"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.