Pete Dye Golf Club

« **on:** February 26, 2009, 11:19:46 PM »

I've heard many positive comments about this course. The USGA Journal once chose to honor the par four second here, as a "Great Golf Hole." I'm curious as to what people consider some of the best holes at this course in rural West Virginia?

I'm especially interested in specific par fours and par fives at Pete Dye GC that are memorable,unique, or fun to play. Thoughts on the setting would also be appreciated.

Thanks

« **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2009, 04:06:49 AM »

Here's a thread from last summer that might give you some of the info you desire Mark:

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,35825.0.html

« **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2009, 12:22:15 PM »

My favorite hole on the course was the Par 5 with the river running the length of the hole down the right hand side. I cannot remember the number, and their websites Hole by Hole is "under construction." Last year we played the first official round of their season, barely made it onto the golf course as it was quite wet.

The land is full of movement and begs the question, why aren't there more courses built in these hills?

Here are a couple of photo's of said hole, If you can get your tee shot down the right to very right hand part of the FW, you are afforded a look at the green. But you have to navigate the river in order to get home in two.

Per usual, like a good spartan, I was down near "the banks of the red cedar" This would be very right and not ideal.

Unfortunately I think I pumped my second straight into the river, and that was that. I don't have any pictures of the 2nd LZ from the layup. I want to say that the lay-up is somewhat blind, but I can't remember. Here are a few of the green,

RING THE BELL!!

« **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2009, 12:33:10 PM »

That looks pretty cool.

« **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:08:39 PM »

That's the par 5 5th, David. As to why there aren't more courses in those hills, I don't think there are enough golfers to support them.

I thought 12 was a pretty cool short par 4. I also enjoyed the par 5 8th.

Mark, definitely check out the threads Joe linked to, there was a ton of discussion of PDGC last summer after the early August get together.

« **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:15:04 PM »

George,

Right on, thats the obvious answer and It's a bit of a shame, because that land seems primo for creating interesting and fun golf holes.

I'm having a hard time remember all of the holes, and lost half of pictures out here. If I can recover them from a friend I'll try and post a few more.

« **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:27:22 PM »

That bell is a pretty cool idea.

« **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:37:43 PM »

I just reviewed the earlier thread posted above re: the outing at Pete Dye last year... lots of good pictures and relevant discussion of the course.

Personally, I think it has a marvelous mix of par 4s (both long and short, angles of play off the tee, etc.) and a very creative selection of par 5s. I had to think about the par 3s based on the divergent opinions expressed in the earlier thread-- and would have to agree that they are not nearly as similar as noted; however, part of the difference in them lies in the pin positions. The sizeable greens on some of the par 3s (with the exception of #7?) can make your club selection vary widely depending on front/back pins.

Overall, a very intriguing course in a marvelous setting (especially in the fall when the leaves are turning). Its business misfortunes have been well documented and are partly due to its location which is "near" plenty of golfers/cities but "close" to none of them! Despite liking the course (as well as the whole experience), I would honestly have to say it is somewhat overrated (I'm speaking of the GolfWeek Modern list) but still very good!

« **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:45:07 PM »

The bell is a great idea - I wanted to, but could not make it last year.

« **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2009, 05:40:50 PM »

I so badly wanted to join in as well last year butmy schedule did not allow it to be....bummer...

« **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2009, 10:58:14 AM »

Joe Bausch, David N. et al,

Thanks very much for the great responses. David Neveux, I appreciate your photos of that rugged
par five !

« **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2009, 02:15:34 PM »

Quote from: David Neveux on February 27, 2009, 12:22:15 PM

My favorite hole on the course was the Par 5 with the river running the length of the hole down the right hand side. I cannot remember the number, and their websites Hole by Hole is "under construction." Last year we played the first official round of their season, barely made it onto the golf course as it was quite wet.

The land is full of movement and begs the question, why aren't there more courses built in these hills?

As a native of Morgantown, West Virginia (but having lived in North Carolina for the last 44 years), just north of Clarksburg/Bridgeport, I'll chime in with a couple of comments. Regarding the "land is full of movement," that's true in more than one way. The Pines Country Club, a private golf club in Morgantown, has a course built on land over old underground mines, so I'm told by a friend of mine who's a member there. The same friend also told me that when he starts play in the spring each year the contours of the course are a little different from the prior year as a result of underground mine cave ins and the resultant settling (a/k/a movement) of the land. Having played the course only twice myself, I cannot confirm or deny the truth of my friend's explanation.

Why aren't more courses built there? Seconding George Pazin, not only are there not many golfers in West Virginia, there aren't many people either, and according to one source, West Virginia ranks next to last among the states (ahead only of Mississippi) in per capita income. What about golf tourists? The Greenbrier has been a grand success over the years, but even it's struggling now. See http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.greenbriar10jan10,0,2492805.story
I also understand that the future of the Pete Dye Golf Club is up in the air as it has been acquired by Textron in an auction to settle some debts. However, other than a report like this one from last summer, (http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=41885&catid=37) I don't know the details. Does anyone else know what the PDGC course's prospects are?

« **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 03:34:17 PM »

I'm set to play the Pete Dye Golf Club in May and am curious about the situations with caddies and carts. Do they have caddies available? If not can you carry or do you have to take a cart? Any of you that are familiar with this course have any input on this? Thanks!

Steve

« **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2009, 04:53:51 PM »

Steve, I'm not aware of caddies being available, though you may want to contact Charlie Dusic to confirm that. I don't believe carts are required, but it is probably a fairly challenging walk. I know I could walk it relatively easily, being a western PA guy used to hills, but we all chose to ride and I didn't see anyone else walking.

Hope this helps - have fun!

« **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2009, 11:56:10 PM »

Thanks for the response George. I'll take your advice on walking under advisement and check the terrain out really good before making that decision. Thanks again.

« **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:27:41 PM »

I just played there yesterday in less than ideal conditions (but it is April afterall!?) in a Monday pro/am. Including yesterday, I don't believe I've ever seen caddies in the half dozen or so times that I've played there. You'd think with the state of the economy (particularly the local one) that it would be a quick way to earn some $. However, as noted, it's not an easy walk!

We were also discussing the condition of the course considering the changes(?) in ownership. Ironically, we all thought the conditions were fine-- other than the cart paths-- which seem to be in need of some repair or repaving. Probably not high on the list of expenditures at the current time however!

« **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:40:41 PM »

I acutally started my career working at the Pete Dye GC while in High School. I do believe they have caddies during the peak season. (May-Sept.) They have a hard time getting caddies while school is in. I may be a little biased having grown up 5 minutes from the course but it is truly a gem. I have never get tired of playing the course. Classical Course are more of my flavor but I will play PDGC anyday. FYI: There is a fairly new course 30 minutes north of Pete Dye in Morgantown called Pikewood National. Very exclusive owned by a single owner. Walking only with terrain that is unbelivable. Very low key course. I saw the course while under construcion and have seen pics since. Great website that shows much of the course.

« **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2009, 10:53:15 PM »

When I went on a golf trip to Ohio last year I decided to take the long drive to West Virginia to play PDGC. ( coming from Calif. I'm not about to go all the way to W.V. for a course basically no one here has ever heard of). But I was intrigued with its high rating. And I'm so glad I made the trip to see and play it. It's a very cool place and was built with a lot of remnants of the mining that took place there. You even get to drive or walk through a portion of an old mine on the way to one hole. The layout is fantastic and there are just a bunch of great holes including the previously mentioned 2nd and the finisher. I think you can go there with a group from your club and stay there. I stayed at the Nemacolin resort to play Mystic Rock, another Dye course which is pretty average. Bottom line, PDGC is definitely a top 100 in my book and well worth the effort to get there if you ever have the chance to play it.

« **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2009, 11:23:40 AM »

Quote from: GBoring on April 22, 2009, 09:40:41 PM

FYI: There is a fairly new course 30 minutes north of Pete Dye in Morgantown called Pikewood National. Very exclusive owned by a single owner. Walking only with terrain that is unbelivable. Very low key course. I saw the course while under construcion and have seen pics since. Great website that shows much of the course.

Checked out the website, which does indeed do a nice job of showing the course (along with a 10 min video). The course looks interesting and good as does the terrain and views, however appears to be quite a challenge! This assumption was backed up by the quote on the homepage: "7,600 yards, slope of 155. This course is probably too difficult for you". Not sure that quote would be my first pick for trying to fill up a membership...but what do I know?

Anyone played it? Who was the architect?

« **Reply #19 on:** April 27, 2009, 11:08:02 PM »

Another photo perspective of the par 5 5th. This is a very special hole.

« **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:04:41 AM »

A few more pics of the course...

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Carl Johnson

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George Pazin

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