24 hours and 53 holes at Sand Valley...

[ode]

> @VNutz said:

> > @OakRockHacker said:

> > > @VNutz said:

> > > > @MGoBlue said:

> > > > I'm booking SV for 2020, we have time for 3 rounds + Sandbox. Would everyone recommend Mammoth or Sand Valley for the replay round? ie play Mammoth 2x or Sand Valley 2x?

> > >

> > > An odd thought. Instinctively I thought Mammoth Dunes as I enjoyed Mammoth more than Sand Valley, but in thinking about it more I feel Sand Valley is the course of the two that a round of experience helps you more on, if that makes any sense. Mammoth was an amazing play, but nearly everything was out there in front of you and the wide fairways let you just bomb driver all day. A second round there would be fun, but little different than the first aside from knowing greens. Sand Valley I felt like you had to think and work your way through a little bit more, and I could see the second round there being more beneficial. Just my .02.

> >

> > I also agree with this. We played both last year and are going back again in September, and while I'd say I'm more excited to play Mammoth again this year, SV seems like the better/more interesting course to play twice in a short amount of time. That being said, it's pretty much splitting hairs to me and I don't see how you could go wrong, no matter what you decide.

> >

> > We are finding time to play the Sandbox this trip, which we didn't play last year, and I'm curious what other people's experiences are playing as a 5+some? They don't book 5-somes, so we have groups of 2, 4, 3 booked but I'm hoping we can pair up into a 4-some and a 5-some or some other combination of only two groups as I've heard it's pretty relaxed once you're out there. Anyone have any experience?

>

> It's so relaxed out there I'd be shocked if anybody said anything.

 

Yeah nobody gonna care. Our group finished the last 4-5 holes as an 8 some with some good bets and a push/press to the 17th.

[Opie Winston]

> @ode said:

> I prefer SV but MD a lot of fun. I think I was enamored with MD after playing it and still am, but SV is the better course and If play down there, it's 2 to 1 over MD every time, no question. If you have guys who aren't the best golfers and are looking for more of the fun factor vs. a challenge, then do MD x2. I'm really looking forward to doing both again.

 

On the other side of the coin, I think MD is much more fun. If you like to play money games with your 4some, I'd pick MD over SV. Keeps the games a little closer with the wide fairways and forgiving/unique approaches. I play with 3-12 handicaps.

Disclaimer: I consider my MD round the most fun I've had on a golf course. Its nice to get a bounce or two your way for once!

 

[PuttCurseRepeat]

If I could play only 2 rounds at SV, I would split them between SV and MD. If I were playing 3 rounds, I would probably play 2 of them on MD every time. Sooooo many shots for mid-caps to attempt. It's probably the funnest course I've ever played, and that's really the bottom line, isn't it? I can see low-caps/scratch players appreciating the challenge of SV more than MD, but unless you're easily shooting in the low 70s or better on MD, I don't see where complaints of a lack of challenge are coming from.