lake, 20-30 min from the resort
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Mammoth Bar
$$The resort's social hub — burgers, beers, and the post-round scene overlooking Mammoth Dunes
Aldo's Farm to Table
$$$Resort's upscale farm-to-table dining room for the big group steak-and-wine night
Craig's Porch
$$Sandwiches, breakfast, and turn food at the Sandbox — easy daytime fuel between loops
Lake Hub (Wisconsin Rapids)
$$Local Wisconsin Rapids gastropub if you want to get off-property one night
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 1 stay open past midnight.
Mammoth Bar
Big patio, fire pits, and dune views — where every Sand Valley night begins and ends
The Volcano (fire-pit lounge)
Late nightOpen-air fire-pit gathering spot for cigars, whiskey, and settling the day's bets
Sandbox Bar
Order a beer at the turn and play the 17-hole par-3 with a drink in hand
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Lake Leopold paddle & swim
Kayaks, paddleboards, and a spring-fed swimming lake right on the resort for a rest-day reset
Sand Valley Tennis & Pickleball
On-property grass tennis and pickleball courts for a non-golf competitive outlet
Central Sands fishing & hunting
Guided fishing on the area's lakes and rivers, or sporting clays nearby in the off-golf hours
Getting There
Fly into Central Wisconsin Airport (Mosinee) (CWA) — it's a 45-minute drive to Sand Valley. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Sand Valley Resort shuttles and Coach USA (Wausau)). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.