Golf World's Annual Lido Design Competition

T-11Craig Oshkello, self-employed, Acworth, N.H.T-11Blasi found it interesting that the hole had no bunkers, but felt its stair-stepped green was too severe, even for a MacKenzie hole.

T-11Doug Infelt, building architect, Coralville, IowaT-11Blasi felt the hole was similar to Oshkello's. Although it has bunkers, its widely varied tee boxes weren't characteristic of MacKenzie.

T-11Dr. Gregory Smee, retired doctor, Harrisburg, Pa.T-11Another similar entry, with diagonal green and varied angles of attack. Blasi felt the big flaw was that, as shown by the cross-section, back tee players couldn't see hazards below the green.

10Mark Burnaby-Davies, building architecture assistant, London, England10Burnaby-Davies called the hole "Cascades" because of the tiered green that flows down toward the tees. Blasi would have preferred a saddle green, rather than the plateau one, on this site between dunes.

9Derek Drish, urban planner, San Francisco9Drish's ideal hole features an open approach to a six-level green. Blasi liked how it shows much thought, but the entry lacked details in elevation to determine just how severe the green might be.

8Nathan Lahy, land planner, Portsmouth, Va.8This is an attractive, long par 3 in dunes, with gull-wing fairways, but Blasi questioned the "pop-up" green that repels rather than gathers shots.

7Matt Schiffer, owner of engineering firm, Sebastopol, Calif.7Clearly well-traveled, Schiffer based his hole on an amalgam of nine courses, including Bandon Dunes, Merion East and the Old Course. "It has many good things going for it," Blasi said. "But it doesn't stand out as a MacKenzie aesthete."

6Brian Curtis, building architect, Scottsdale6The "double pin" hole features a dogleg green common to many MacKenzie courses. Blasi found the hole interesting but thought the single "strategy line" confusing.

Courtesy of John Mummert/USGA

5Cameron Hurdus, 2012 Lido Contest winner, Ventura, Calif.5"This is one hole I'd love to play," Blasi said. "But it really doesn't strike me as a MacKenzie-style hole. It's basically a Redan."

Courtesy of John Mummert/USGA

4Bo Links, 2007 & 2008 Lido Contest winner, San Francisco4"As wild a green as we'll probably ever see," Blasi said. Upon further review, he found it impractical to both putt and maintain.

3Matthew James, assistant professor of landscape architecture, South Dakota State3Blasi gave a tip of the cap to the tattered-edge effect of the presentation as well as to the hole design. But "MacKenzie didn't hide bunkers behind a green. He would have flashed it."

2David Hoekstra, 2012 Lido Contest winner, Pella, Iowa2"Has the look and feel of a great MacKenzie hole," Blasi said. "Green has levels, contours aren't outrageous. But a front bunker with railroad ties? Can't recall that on a MacKenzie design."

1Riley Johns, finish shaper, Canmore, Alberta1"Definitely a penal hole, a do-or-die type. MacKenzie did many of those," Blasi said. His final decision was close: "I'll go with the allure of the 'Lost Hole' over one with railroad ties."View larger image ⇒

This photograph of beehives stacked along the New Zealand coastline was the inspiration for the golf hole that Riley Johns entered in the Lido Competition.

After the contest was completed, Johns shared with us his digital painting of his winning hole.

Golf World's Annual Lido Design Competition

By Ron Whitten

Golf World's Annual Lido Design Competition

June 25, 2014

Golf World's Annual Lido Design Competition