
Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter

Brandon Carter
Sand Valley: The Lido
Sand Valley: The Lido
1697 Leopold Way
Nekoosa, WI 54457-9200
United States
Telephone
Overview
The Lido at Sand Valley in central Wisconsin opened in May, 2023, and is a down-to-the-inch recreation of The Lido that C.B. Macdonald built on Long Island from 1914 to 1917. Heralded as one of the country’s greatest courses, it went extinct in the 1940s when the U.S. government converted the land to a naval base.
Rebuilding The Lido has been the fantasy of many historians, but doing so accurately became possible when Peter Flory, a financial consultant and architecture enthusiast, developed a detailed computer simulation of the course based on scrupulous study of old photographs and other material. Sand Valley proprietors Michael and Chris Keiser discovered Flory’s computer model, then asked architect Tom Doak if he could use it to rebuild the course.
First the animated contours had to be translated into a physical GPS topographical blueprint, a technological hack accomplished by digital mapping specialist Brian Zager. The GPS map enabled Doak and his associates to reconstruct Lido holes like Plateau, Alps, Cape and Long in exquisite detail, along with originals like the Dog's Leg sixth and the Home 18th, making only minor adjustments for drainage and adding longer tees for modern play. Though there’s no Atlantic Ocean crashing near the Biarritz eighth green or stiff coastal winds swatting around balls, the ”new” Lido is a stunning representation of Macdonald’s groundbreaking accomplishment and a vivid throwback to a more daring era of architecture. Using the spacious hole corridors to explore different routes into the giant greens is half the fun. Contemplating players navigating holes like the Channel fourth, with an alternative island fairway for daring hitters and a green perched behind a high rampart bunker, using hickory shafts and Haskell balls, is the other half.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The hardest part of this evaluation is "Challenge" because the course is a very fair and difficult challenge for the scratch player (I would probably evaluate it as 8.3-8.4) but overly difficult for a higher handicapper given how firm the turf and chipping up to elevated greens. I suspect many 15+ handicappers would record multiple 9s+ during their round playing ping pong around the green. Similarly, for a scratch player, I think the Fun factor here is extremely high given the high level strategy (I'd give it an 8.3 for a good player). However, a 15 handicapper is likely to have much less fun playing the course, so given the "for all levels" qualifier, I gave it a 7.0 The firm turf and numerous contours on and around the greens give the player numerous options on how to play each shot (running it up, aerial, off mounds, etc.). The general layout requires all clubs be hit, and rewards creative shotmaking. There are many risk/reward holes that require the player to commit to a shot/line off the tee (4, 5, 12, 15, and 18). The blind shots give the player doubt and create a level of discomfort that tests the mental game in ways few courses do."
Read More2025
Review
“Massive square green complexes with sprinklers in the middle of greens. Conditioning was good, but the course still needs to mature since it recently opened. Rolling tee boxes with many teeing options. When the heather grows in throughout the golf course, the look will become very definitive. Fairways have multiple hidden bunkers that you must maneuver off the tee. Very special that they have recreated this special design by CB Macdonald and included many of his classic design features."
Read More2025
Review
“Macdonald, Mackenzie, Raynor..........The history behind this historic re-creation is amazing! So unique. My favorite place to play in Wisconsin."
Read More2024
Review
“Great course challenging but still very enjoyable. Although its a recent, you have the feeling of stepping back in time. Requires your attention, the best shot is not always the obvious one. In excellent condition for such a recent course."
Read More2024
Review
“An interesting course, although new, gives a feeling of stepping back in time. Great design, variety of shot options, with the potential to reward some risk taking. It's a course that requires your attention before most shots, the best play is not always to more obvious one. Was challenging to play but still very enjoyable."
Read More2024
Review
“The Lido is a fantastic golf course that may end up being one of the most important courses ever built given the process of bringing an old layout back to life via technology. I found the firm conditions wonderful, as this was the most testing course mentally of any at the resort. There are roughly 12 great holes here, enough to anoint The Lido as the best course at Sand Valley, and one of the best public layouts in the Midwest!"
Read More2024
Review
“The biggest challenge was hidden bunkers and uncertainty about the line of play. The course looks a bit artificial, and with hole names such as “Ocean” and “Channel”, one would expect to see water rather than sand. Kind of strange to walk over two holes to get from hole 18 to the clubhouse."
Read More2024
Review
“Disorienting at first, understanding the lines becomes easier upon subsequent plays. But it never really gets too comfortable. Still very firm, a player must be cognizant of what the ball is going to do once it's on the ground, when the fun really begins."
Read More2024
Review
“A strategic masterpiece!"
Read More2024
Review
“fantastic remake of Lido beach course of Long Island"
Read More2024