ROME — Although construction on Sand Valley Golf Resort's first golf course is not yet completed, plans for a second golf course at the new resort have begun with an architect already chosen for the project, a Sand Valley representative confirmed to Daily Tribune Media on Friday.
The Sand Valley Golf Resort, which first was proposed in 2011 by internationally renowned golf developer Mike Keiser, lies on about 1,500 acres in the town Rome. The space could hold up to five golf courses.
Michael Keiser Jr. — Mike Keiser's son who is heavily involved with the Sand Valley project — confirmed to Daily Tribune Media that the Scottish architect David McLayKidd will design the second golf course at Sand Valley. According to his website, Kidd's architecture firm has designed more than 13 courses around the world, including one at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon and the St. Andrews Links Castle Course in Scotland.
Michael Keiser Jr. said he expects the second course to look quite different from the first, as the site is filled with black oak trees and features a series of valleys, which golfers will play through.
"It's a very dramatic site," he said.
Still, plans for the new site are in its very early stages, Michael Keiser Jr. said.
"It's really preliminary because we just chose the architect," he said.
Although the Sand Valley resort could fit five courses, Michael Keiser Jr. previously told Daily Tribune Media that each subsequent golf course would be dependent on the success of the previous courses that come before it — and that no golf courses beyond the original one were a guarantee.
In developing previous resorts, Michael Keiser Jr. said they normally wait around one year to gauge the success of one course before deciding to move ahead with others. However, because Wisconsin's weather lends to a short golfing season, Michael KeiserJr. said they decided to advance plans on the second golf course more quickly than normal.
Adding a second course also transforms the resort from a regional golfing spot to a national golfing destination, he said.
"Because of the short season in Wisconsin, we really felt we had to come out with a strong start and open two courses as soon as possible," Michael Keiser Jr. said.
The expected opening date of the new second golf course will be, at the earliest, in 2018, with major construction not beginning until 2016, Michael Keiser Jr. said. The first golf course, which already is under construction, is expected to open in 2017.
In addition to its golfing amenities, Sand Valley also will have walking and biking trails open to the public. Plans to develop overnight accommodations and a special residential area consisting of single-family homes also are in the works.