Twelve-hole The Commons course is growing in at Sand Valley

The Commons, a 12-hole design by Jim Craig, is growing in and will become the sixth layout at Sand Valley in Wisconsin, USA.

“Chris and I started with an observation on the popularity of the Sandbox [the resort’s 17-hole par-three course. designed by Coore & Crenshaw with Craig as lead associate],” said Michael Keiser to Tom Ferrell for Dream Golf magazine. “We wanted to add another ‘afternoon’ course. In fact, that was the original idea for Sedge Valley, until Tom Doak came back with such a wonderful routing that we built a full 18-hole course. So, the idea for the Commons basically grew out of that desire to add alternative golf in addition to the Sandbox.”

The Commons has been built on land between the Sand Valley resort area and the Sedge Village community.

Early glimpses of the course reveal a par five that plays over a rumpled and rolling fairway, a hole where dunes pinch into the fairway, and hole with fairways inspired by the parallel second and seventeenth holes at North Berwick.

A key feature of the new layout is a peninsula into Luna Lake. “Once we finished clearing the trees and digging the lake, I went out to see how the peninsula looked, and it was obvious that it looked perfect for golf,” said Keiser.

Craig added: “That land makes the Commons what it is today. It’s a journey to the water and then back to the golf park. The peninsula was just there, and our job was to enhance it for golf.”

Keiser said: “The continuity is never broken, and after two risk-reward par fours playing around the lake, Jim crafted one of the most engaging Redan holes in the world.”

The Commons is expected to open in 2026.

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

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