Wild Spring Dunes—the new public golf resort in East Texas owned and developed by Michael Keiser Jr., co-owner of Wisconsin’s Sand Valley Resort—is ready to provide a glimpse at the first of its two planned golf courses.
Eight holes on the first course, designed by Tom Doak, open for preview play on November 12. Construction of Doak’s design began in January 2025, and a full grand opening of the first course is targeted for October 2026.
Covering 2,400 acres, Wild Spring Dunes sits in a sand-based pocket of land surrounded by National Forests just north of Nacogdoches, Texas, approximately two hours from both Dallas and Houston near the Louisiana border. The Shreveport Regional Airport is around 72 miles away from the destination.
Doak’s routing traverses an undulating landscape that works across different ecosystems, playing through piney woods, exposed meadows, and a series of spring-fed creeks, drawing comparisons to Pinehurst (N.C.), Pine Valley (N.J.), and Shoreacres (Ill.).
“The site in East Texas is not the sort of windblown dunes land we’ve worked on in Bandon and at Sand Valley,” says Doak. “Instead, it’s more like Pine Valley, rolling land that falls off on three sides into deep barrancas, reminiscent of Pasatiempo or L.A. Country Club. Pine trees abound, as does a heathery ground cover. There is about 60 feet of elevation change from top to bottom on the site for the first course, and we make the most of it.”
Clearing is underway on the second course at Wild Spring Dunes, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. A short course, putting course, and state-of-the-art practice facility are also in the plans.
“It is a marvelous place that feels as though it was destined for golf,” says Coore. “The site is thrilling, sandy, and the routing has come together very naturally. We believe that this site has great potential for interesting and memorable golf.”
Resort guest accommodations, including a clubhouse and lodge, are set to begin construction. A collection of privately owned cottage sites—which will eventually be open to guests through a rental pool—and estate homesites are also available.
