No Laying Up - Golf Podcast 1111: C.B. Macdonald Deep Dive - Part 2
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Jan 21, 2026 Dive into the fascinating life of C.B. Macdonald, exploring his golf course masterpieces like the National Golf Links and The Lido. Discover the tensions he faced, including land challenges and partnerships with Seth Raynor. Learn about the innovative shaping of greens and iconic hole templates like the Redan and Cape. Uncover stories of construction trials, irrigation developments, and the dramatic rise and fall of the Lido Club. This deep exploration highlights Macdonald's enduring impact on golf course architecture.
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Vision Backed By Networked Wealth
- C.B. McDonald assembled a wealthy syndicate to fund his vision, raising $70,000 from 70 men to build prototype 'ideal' holes in America.
- He prioritized proximity to New York power brokers over remote coastal land so the course could attract members and investors.
Creative Vision Meets Technical Execution
- Seth J. Raynor had no golf background but was the technical partner who made McDonald's ideas buildable through surveying and earth-moving.
- Their partnership paired McDonald's holes knowledge with Raynor's practical landscape-engineering skill, enabling large-scale constructions.
Use Randomness To Shape Natural Greens
- When shaping greens, remove your own bias by introducing random inputs to mimic natural forms, like dropping pebbles on paper to find organic contours.
- Use those serendipitous shapes as templates to make constructed greens feel natural and unforced.
