Born in the small town of Urbana, Ohio, Pete Dye's legend is not just
about the game of golf, it's about the game of life. This influential golf
course architect spoke to us from his South Florida home.
Considered in many circles to be the most influential course architect of
the last five decades, Dye who is now in his late 70's, has built three
award-winning courses at Casa de Campo with his wife Alice, to whom he has
been married for over 50 years. The Dye duo has a shared passion for the
game of golf, but it’s their complimentary philosophies about the game that
creates the magic. When a course is under construction Dye says it is
Alice's judgment that keeps him in line; "She keeps pounding on me because
she understands the game. She plays with all kinds of players and because of
that she can see the course from a wide spectrum. She keeps telling me ‘you
got to get these people around!’ and I respect her judgment because some of
the toughest courses I've built, are still great for novice players."
Dye's hands-on approach is unique; there are no plans for any of the courses
he has built "its just me out there pointing my finger and saying dump the
dirt there and there," says Dye. His signature style, influenced heavily by
a trip to Scotland in 1963 with Alice, includes railroad ties, tiny pot
bunkers and manmade undulation that make playing his greens a challenge. He
flies in the face of convention and is famed for taking a different approach
to just about everything than do his contemporaries. While they focus on
power and length, Pete is all about ambiance, style and the philosophy
behind the game.
Dye's affinity for golf goes back to his infancy. Before he was born, his
father got a group of friends together in his hometown of Urbana, Ohio and
built a nine-hole course on their family farm. After growing up around it,
one might say it was destiny that even Dye’s military service found him on
the manicured prairie. "Prior to World War II, I ended up being the green
keeper on my family’s course until I went to war. I was made the keeper of
the Fort Bragg course for the last six months of service until I was
discharged in 1945. I've always loved the maintenance.”
It was after the war, he met Alice O'Neal, the future Mrs. Dye, at Rollins
College. At the time, she was the lead golfer on the women's team. Now she
is one of the most powerful women in golf. Says Dye “Alice's contribution to
the game of golf is tremendous. Behind the scenes she has done so much for
ladies golf.” In fact, Mrs. Dye is one of the only women serving on boards
for major golf organizations. Together Pete and Alice Dye have given their
lives to the sport and now their sons have shown that their blood runs green
as well. The two younger Dyes, sons Perry and P.B. have taken to the sport
and in fact, in 1993, seventy years after Dye’s father laid down those first
nine holes in Urbana, Ohio, their son, P.B., built the other nine holes.
Truth be known, Pete Dye has built many award winning courses during his
long career but when it’s all said and done, the awards, the courses and
all, there is one place he proudly holds above the rest. Says Dye, "Casa de
Campo has been my life. I always say Casa de Campo is my favorite place. The
courses are as good as I can build and there are 30,000 people that have
jobs because of them.” Reminiscing, Dye goes on to say “When I was in the
Dominican Republic for the first time in 1968, the women wore burlap
dresses. It’s not just the courses, but the development around the courses
has been as much a part of my life as anything." When Dye first came to Casa
de Campo, it was it's natural beauty that inspired him "At that time there
wasn't a paved road within 30 miles. The road from San Pedro was only dirt
and there was no bridge, either." That jagged coastline is now the best golf
course in the Caribbean known as The Teeth of the Dog.
Dye’s contribution to golf is about passion and daring to do what’s in your
guts. In honor of that, come face the ferocious Teeth, Dye Fore and Links
courses at Casa. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet Pete on the back nine.
Teeth of the Dog
Altos de Chavon