More great news from Sand Valley, as the Keiser Family recently announced the construction for their fourth course at Sand Valley. Tom Doak was selected to build the course, dubbed "Sedge Valley".
Who is Tom Doak? Tom Doak is owner and lead golf course architect at Renaissance Golf Design. Tom has designed and constructed dozens of courses around the globe. Currently, he has four golf courses ranked among the top 100 in the world according to the "Top 100 Courses in the World" list compiled by Golf Magazine. These courses include Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Ballyneal in Colorado, Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand.
How will it be different than the other courses? (Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes) Many consider the land that Sedge Valley will be built on as some of the best golf course land on property. The course will be routed through a sedge savannah that has large sand blow outs over gentle rolling terrain. What makes the course truly unique is length and par. Doak's preliminary routing measures 6,100 yards with a par of 68. The Keisers and Doak are very excited to introduce American golfers to a type of golf course long known and loved throughout England. It will be an initial mind bender as the course doesn't conform to expectations of length or par.
Doak shared, "(It's) a concept I have wanted to pursue for years -- to build a great par-68 course for America like England has so many of. Courses like Swinley Forest, Rye, West Sussex, Cavendish, and St. Enodoc are some of my favorite places in golf, and it's a shame there is nothing like them over here." - Tom Doak
Expected Open Date The planning has begun. The anticipation is for construction to begin in 2019. If everything goes according to plan there is a potential for a soft opening in 2021.
Where is it in relationship to the other courses? Located to the east of the front 9 at Sand Valley.
Why a par 68? Sedge Valley is unconventional with no concept of distance or par. The preliminary routing fits perfectly in the land available.
Doak elaborated, "Courses like Swinley Forest, Rye, West Sussex, Cavendish, and St. Enodoc are some of my favorite places in golf, and it's a shame there is nothing like them over here."
Until now Mr Doak...we all are excited to see your creation.
