When the writer Paul Theroux described winter as “the season of restoration and preparation,” he clearly wasn’t thinking of central Wisconsin, or he would have added “recreation” to the list.
At Sand Valley, smack in the middle of the Badger State, golf’s run has ended for 2026. But other activities are springing to life at a property designed to be a year-round destination.
Here’s what to look for in the months ahead.
Tracks in the snow
Sand Valley’s golf courses are walking-only, but the modes of transport shift when winter rolls around. The same ancient dunes that fit the game so well are also sweetly suited to snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and sledding, as well as fat-tire biking and hiking on designated trails. There’s no charge for these activities, and the resort provides bikes, snowshoes, sleds and saucers on a first-come, first-served basis. Skis are another story. You’ll need to bring your own.
Entertainment on ice
If you think the greens at Sand Valley are slick, try Luna Lake when it freezes over. It’s free, and the resort has enough brooms, stones and balancers for two full teams. On Mirror Lake and Glacial Lake, meanwhile, space is set aside for ice hockey and broomball (picture hockey, with brooms in lieu of sticks and rubber-soled shoes instead of skates). Sand Valley supplies the requisite equipment, including sticks, brooms, gloves and goals, though you’ll need to bring your own skates.
Last but not least among the lakes is Lake Leopold, the recommended spot for ice fishing. This is a guided activity. The resort has fishing poles and bait, with additional supplies provided by the guide.
Safety first, of course. For all of the above, the pond ice must be at least four inches thick.
In from the cold
When the weather outside is frightful, a massage is especially delightful. Sand Valley offers them year-round. Once you’ve experienced that royal treatment, you might try your hand at what is known as the “royal sport.”
Court tennis is so ancient, it makes golf seem like a newborn. It dates back more than 900 years, to the reign of King Edward III. Several centuries later, in the 1500s, King Henry VIII took it up as well. An admiring visitor from Venice called it “the prettiest thing in the world to see him play.”
And what, exactly, did that look like? Also known as real tennis, Court Tennis is played on an enclosed court, with four walls that are all in play. Such courts are hard to come by. At last count, there were only 48 in the world, and 13 in the United States, including the one in the basement of Sand Valley’s 13,000-square-foot tennis center. Wooden racquets and handmade balls are provided. For day guests, the court fee is $60 an hour.
A few dates to keep in mind
Winter brings its share of gatherings, too. Sand Valley hosts a family-style Thanksgiving feast and a New Year’s Eve party, along with a curated series of culinary events from November to March that includes the Taste of the West Coast, inspired by the great chefs and wine makers of California, and the 5th annual Friends of James Beard Chef Invitational, a weekend that brings together top Midwestern chefs for food, demonstrations and fundraising.
Then there’s the Sand County Classic, the resort’s annual pond hockey tournament, now in its fifth year. Teams of six to eight players compete in a 4-on-4 round-robin format, with play beginning Friday and championship games on Sunday morning. It’s a fitting centerpiece for a winter calendar that makes the most the season.
For dates and details on these events, click here.
