Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
The Lido at Sand Valley
Nekoosa, Wisconsin, United States
18 Holes · No reliable Lido-specific green fee found; the club is private with limited resort play, so fees are set by Sand Valley at booking · Links
— About
About The Lido at Sand Valley
The Lido at Sand Valley, near Nekoosa in central Wisconsin, is a rebuilt version of a course that disappeared in 1942. C.B. Macdonald opened the original Lido on Long Island in 1917, and it was lost when the U.S. Navy took over the land during World War II. Tom Doak and his Renaissance Golf team rebuilt it on a sandy site beside Sand Valley Golf Resort. Researcher Peter Flory first built a digital model of the original ground using golf video-game software, and that model guided the earthmoving. The Lido opened in 2023. It follows the original sequence of holes, so the Channel is the 4th and the Punchbowl is the 12th, and it also includes Eden, Alps, Biarritz and Redan templates. Michael and Chris Keiser, sons of Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser, developed the project. The Lido is a private club that accepts limited resort play. Caddies are available. The USGA chose it as the primary course for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur, played from September 26 to October 1, with every match-play round on The Lido. Anyone planning a round should book through Sand Valley well ahead and confirm current access.
- A recreation of C.B. Macdonald's 1917 Long Island Lido, which closed in 1942 when the U.S. Navy took the land.
- Peter Flory's digital model, made with golf video-game software, guided the shaping of the Wisconsin ground to match the original.
- The Channel plays as the 4th and the Punchbowl as the 12th, following the sequence of the lost original.
- The USGA made The Lido the primary course for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur, with all match play held here, three years after it opened.
- Michael and Chris Keiser, sons of Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser, developed the club beside Sand Valley Golf Resort.
History of The Lido at Sand Valley
Charles Blair Macdonald built the Lido on Long Island, New York, and it opened in the summer of 1917. It stayed in play until the U.S. Navy acquired the property in 1942 and destroyed it to build a base. For generations it existed only in photographs and drawings. Mike Keiser's sons Michael and Chris decided to bring it back on a sandy site in Wisconsin, next to Sand Valley. Tom Doak led the design, with Peter Flory building a digital model of the original from historical material. Construction began in 2021, a preview period followed in 2022, and the full course opened in 2023. The USGA then made it the primary course for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur, played from September 26 to October 1, with all match play on The Lido, so the new replica reached the national calendar within three years of opening.
Signature holes at The Lido at Sand Valley
The 4th is the Channel, the hole most often associated with the original Lido, which offers several tee-shot routes and water hazards. The 12th is the Punchbowl, another of the holes that follow the lost original. Beyond those two, the course includes Eden, Alps, Biarritz and Redan-style holes. Tom Doak led the design on a sandy site near Nekoosa, with Peter Flory's digital model of the original guiding the shaping. The sequence of holes follows the lost Long Island layout, so the course reads as a historical document as much as a place to play.
When to play The Lido at Sand Valley
Access is limited and shared with resort demand, so timing is mostly a matter of availability. Book early and ask Sand Valley what is open to resort guests in the month you want. Championships and club events can close the course to outside play, as the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur did from September 26 to October 1, so check the calendar before planning a visit. The Lido is a private club that accepts limited resort play, so confirm current access before you plan a trip.
Playing The Lido at Sand Valley: tips
The Lido is a private club with limited resort play, so plan the trip through Sand Valley and book well ahead. Caddies are available. The closest airport is Central Wisconsin Airport near Mosinee, with Madison and Milwaukee as larger, more distant alternatives. Because resort play is limited, ask Sand Valley which days and tee times are open to guests, and whether a championship or club event affects the course during your dates. Confirm rates, walking rules and access with the resort.
Visit The Lido at Sand Valley
Nekoosa, Wisconsin, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about The Lido at Sand Valley
Is The Lido at Sand Valley open to the public?
Not in the usual sense. The Lido is a private club that allows limited resort play. Book through Sand Valley well ahead and confirm current access before you plan a trip.
Who designed The Lido at Sand Valley?
Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf designed it as a recreation of C.B. Macdonald's 1917 Lido on Long Island. It opened in 2023 beside Sand Valley Golf Resort.
What happened to the original Lido?
The original opened on Long Island in 1917. The U.S. Navy acquired the site in 1942 and destroyed the course to build a naval base, which is why it became known as a lost classic.
What is the closest airport to The Lido?
Central Wisconsin Airport near Mosinee is the closest to Sand Valley. Madison and Milwaukee also serve the area but are farther away by road, so ask the resort about ground transport when you book.