Stepping Back into the Past: The Lido at Sand Valley Offers a Golfing Journey Through History
Welcome to the Sand Valley Resort in Wisconsin, where soaring sand towers and thin pine forests paint a breathtaking welcome. Nestled on land that once held farmed pines, offering paper to the local economy, this resort is the vision of Michael Keiser and his sons. Golf's resurgence and a drop in pine pulp prices opened the door to purchase this vast, sandy expanse.
Currently, the resort boasts four 18-hole courses: Sand Valley, The Lido, Mammoth Dunes, and Sedge Valley, accompanied by a 17-hole short course, the Sandbox. Soon, two more courses will join: a 12-hole course named The Commons and a new driving range. Planning even extends to another 18-hole course, to be played with alternate shots, and rumors swirl about a third course specifically designed for match play.
"We have the land to build nine courses out here," stated Tom Ferrell, VP of Media and Communications for Dream Golf.
Blending contrasting personalities, public and private golf, varying topographies, divergent design philosophies, and an extensive array of dining options, the resort is nothing short of eclectic.
The most recent addition to the artistic mix is The Lido, a replica of the 1917 Lido Golf Club in Long Beach, New York. Hand-drawn sketches, photographs, aerials, and digital renderings were combined to revive the lost design. Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald, engineered by Seth Raynor, and boasting contributions from Alister MacKenzie, the original Lido was one of the most acclaimed courses of its time.
The Lido lies on a flat piece of land near the resort entrance. While mimicking the original's seaside setting, the land rises no more than 50 feet above the clubhouse, presenting a beautiful expanse of sand, bunkers, and mounds. With no trees, the player's focus is intently drawn to the landscape and the aiming rocks guiding each shot.
The first hole offers a benign introduction. The fairway seems spacious, but several hidden bunkers lurk beneath. The green, gently sloping, teases with its tameness compared to what lies ahead. Blind shots are common, such as the second tee, where an aiming rock deceives, directing you into a hazard. However, a wide, sloping fairway gathers errant balls back to center. The correct line was over the aiming rock and away from the direct line to the pin.
"The Lido Golf Club is the greatest test in the world, with the possible exception of Pine Valley," said Walter Hagen in 1921. Listing it among his personal "big three," alongside National Golf Links of America and Pine Valley.
The Lido is a symphony of classic design principles, each hole named and built to embody these timeless elements. The boldest of these is the Punchbowl. The tee shot follows a cape-style layout, with a diagonal pond guarding the fairway from left to right. The farther right the line, the greater the carry and the risk. The fairway slopes toward the green, which sits dramatically high above the surrounding land. The colossal bowl, with sharp sides and deep bunkers at its front, resembles a meteor crater more than a traditional punchbowl. From afar, the hole appears apocalyptic.
The course is serious and reverent. Caddies are compulsory for non-members to ensure pace, while identifying aiming points and reading the severely sloped greens. Alcohol is forbidden. The course bans plastic water bottles, making a nod to the past by offering aluminum bottles filled by hand-cranked pumps doling out well water.
The wind-swept terrain of The Lido provides a quiet, meditative round, replacing the modern cacophony of music and chatter with silence and wind. The experience is a delightful journey through history and the sandy terrain of central Wisconsin.
The original Lido Golf Club once boasted a grand hotel overlooking the course, built by Senator William H. Reynolds. Known for its striking architecture and twin cupolas, it was a playground for socialites, industrialists, and politicians. In Wisconsin, The Lido abandoned the grandeur, opting instead for minimalism. Instead of a grand hotel, the resort offers a small clubhouse with Lido merchandise, a café, and a workshop dedicated to hickory clubs. Many members, honoring the course’s history, play with sets of hickory clubs from the 1920s.
The Lido at Sand Valley stands apart from the rest of the resort. The flat terrain, intense bunkering, alcohol-free policy, and more formal atmosphere create a stimulating yet understated experience. According to one of the starters, The Lido plays ten strokes harder than the other courses, and there’s no forgetting each shot.
- Visitors to Sand Valley Resort in Wisconsin might find themselves intrigued by The Lido, a replica of the 1917 Lido Golf Club in Long Beach, New York, which showcases a symphony of classic design principles and challenges golfers with its intense bunkering and blind shots.
- Golf enthusiasts traveling to Sand Valley Resort will undoubtedly want to experience the storied history and unique architecture of The Lido Golf Club, a course that prides itself on preserving the principles of its original design and offering an alcohol-free, formal atmosphere that sets it apart from the resort's other courses.
