The Lido Golf Club
Introduction
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The Lido Golf Club, located in Long Beach, NY was once one of the best golf courses in the world. But its timing could not have been worse. Built in 1913, the club would have to endure two World Wars and the Great Depression in its infant phases. Regardless of its termination, The Lido Golf Club holds front seats in the history books as it was built by three of the most notable golf architects in history: CB McDonald, Seth Raynor, and Alister MacKenzie. CB McDonald is a father figure to American golf. Learning the game from the great old Tom Morris during his two years studying abroad in St. Andrews from 1872-74. In 1895 McDonald built the first golf course in the US, Chicago Golf Club. He also won the inaugural US Amateur in the same year. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Seth Raynor was McDonald's protégé and from 1905-1925, McDonald and Raynor traveled the globe gifting golfers over 100 courses. Alister Mackenzie only built 1 hole on the Lido Golf Club and his participation in the project was granted through a contest that was published to local and city newspaper. The competition involved submitting a sketched design idea for the 18th and final hole on the course. His submission won the contest, making the18th hole on the Lido Golf Club Mackenzie's introduction to American architecture. He would then go on to design Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne. All three are ranked in the top 10 courses ever built.
Unfortunately, WWI redirected the club’s attention as the United States came together to support our military overseas. The club prospered during the roaring 20's and established a global presence. During the Great Depression, the hotel located on club property went bankrupt, forcing the owner to sell the real estate including the golf course. During WWII, the course was repurposed for military use by the US Navy. Today, the original Lido course is buried beneath neighborhoods, Long Beach High, and streets with names like Fairway Road.
A project is currently underway to bring the Lido Club back to life at the Sand Valley golf resort in Wisconsin. Spearheaded by modern architect Tom Doak and Mike Keiser, the replica Lido Golf Club is set to be finished in the summer of 2023. The entire project will total around 16 million once the club house is finished. Bringing one of golf's lost treasures back to life.
Images
Aerial photos from the original design taken from a hot air balloon in the early 20th century. Many believe this photo was taken in 1915, shortly after construction was finished. See how the club winds through New York’s South shore, butting against the beaches of long island.
A Biarritz green at the famous Chicago Golf Club designed in the late 19th century by CB McDonald. The unique shape of the green is a staple in McDonald and Raynor's work and is an example of what The Lido would have looked like today.
3D imaging of a replica Lido Club done by golf historian Peter Flory. His focus comes in collection with Tom Doak as they seek to redesign the Lido at Sand Valley. Set to open in the summer of 2023.
The original course was in the center of this screenshot. As you can see, the Lido Beach Course is located about a half mile up the road. Today, the original design is covered by neighborhoods and a public course that has several “memory holes” of the original design. This would go under the category of botched modern architecture.
Seth Raynor
Alister Mackenzie
C.B. McDonald
The 18th hole at St. Andrews: The Old Course
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
CB was known for his course designs in Europe before coming to the United States. Along with him came a young engineer by the name of Seth Raynor. As the desire for more golf courses to be designed by McDonald grew, his energy to build them had lowered. Allowing for Raynor to flourish, he built over 100 courses, many of which have unfortunately been massacred by modern designers.
Together, the two have left a huge mark on the game. With notable projects like Chicago Golf Club, Fishers Island, Shore Acres, Camargo, South Hampton, the Country Club of Charleston and many more. One can always tell if he/she is playing a McDonald/Raynor by the shape of the bunkers and their signature template greens. The Biarritz (a putting green that features a deep gully, or swale, bisecting its middle) and punch bowl can be found on almost all their designs.
Unfortunately for the public, there is not a single course in the US built by either of these men that stores its original design. With that in mind, came the idea to redesign the Lido at Sand Valley Golf Club, nearly 1,000 miles west of its original design. Lead by modern architect Tom Doak who was appointed by the Keiser family, and with the help of golf historian Peter Flory. Their wish is to recreate this gem as a semi-private club located just off Sand Valley's main campus. Allowing member play Friday-Sunday and public play available to resort guests Monday-Thursday. The biggest challenge Doak is facing during his redesign is the location. Not having the original plot of land that weaved the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Instead a landlocked piece of dirt in the middle of Wisconsin. Their is also a large amount of ambiguity regarding the shape and original design of the green complexes. The only photographs of the greens were taken from a hot air balloon in 1915. Making it very hard to tell what the actual geometry of the greens were. Pencil sketches from the original design papers, along with the aerial photos, have been mustered together to create their best efforts at an exact replica. Given that there are no living members to tell its history, getting the greens exactly right has been the hardest part of the project.
The significance of redesigning a course that once rivaled names like Pine Valley and Augusta National is a challenge no one has ever attempted. If it were that easy, new golf courses would pop into the top 100 as soon as they are built. That just doesn’t happen. For a course to be re-created, and not feel gimmicky, but original and fits the land, will be a miracle. My fear is that the redesign will ruin a club that once was. Allowing modern architects to create a devalued version of the once lost treasure.
Sources
“A Brief Look Back at the Original Lido Golf Club in Its ‘Centennial’ Season.” Golf on Long Island, https://www.golfonlongisland.com/teebox/2014/05/a-brief-look-back-at-the-original-lido-golf-club-in-its-centennial-season.html.
Matuszewski, Erik. “'Lost' Lido Golf Club Gets Rebirth in Wisconsin Thanks to Tom Doak and Keiser Family.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 18 Jan. 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikmatuszewski/2021/01/18/lost-lido-golf-club-gets-rebirth-in-wisconsin-thanks-to-tom-doak-and-keiser-family/?sh=260744446ea5.
“Why the Return of the Lido Matters.” Golf Digest, https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-lido-news.