Pete Dye facts for kids

Pete Dye
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1942–1944
Unit	Fort Bragg

Paul Dye Jr. (born December 29, 1925 – died January 9, 2020) was an American golf course designer. He was better known as Pete Dye. His family also designed golf courses. He was married to Alice Dye, who was also a golf course designer and a champion amateur golfer.

Pete Dye's Early Life and Golf

Pete Dye was born in Urbana, Ohio, on December 29, 1925. His parents were Paul F. "Pink" and Elizabeth Dye. His father loved golf and built a nine-hole course on their family land. It was called the "Urbana Country Club."

Pete grew up working and playing on this course. When he was in high school, he won the Ohio state high school golf championship. He also earned a medal in the state amateur golf championship.

Serving in the Army

At 18, Pete joined the U.S. Army in 1944. This was during World War II. He trained to be a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. However, the war ended while he was still training.

He was then stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. There, he worked as a greenskeeper on the base's golf course. This job helped him learn even more about golf courses.

Life After the War

After leaving the Army, Pete moved to Florida. He went to Rollins College in Winter Park. There, he met Alice Holliday O'Neal. They got married in early 1950. They had two sons, Perry and P.B. (Paul Burke).

The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, Alice's hometown. Pete first worked selling insurance. He was very good at it. He also continued to play golf as an amateur. In 1958, he won the Indiana amateur championship.

Becoming a Golf Course Designer

When Pete was in his mid-30s, he decided to change careers. He wanted to design golf courses. Alice supported his choice and became his partner.

In 1961, they visited a famous golf architect named Bill Diddle. He warned them that designing courses could be tough. But Pete and Alice still wanted to do it.

First Designs and New Ideas

Their first design was a nine-hole course called El Dorado. It was south of Indianapolis. This course was special because it crossed a creek 13 times! These holes are now part of the Royal Oak course at Dye's Walk Country Club.

Their first 18-hole course was built in 1962. It was in Indianapolis and called Heather Hills. Today, it is known as Maple Creek Golf & Country Club.

Pete visited Scotland in 1963. He studied many old, famous golf courses there. He learned about their unique features. These included small, deep sand traps called "pot bunkers." He also saw how they used wood walls, called "bulkheads," and tiny greens. These ideas greatly influenced his future designs.

Famous Courses and Collaborations

One of Pete Dye's first well-known courses was Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. It opened in 1964. This course later hosted the PGA Championship in 1991.

In 1967, he designed The Golf Club in Ohio. He asked 27-year-old Jack Nicklaus for his ideas. Nicklaus was already a golf superstar. The two worked together to design the famous Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina. It opened in 1969 and still hosts a big golf tournament every year. Jack Nicklaus said Pete Dye taught him a lot about golf course design.

Pete Dye's courses are known for their special features. He often used small greens and railroad ties to hold up bunkers. He designed the "Island Green" at TPC at Sawgrass in Florida. This is a famous hole where the green is surrounded by water. It became very well-known in 1982.

Many young golf architects learned from Pete Dye. They worked with him and helped build his courses. Some of these include Bill Coore, Tom Doak, and Bobby Weed.

Awards and Later Years

Pete Dye received many important awards for his work. In 2003, he got the Old Tom Morris Award. This is the highest honor from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. In 2005, he received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008. This was for his amazing work and influence on golf. He also received a special degree in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University.

In his last years, Pete Dye suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on January 9, 2020. His designs continue to be enjoyed by golfers around the world.

Where You Can See His Work

Pete Dye designed or helped design many golf courses. You can find his courses all over the United States and in other countries. Some of his most famous public courses include:

• TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium Course) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, known for its famous "Island Green."
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort (The Ocean Course) in South Carolina.
• Whistling Straits (Irish Course, Straits Course) in Wisconsin.
• Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, The Links) in the Dominican Republic.

Some of his well-known private courses include:

• Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.
• Oak Tree National in Edmond, Oklahoma.
• Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas.