Sand, Sand, Everywhere There’s Sand
The Town of Rome, at the geographic center of Wisconsin, has an abundance of natural resources combined with modern amenities, making it an exceptional place to visit - for a day, for a while, or for a lifetime. It’s these natural resources that play a significant role in Rome’s commercial and recreational identity.
Maybe the most obvious is the woodlands. Trees cover almost 24,000 acres, or about 60% of the total footprint of the town. They’re everywhere. Big, beautiful trees. You’ll enjoy their beauty when hiking, biking, camping, bird watching, or just about any outdoor activity. It’s true. The view from anywhere is tree-mendous!
Water is another obvious and abundant natural resource that Rome can tout. It too is everywhere. Cool running rivers and streams and bountiful lakes cover about 5,200 acres, or about 13% of the total acreage.
The most notable, Petenwell Lake, bordering to the west, was formed in 1948 when the Wisconsin River Power Company constructed a dam across the Wisconsin river near Necedah. At 26 miles long and three miles wide, Petenwell is Wisconsin’s second largest lake after only Lake Winnebago.
Flowing westerly into Petenwell Lake is Fourteen Mile Creek, which was dammed in the 1960s to create Lake Sherwood, followed by Lake Camelot and Lake Arrowhead in the 1970s.
As you can imagine, these amazing lakes are a tremendous draw for boating, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, rowing, even flyboarding. You get the picture. If it’s done on, in, or near the water, the Town of Rome has it covered. So, water you waiting for?
Probably the most distinctive feature of Rome, however, is the rolling, prehistoric sand dunes running north and south through central Wisconsin. The Central Sands Region, as it’s called, lies east of the Wisconsin River, and encompasses 1.75 million acres which includes most of Adams County, and all of the Town of Rome. The region, unique in the Midwest, is characterized by huge deposits of sand and gravel that were left behind by the glaciers of the last ice age.
So, what do you do with all this sand?
Well, taking full advantage, the Town of Rome introduced “links” golf to central Wisconsin. Links golf is regarded by many as the most challenging type of golf. With an open layout on sandy soil and thick, hearty grasses, links golf is golf the way it was played all those years ago on the coast of Scotland.
Sand Valley Golf Resort, a 4-season resort, which first opened in 2016, boasts three aptly named courses; Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, and a fun Par 3 course cleverly dubbed The Sandbox. Like the great links courses of Scotland and England, these three distinct and fun courses feature signature sand dunes, windy playing conditions, unpredictable bounces from firm fairways, and a true test of a golfer’s imagination and skill. Sand Valley courses are rated among the top golf courses in the US with Mammoth Dunes at #13 and Sand Valley at #15.
Not to be outdone, Lake Arrowhead offers additional ways to test your resolve by winding through mature oaks and majestic Norway pines in a one-of-a-kind Lakeland setting. Again, aptly named the Lakes Course and the Pines Course, they showcase natural sand waste areas, bent grass fairways, sculpted bunkers, breathtaking water hazards, and large, contoured, undulated greens. With this unique blend of features, both were awarded 4 ½ stars on Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” rankings list.
No matter which course you choose to play, chances are, your sand wedge will find it’s way to the front of your bag.
Whether hiking among the trees, splashing in the water, or playing 18 holes, with so many ways to take advantage of what Mother Nature gave us, it’s easy to see why people come to Rome, Wisconsin to play for a day or stay for a lifetime.
Written by: Lydell Capritta