Ed. Note: as the main photographer and visual editor of GOLF, Christian Hafer visits some of the most beautiful and exclusive golf courses and properties in the world. Here, in his Field Guide, he will accompany you for the ride. Fortunately for us, Christian never leaves home without his camera. Follow Christian Hafer on Instagram here.
After three trips to the same place, you will be bored. Right? I mean, 36 holes a day over and over again could age. But Sand Valley is different. From The Sandbox to the six-hole circuit in the Sand Valley or perhaps even a sunset game on Mammoth Dunes: golf is not missing.
Better yet, the more I play these courses, the more I find that you bring me back: new lines, adventurous oddities and challenges are everywhere. There is always a new speed slot or a new way to play a hole closer to the ground.
Located just three hours from Chicago to Nekoosa in the Wis., Sand Valley is easily accessible. I drove from central Pennsylvania and in 14 hours I was hooking up a shirt and going around the Mammoth Dunes (along the way there are many interesting tracks to check, but we will soon have others).
There are already two fantastic 18-hole courses and Tom Doak was chosen for a third. But the funniest you’ll have on the property is the par-3 course under 2000 yards aptly named The Sandbox.
Many people, especially now, are looking for safe golf excursions to which they can drive. For anyone in the Midwest or parts of the East Coast, I’d put Sand Valley at the top of that list.
