When it comes to the world of destination golf, anything connected with the Keiser name heightens anticipation levels. And expectations.
Rodeo Dunes, the newest public resort in the Dream Golf portfolio that includes Bandon Dunes (Oregon) and Sand Valley (Wisconsin), could unveil its first course to limited preview play in 2025.
The grand opening is scheduled for 2026, but a select number of golfers will likely make the journey to northeast Colorado to get a first look at a layout that the design duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have laid out across a rugged inland-links landscape with sand dunes up to 85 feet tall. The property, which is owned by a family that runs the biggest rodeo production business in the U.S., is reminiscent of the vast, rolling sandhills of western Nebraska upon which Coore & Crenshaw created their original minimalist masterpiece: Sand Hills. And excitement for what’s to come at Rodeo Dunes is already running high.
Golf’s recent renaissance has yielded an exciting increase in new golf projects, with Dream Golf involved in not only Rodeo Dunes but Wild Springs Dunes in Texas and Old Shores in Florida.
While the latter two are still years out, several other new public golf properties are set to debut in 2025.
They’ll join a host of private clubs across the country that are scheduled to open for member play in 2025. Among them are Miakka and the third Watersound Club course on the Gulf Coast of Florida; Loraloma, Kelly Ranch, and the Travis Club in Texas; Three Bridges and Marcella in Utah; The Bounty Club (Tennessee); Old Sawmill (South Carolina); Mapleton (South Dakota); Tepetonka (Minnesota); Crazy Mountain Ranch (Montana); and the New Jersey course that Tiger Woods designed for MLB star Mike Trout—Trout National.
But when it comes to new public golf offerings, here are the names to know for 2025.
Arcadia Bluffs (The Dozen)—Arcadia, Mich.
The newest addition to Arcadia Bluffs in northern Michigan is The Dozen, a 12-hole course that’s located about 1.5 miles from The Bluffs and South course properties and is scheduled to open in July 2025. The layout, set on a 160-acre parcel with sweeping views, consists of two six-hole loops, each with three par-three holes and three par fours. The Dozen also features four guest cottages, a short-iron practice facility, and a day-style clubhouse.
Big Cedar Lodge (Cliffhangers)—Ridgedale, Mo.
The third short course in the growing Big Cedar Lodge lineup, Cliffhangers is set to open for play in summer 2025. The 18-hole par-3 course was designed by resort founder and Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny Morris along with his son, John Paul, and features a dramatic assortment of holes ranging from 60 to 165 yards in length and severely sloped greens. The layout sits adjacent to Payne’s Valley course designed by Tiger Woods and is draped across 50 acres of dramatic cliffside, with about 400 feet of vertical descent and views of the Ozark Mountains and massive waterfalls.
Cabot Citrus Farms (Roost)—Brooksville, Fla.
When the first U.S. property within the Cabot Collection opened in 2024, it did so with three courses: Karoo, The Squeeze, and The Wedge, the latter two being short courses. A fourth course (and second 18-hole layout), Roost, was unveiled for a sneak preview in late 2024 and will see its first full season of play in 2025. Routed through rolling meadows and sandy, scrubby areas adjacent to Karoo, the course continues Cabot founder Ben Cowan-Dewar’s affinity for unique collaboration, with Kyle Franz, Ran Morrissett, Mike Nuzzo, and Rod Whitman as the principal designers.
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French Lick Resort (Sand Creek)—French Lick, Ind.
This resort in the rolling hills of southern Indiana already boasts 45 holes of golf—including 18s from Pete Dye and Donald Ross—and in spring of 2025 it will add a new 9-hole short course called Sand Creek. The layout features holes ranging from 35 to 90 yards and will include signature features from the property’s championship courses, including miniature Dye volcano bunkers and Ross-inspired contoured greens. Among Sand Creek’s other touches: lights for play after dark, piped-in music on the course, and designated family-friendly hours.
Gamble Sands (Scarecrow)—Brewster, Wash.
This golf destination in eastern Washington is among a select few that has had one golf architect design three or more courses at one property. In this case, it was David McLay Kidd (creator of the original course at Bandon Dunes) who returned to this sprawling property overlooking the Columbia River Valley to transform a twisted saddle of ridgeline and rolling terrain into a second 18-hole course that debuts August 1, 2025. The Scarecrow name pays homage to the sentinels that watch over area farm fields, including the neighboring apple and cherry orchards of the Gebbers family that owns Gamble Sands.
Golden Horseshoe (The Shoe)—Williamsburg, Va.
Modern resorts aren’t the only ones adding short courses. In historic Colonial Williamsburg, Golden Horseshoe in summer of 2025 will unveil a new 9-hole par-3 layout called The Shoe. Nestled within the grounds of the facility’s Gold Course, The Shoe is a Rees Jones design that’s intended to be fun and accessible to golfers of all skill levels, with holes ranging in distance from 40 to 120 yards.
McLemore Resort (The Keep)—Rising Fawn, Ga.
The second 18-hole course at this master-planned community in northwest Georgia that’s perched atop Lookout Mountain is set to officially debut in 2025. The name of this Bill Bergin and Rees Jones design is a nod to the majestic cliffside views of some of Europe’s historic castles, with holes sited 1,000 feet above the valley floor of McLemore Cove. McLemore is a member club, but guests of the Cloudland at McLemore Resort (part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and opened in 2024) have select access to the golf courses.
Which new public course debuting in 2025 are you most excited about?
I believe Tiger Woods renovation of Cobbs Creek in Philadelphia, PA is going to open sometime in 2025. This was the home of golf for African American players for years. The course was originally designed by Hugh Wilson the architect of Merion GC
Right now it’s looking like TGR Design’s short course at Cobbs Creek could be completed in 2025, along with the debut of a new driving range that has Toptracer tech. Additionally, the new TGR Learning Lab at the Cobbs Creek property is expected to open in early 2025. As for the restored Olde Course, that’s looking like summer of 2026, with a new 9-holer following in 2027. As you note, a lot of history at that property. It’s great to see new life being breathed into it in a big way.
The keep
The Keep……will be playing it in April .
Mark Miller
We have Broomsedge just opened for play, Old Sawmill and 21 Club both to be finished by years end all in SC.