Across 69 sites, a record 6,124 entrants attempted to qualify for the 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. The field was whittled to 264 competitors ages 25 and older when stroke play began on the Sand Valley and Lido courses.
The Sand Valley course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2017. The Lido, designed by Tom Doak, opened in 2023 as a re-creation of the original C.B. Macdonald masterpiece on Long Island, New York. Both layouts played to par 71, though normally each course is a par-72.
Mike Keiser, best known for envisioning Bandon Dunes in Oregon, and his sons Michael Keiser Jr. and Chris Keiser built Sand Valley to bring premier public golf to the region. Set among prehistoric sand dunes, the resort is less than a four-hour drive from Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
The resort offers four other courses: championship layouts Sedge Valley and Mammoth Dunes, the 12-hole Commons short course, and the Sandbox, a 17-hole par-3 course. The other courses remained open during the championship, including the Sandbox, which used a 12-hole routing while part of the grounds served as a player practice area.
In late 2023, the USGA chose Sand Valley to host four championships. The U.S. Mid-Amateur will be followed by the 2029 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 2030 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the 2034 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
“There was a tremendous sense of pride with the selection, followed quickly by an appreciation for the responsibility that came with it,” says Brandon Carter, formerly a golf professional at Bandon Dunes and now director of marketing for Sand Valley. His experience helps him manage player and guest dynamics during major events.
“We understood how much the week would mean to not only the players visiting,” Carter says, “but for the local community and staff members. The opportunity to share Sand Valley on a national stage was exciting. Everyone had a part to play, from preparing the courses to welcoming players and their families. We wanted to deliver a championship experience that still felt unmistakably like Sand Valley.”
Beyond golf, the four-season resort hosts quiet retreats, family getaways and corporate groups. Winter activities include broomball, curling, ice fishing, Nordic skiing, sledding, pond hockey and snowshoeing. Summer brings grass-court tennis, kayaking, sandboarding, fishing and lawn games, while fat-tire biking, yoga, stargazing and massage treatments are available year-round.
“Working alongside the USGA, you appreciate how much care goes into every aspect of a national championship,” Carter said. “The competition is at the center of it, but creating the right environment for that competition takes coordination. It was an opportunity to learn from a team with deep experience while bringing our own knowledge of the property and approach to hospitality. We shared a common goal: give the players a worthy championship setting and make everyone who came through feel welcome. Seeing all of that preparation come together was rewarding.”
The scope of the property is breathtaking, ranging from popular spots like Aldo’s for farm-to-table dining or Craig’s Porch for its famous $1 tacos, along with a full range of amenities, including lodging, dining, lakes and trails.
“Having a tee time is not required to experience a memorable stay,” Carter says. “The landscape, the hospitality, and the chance to spend meaningful time together are here year-round.”
The U.S. Mid-Amateur ran from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, and the resort’s ability to seamlessly host players, spectators and families elevated the championship atmosphere.
In the 36-hole final on the Lido course, Andrew Bailey rallied from an early deficit to defeat Nate Smith 5 and 4. Both finalists are former touring professionals, competing in a field that featured several reinstated amateurs. Bailey, of Cleveland, became the first U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Ohio.
Along with hoisting the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy, Bailey earned exemptions into the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateurs, the next two U.S. Amateurs and the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. He is also likely to receive an invitation to the Masters.
“Seeing a national championship unfold at the Lido, and to see that course become the setting for new golf history was special,” Carter says. “There’s a lot to be excited about, but the people behind those experiences deserve just as much attention. Our staff, caddies, volunteers, and the USGA committee put tremendous care into this championship. We’re grateful to them, and to the players and families who became part of Sand Valley’s story.”
Sand Valley is less than a decade old, and its rapid growth stems as much from the broader resort experience as its championship golf. “Internally, this reinforced how closely golf and hospitality are connected,” Carter says. “Course preparation, transportation, dining, and the smallest interactions with our staff all contribute to how someone remembers their time here.”
The tournament carried that familiar Sand Valley warmth, joined by an added sense of anticipation. “As the field narrowed and the matches became more consequential, you could feel the intensity build, along with the galleries,” Carter says. “For our staff and volunteers, there was real pride in helping make those moments possible.”
