The original Lido Golf Club, built on a barrier island just off of Long Island, was one of the greatest feats in the history of golf architecture, with C.B. Macdonald transforming what he called a “horrible 115 acres of sea swamp and quagmire” into one of the finest golf courses in the world. The Lido eventually fell victim to the Depression and was replaced by a housing development after World War II, and for decades afterwards, golf romantics dreamed of going back in time and playing it. A few years ago, two such romantics, Michael Keiser Jr. and Chris Keiser, set out to re-create the design as closely as possible on a flat property in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, across the street from their Sand Valley resort. They enlisted the help of architects Tom Doak and Brian Schneider, as well as that of digital designer Peter Flory, and the result was a strikingly authentic-feeling version of the course.

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Take Note…

The model. The Lido is a private club that offers limited access to Sand Valley resort guests Sunday through Thursday. This is an appealing model that more American clubs should emulate, but visitors to Sand Valley need to keep in mind that tee times at The Lido are not as readily available as those at the resort’s other, fully public courses.

Wave split. During tournaments at the original Lido, morning tee times were coveted because the wind was usually calmer and the course played about five shots easier.

Not meant to be. C.B. Macdonald’s original eighth hole, situated directly on the beach next to the Atlantic Ocean, was considered the greatest Biarritz in the world. It didn’t last long, though; it was a beast to maintain from the beginning because of the crashing waves, and eventually it washed away during a hurricane.