The Commons

The Commons is Sand Valley's newest course, a Jim Craig design opening in 2026 as a 12-hole, par 45 layout at 3,465 yards. It is conceived as an afternoon course in the tradition of the short loops that Scottish clubs have maintained alongside their championship layouts for over a century, drawing inspiration from Prestwick and North Berwick.

A round here takes roughly two hours and works either as a standalone outing or as the second loop of a long day at the resort. The 12-hole format places it in a small but growing category of courses that have abandoned the rigid 9 or 18 structure in favour of a length that better suits how many golfers actually want to spend their time. Twelve holes feels complete, with enough variety in pars and lengths to satisfy, while respecting the reality that a full 18 after a full morning round can feel like an obligation rather than a pleasure. The Scottish references are specific rather than decorative. Prestwick is known for blind shots, rumpled fairways, and greens that accept creative approaches from multiple angles; North Berwick's back nine contains some of the most copied holes in architecture, including the Redan. Craig's design draws from these traditions to favour the player who reads the ground over one who relies on a consistent aerial game.

Not a compromise. A different format for a different time of day, built on the same sand and with the same architectural seriousness as the courses that precede it.