Sand Valley Golf Resort: Mammoth Dunes
Nekoosa, WI, United States • Public
![Mammoth Dunes 1.jpg](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2018/05/30/5b0f17287fed9a5768aea29d_Mammoth%20Dunes%201.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.suffix/1573242697118.jpeg)
Jeffrey R. Bertch
![/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418f0bc9d282d38b36806_145 -Mammoth Dunes _6 - Evan Schiller - August 2017.jpeg](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418f0bc9d282d38b36806_145%20-Mammoth%20Dunes%20_6%20-%20Evan%20Schiller%20-%20August%202017.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.966.690.suffix/1588620737145.jpeg)
![10th Hole, Mammoth Dunes](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418ef47886f2d34f6ecf8_145%20-%20Mammoth%20Dunes%20-%2010th%20hole%20-%20Evan%20Schiller%202018%20(34%20of%2074).jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.suffix/1573162768927.jpeg)
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
![145 - Mammoth Dunes 5th Green 6th Hole - Evan Schiller - 2017.jpeg](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418ee47886f2d34f6ecf6_145%20-%20Mammoth%20Dunes%205th%20Green%206th%20Hole%20-%20Evan%20Schiller%20-%202017.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.966.690.suffix/1573162705768.jpeg)
Courtesy of Evan Schiller
![145 - Mammoth Dunes - 13th hole - Evan Schiller 2018 (2 of 74).jpg](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418f0468c17579c7c72a4_145%20-%20Mammoth%20Dunes%20-%2013th%20hole%20-%20Evan%20Schiller%202018%20(2%20of%2074).jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.725.suffix/1573162769716.jpeg)
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
![145 - Mammoth Dunes 18 - Jeff Bertch.jpeg](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2019/01/08/5c3418f12fa4575949207c6b_145%20-%20Mammoth%20Dunes%2018%20-%20Jeff%20Bertch.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.966.544.suffix/1573162664467.jpeg)
Courtesy of Jeffrey R. Bertch
Overview
David Kidd began building a second 18 at Wisconsin’s Sand Valley Resort just before Coore and Crenshaw had completed their 18, which would be named Golf Digest’s Best New Course of 2017. Kidd was intent on topping their work, so he gave his meandering layout enormous fairways, big accessible greens and visually-unique hillsides of exposed sand, “mammoth dunes” that became the course moniker. “This could be the best course I and my team have yet created,” Kidd wrote in late 2017. “We can’t wait for the critics to decide if they agree.” They were disappointed with results of Golf Digest’s 2018 Best New Course survey, which placed Mammoth Dunes second behind Streamsong (Black). But balloting for Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest continued for an additional month after the close of Best New, and additional evaluations pushed Mammoth Dunes ahead of Streamsong (Black), which is now ranked No. 178.
About
Awards
![100 Greatest the Second 100](/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/awards/100Greatest_Second100FINAL.png)
![100 Greatest Public](/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/awards/100GreatestPublic_FINAL.png)
![Best Courses in Every State](/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/awards/BestCoursesInEveryState_FINAL.png)
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
2023-'24 ranking: 158th.
Previous ranking: 152nd.
Highest ranking: 145th, 2019-'20
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2019.
2023-'24 ranking: 26th.
Highest ranking: Current.
Previous ranking: 29th.
Best in State: Ranked since 2019.
2023-'24 ranking (and previously): 6th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Although slightly easier than its older sister Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes is arguably the more visually impressive course and the more memorable one. This is truly one of the most fun golf courses you will find anywhere, with wide fairways, wild and giant greens, and plenty of excellent risk-reward holes that give the golfer options. While Lido and Sand Valley may technically score higher given they are more difficult and better conditioned, Mammoth Dunes will be many golfers' favorite course at Sand Valley and this is certainly a justifiable opinion."
Read More2024
Review
“Great golf course and amazing setting through the rolling dunes. Turf allows for great movement of the golf ball and compliments the slopes throughout the golf course. Course very similar to sister course at the resort, but this course is huge! Very wide fairways and everything seems to funnel shots back to the correct place. About as fun as possible on a large golf course. Great job with drivable par 4 that are actually doable for mid and high handicappers! True pleasure to play here with a ton of variety!!"
Read More2023
Review
“Pleasant course with wide fairways and several quirky holes. Least favorite of several courses at Sand Valley."
Read More2023
Review
“It's one of the top resort courses you can play. It's enjoyable for all levels and has some of the most unique holes on the property."
Read More2023
Review
“Sand Valley has a similar feel to Bandon Dunes and just as much sand! Accommodations are newer and nicer than those at Bandon. The resort is adding 2 more courses in the next couple years, and they are some of the most anticipated. The Sand Lot is a blast and should not be missed. Go ahead and book your trip!"
Read More2023
Review
“Mammoth Dunes is the more "fun" of the two courses on property as it has a number of reachable par 5s and short par 4s to provide scoring opportunities. It also has some friendly greens and pin locations that can help scoring. The back nine particularly is a great stretch of golf."
Read More2022
Review
“It is possible to hit 18 greens here and not break 90. That makes for a fun golf experience, if not the most typical."
Read More2021
Review
“My favorite course from David Kidd. So many options with which to play every hole! Huge imagination to find these holes with this much elevation change and still keep it walkable. So many fun tee shots to hit that also need to be put in the proper line to deal with that day’s pins, which could be a completely different puzzle to solve the next day with new pin placements and a different wind. Just an outstanding piece of links design, especially with no ocean for 1500 miles. Favorite holes: The options off the tee at 1, angles at 2, the all world 5th, 11,13, 14 and 16."
Read More2021
Review
“A wonderful experience. Great conditioning, good layout."
Read More2021
Review
“Excellent design, wonderful condition and great fun!"
Read More2021
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