Sand Valley Resort (The Lido course)

Sand Valley Resort (The Lido course): Following on from the immense success of Bandon Dunes in Oregon, and Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia, Sand Valley is another exciting development from the Mike Keiser stable. The resort now boasts five courses: Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, Sedge Valley, The Lido, and the Sandbox short-course.

Although crafted by Tom Doak, The Lido is an accurate recreation of the long-lost Charles Blair Macdonald-designed gem of the same name. The original Lido Golf Club, home to what was revered as one of the USA's finest courses, was located at Long Beach, Long Island, NY. In the 1940s it became part of a US Naval base, and was later converted into residential housing and schools.

The Lido at Sand Valley comprises many of Macdonald's signature traits, including geometric-pattern bunkering, enormous greens, and classic hole-types, such as Redan, Alps and Eden. There's a few blind tee and approach shots in the mix, as you traverse the relatively featureless open terrain.

The first layout at Sand Valley, the Sand Valley course, was crafted by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw. It now has several stablemates, including Mammoth Dunes designed by David McLay-Kidd. There's also Tom Doak's heathland-style Sedge Valley course, and his faithful recreation of Charles Blair Macdonald's much revered "lost gem", the Lido course of Long Island, NY origins. The 17-hole Sandbox course offers the chance to hone your short game skills on holes that measure between 40 and 140 yards.

Stay&Play at Sand Valley: onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.