"Sand, golf and hopes for an economic boom in Central Wisconsin"

There's a lot to savor in the lengthy piece by the Wisconsin State Journal's Barry Adams on hopes for Sand Valley. It's the Wisconsin foray into "retail golfer" territory by Mike Keiser. Besides all of the great information on what the development could mean for players, residents, the environment and the economy, it's encouraging to see a story this long and detail-rich.

Obviously there is the headline-grabbing news that Keiser may be planning as many five courses at the resort around 4 hours from Chicago and Minneapolis. But there is also this element to the project worth noting:

In addition, he plans to restore an adjacent 7,200 acres for public use and bring it back to its natural state with jack pine, hill oak and prickly pear cactus that would improve the habitat for the endangered Karner blue butterfly and Kirtland’s warbler.

The first course, dubbed Sand Valley, designed by two-time Masters winner Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, will open its first full year of play next week. The second course, Mammoth Dunes, designed by David McLay Kidd, will open in June for what is called preview play, and a par-3 course is set to open in 2018.

The property includes two 12-room lodges; four cottages, each with four rooms; a $6 million, 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and lounge with 17 guest rooms; and one of the largest private wastewater treatment facilities in the state.

Comments

[Paul]

Keiser should be more specific when he calls his customer the retail golfer. Should call them the affluent golfer who can pay 200+ clams a round to play.

[D. maculata]

If "retail golfer" came from Keiser I didn't see it in WSJ piece, Paul. As long as its not called growing the game, I'm fine with it. Keiser targets a niche clientele. And if his projects provide economic stimulus and revitalize a community (to be determined) we should be all for it. Keiser and his investors taking a risk in no man's land is the polar opposite of FEMA dollars being used for the construction of Bayou Oaks.

[Don]

Is the whole deal behind this location that it's cheap to build the greens on a sandy site? No trucking in dirt?

Obviously it's good for drainage after it's built, too. But are these guys saving a fortune in construction?