Pete Dye
Profile
A true American golfing icon, Pete Dye was a legend of golf course architecture who will be remembered as one of the most influential designers of the modern era. His style of design, provocative and deliberately different from that of Robert Trent Jones Sr., was unique in its early days but continually modified over the years – from the softer, subtle shapes of earlier creations like The Golf Club and Crooked Stick (original version) to the wild, crazed dunes and hazards of later courses like Whistling Straits, Kiawah Ocean and French Lick. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is probably his most famous design, along with Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic.
Although his wife Alice played a key role in many of his projects, Dye was really a one-man band when it came to golf course design. He built most of his courses himself, routing and planning holes without maps or detailed drawings. Pete Dye construction stories are many and varied, and usually a little outrageous. Throughout his career, Pete Dye was unafraid to take risks and confront owners to get what he wanted. His best work tends to have been with more daring clients, or those with generous construction budgets.
Sadly, Pete Dye passed away in early 2020, the year after his beloved Alice had died. He was well into his mid 90s. In America, his legacy will live on in the Pete Dye design name/stamp as well as the many copy-cat designers that exist in the industry.
For frank and independent design advice contact the Global Golf Group.
