Pete Dye Courses

[Andy Troeger]

I'm sure this has been discussed in some form before, but I wanted to get some opinions on Mr. Dye's work. I've been fortunate in the majority of the better courses I've seen have been designed or otherwise influenced by Dye, so its an area of interest for me.

I'm interested in what everyone thinks is:
1. His most important course to GCA
2. His most unique course
3. Your favorite course of his...

Explanations for choices would be appreciated!

Answers to 1, 2, and 3 may or may not be the same!  

[John_Conley]

1.  I'll say the TPC at Sawgrass, but some will argue for Harbor Town.
2.  At the time it was the TPC, but it no longer is as unique as it spawned imitators.  Whistling is probably the one because it is so heavily manufactured.
3.  Haven't played it, but I'd be surprised if it isn't Whistling Straits.  I'm sure I'd also like Pete Dye GC.

[Tommy Williamsen]

1. I'd have to say The Golf Club in Columbus or Crooked Stick.  They were very new and innovative, and set him apart from other GCA's.
2. It has to be Whistling Straights.  It is a mracle of imagination.
3. Harbortown is my favorite, with Long Cove a close second.  They both require thought, precision and the ability to move the ball left or right. In addition, it requires the player to have a good short game.

[Glenn Spencer]

1. Not one to know, but I have always thought that it was The Ocean Course. I always associate that course with the boom in the pursuit of oceanfront property. I think Oregon, Whistling and some others are direct responses to the success of Kiawah.

2. Most Unique? For me, it is The Honors, but mostly because of the conditioning. I have never been able to get over the greens there. I have never felt anything like them. They felt as hard as a brick to my feet, but they held remarkably well. I played it 3 times and I can hit a golf ball and most shots, but this course was TOO hard for me and I love them hard. Wolf Run is supposed to be impossible, but it seemed like a cakewalk to me compared to The Honors. I liked it, but did not love it like I thought I would. There are some magical holes though. I don't know if there is a better compliment to a course than Tiger's 1996 NCAA scores. 69-67-69-80.

3. I never thought I would play something better than The Golf Club, then I played The Ocean and then I played Crooked Stick. It has been too long for The Golf Club, so I guess it is Crooked Stick and The Ocean at 1 and 1A for me.

[Gary Slatter]

1.  Whistling Straits is his "manuafactured olde classic"
2.   TPC Sawgrass, best example of PGA Tour design, not necessarily a good thing but often copied.
3.   4 way tie for most enjoyable Dye courses: Kiawah Ocean, Harbourtown, Casa de Campo and Carlton Oaks. All are really great courses to enjoy the game of golf.

[Jon Spaulding]

Not enough travel to comment with much confidence, but here goes:

1) Haven't seen it in person , but by photos, The Golf Club.
2) PGA West Stadium - unique is one adjective....
3) Whistling Straits - just a great experience.

[Scott Szabo]

1. Most important course to GCA?  I would say the TPC Stadium Course.  Why? The island green 17th and all the waste areas.  I'm sure this wasn't the first course to utilize them, but it was my first introduction to them.

2. Most unique course?  Whistling Straits, for the earth moving and the creativity he showed.

3.  Surprise for many of you - the old TPC at Plum Creek in Castle Rock, Colorado.  Was an annual stop on the Seniors Tour in the late 80's, and had relatives that lived off the third tee, so I got to play it quite often.

[Nick Church]

1.  Most important --- I think Sawgrass influenced a lot of designers.  That's both positive and negative, but in the end, I think it probably re-introduced some much needed creativity with obvious acknowledgements to Scottish courses.

2. Most unique --- at the time, Whistling Straits.  I'm not sure I'll be real satisfied with this answer until I've played a few more.  (So far - Crooked Stick and Whistling Straits, only).

3.  Favorite --- Whistling Straits.

Sidenote: courses to play in 2007 (I HOPE): Sawgrass, Honors, ...

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

At this point in time, Pete Dye has created a milestone of a course and it has gone under everyone's radar--Dye Fore.  This is the course that challenges every level of player and allows the very poor player a chance of equal handicap score.  The course can play from slightly less than 5300 yards up to 7700 yards.  Almost every fairway is about 70 yards wide, but position is huge for a reasonable second shot.  Unfortunately, today the course played wet ( but extremely long), so the angles were somewhat negated.  Also, there are some new tees on the Teeth of the Dog, bringing the course up to almost 7500 yards. #4 has gone from 365 to 495 and the front right greenside area has been lowered and channeled off to the right into a very deep tightlie grass bunker.  #18 is now playing 495 uphill.  Pete also found a way to add 10 yards to #16.  Having played Teeth 12 times now, I am convinced that it is better than Pebble Beach.  Teeth wins the hole by hole matchplay, and the few losing holes 5-9 are not by a lot.  Obviously, 18 Pebble wins hands down--though Teeth is now a very good finishing hole.

[Andy Troeger]

Probably about time I add my own opinions since I asked for others...


1. I could certainly understand and justify a vote for The Golf Club, but personally I think it has to be TPC Sawgrass just because of the exposure it gets...much more opportunity for influence.

2. Whistling Straits--but the Irish more so than the actual Straits course. I'm not sure I've seen anything like either one of them, however.

3. Here's where I vote for The Golf Club, its fantastic. Blackwolf Run, Long Cove, Harbour Town, Crooked Stick, and Whistling Straits are all fabulous too of the ones I've played. Still a lot of good ones I hope to see though someday--Kiawah, Honors, TPC, Oak Tree, Pete Dye GC...

[Tim Gavrich]

I haven't played enough of his courses to really be qualified to answer #1.

I can't really say much about #2 either, but I will tell you that in a sense, Wintonbury Hills is unique in the Dye canon (although much of the design credit goes to our very own Tim Liddy) in that (I believe) it lies further north in latitude than any other Dye course.

I'd definitely say that Harbour Town was my favorite Dye course but for the fact that I've only played the front nine there.  I'd like to throw TPC River Highlands out there as a favorite, because he helped Bobby Weed with the redesign there, if I understand correctly.  Other than that, I'd call either Wintonbury or (believe it or not) the Dye course at Barefoot Resort down in Myrtle Beach my favorite.  I've really got to get down to the Ocean Course one of these days when my family is in SC.

[Dean Paolucci]

I really enjoyed the Dye Preserve in Jupiter.   http://www.thedyepreserve.com/
Has anyone been there who can add color?  I have not played it enough to comment on specifics nor have I played a lot of his other work.  Obviously, not trying to make a case as his best work here.  Just adding to the list.

[Matt Kardash]

Wow, those little bunkers at the Dye Preserve are beautiful.