David McClay Kidd went to this sandy site in Wisconsin with a new attitude and new philosophy. He decided “protect birdie” would be his motto, and he gives golfers every which way possible to get the ball on the green and have a shot at it. 
(The 405 yard second has a fairway over one hundred yards wide. The big central tree in pic is the deciding point...
...hit it left and have an approach over sand...
...or hit it right and have a good look at the pin. Note how open green is. Even if one’s view is blocked (like pic 2) plenty of space beyond.)
Mammoth Dunes has incredible landforms and DMK uses them beautifully. His super wide fairways and big greens allow each player to attack any way they want. The greens have tiers, ridges, bowls, and slopes that allow for some excellent pin locations. DMK wants golfers to make pars. His new philosophy is meant to make birdies difficult. All this equals up to a lot of fun! 
(The boomerang green at the driveable sixth hole 338/308. This is view from far left side of fairway....
....this view shows how green wraps around prominent grass mound. Attacking straight on means carrying this feature otherwise the ball will bang off the slope and run through the green. As previous pic shows, playing wide and attacking leaves best angles. Discipline vs strength.)
Mammoth Dunes is a continuous eighteen holes, so no return trip to clubhouse after nine. There are several long par fours, but after each one is a birdieable hole to get a lost stroke back, including two driveable par fours. The much talked about boomerang green sixth came from an unlikely source. Kidd got the idea after a visit to Alister Mackenzie’s course Crystal Downs. 
(The 318/297 yard fourteenth plays downhill with a deep trap directly in line with the green...
...a drive hit far enough will take the slope and run down towards the green.)
The course takes advantage of a V shaped sand ridge, and the holes play up n down, over, and across every part of it.
(The 191/175 yard eighth looks like an island green the further right the tees are placed. Looking down, one realizes how special Mammoth Dunes is.)
(My favorite hole is the spectacular 128 yard par three thirteenth. It plays over a giant sand pit with a tree studded ridge back dropping the green...
...several great pin placements exist including this beauty where an overly aggressive shot will roll into the sand.)
(The 173 yard sixteenth is another beautiful hole. The pin is in a bowl behind the bunker. Yes my friend topped his ball into the trap.)
One of the more unusual features at Mammoth Dunes is it’s a par 73. 
(The 558/524 yard seventh plays up over a diagonal ridge that slaloms downhill to the landing area. This bunker stretches into the fairway where a good layup would be placed. Note the dark spot short of the green...
...the “basement bunker” should be avoided at all costs. The sign in front says it all!)
Mammoth Dunes is a great addition to Sand Valley Resort and easily eclipses the Coore-Crenshaw course. I suspect it’ll make an impressive debut when the new GD list comes out next year. I give it an 8 (excellent)(worth spending a weekend). 
(The 553/511 yard eighteenth is backdropped by the western bordertown clubhouse at Mammoth Dunes. It’s reachable in two but a large bunker extends down the left and fronts the green.)
Other DMK course review
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