In 1908, Raynor was hired to perform a boundary survey of the site for the new course National Golf Links of America, in Southampton Long Island, by Macdonald.
When it opened, NGLA was considered the finest American golf course and remains one of the top design in the world.
Raynor, who rarely played golf, never became adept at the sport, reportedly not wanting to design around his own game.
All of Raynor's courses feature adaptations of some of what Macdonald considered the ideal golf in the British Isles and Europe, such as the Redan, Biarritz, Eden, Leven, Road and Maiden.
At the time, Singer had another real estate project in development with the golf course designed by Raynor.