By Design - Spring 2020

PETE DYE, ASGCA FELLOW greens, I shaped in tees and where we had tees I started shaping in the new greens.’ I was shocked, but the course stayed that way and I will say it was a better course because of just one small change.” Great rapport “Pete had a better rapport with superintendents than any architect who has ever been in the business,” says Liddy. “He liked them, he listened to them and the result is that his courses are easier to maintain than they might seem at first glance. “The people who build golf courses want to enjoy the process, but a lot of times they don’t quite know what their goals are. They have a general idea, but I saw how much Pete helped his clients refine their mission. Many times, building a golf course is a two-year process. When you get through it successfully, it’s a great feeling, and there’s a real bond that forms. “In later years, Pete spent time returning to projects that he finished 20, 30, even 40 years ago. Part of this is because a course’s infrastructure naturally ages, but it’s also because he didn’t consider anyone a ‘former’ client.” “He always treated everyone the same whether you were the owner, shaper or laborer,” says Schmidt. “I appreciated how he would involve everyone in the design process. As we were reviewing a specific hole, he would say to me and possibly the shaper, ‘do you like it, what do you think?’ Various comments would be exchanged, and I remember often I would say ‘it just doesn’t look right.’ He would then counter saying, ‘what would you do?’ After a back and forth open discussion he would take our comments and say, ‘let’s try this.’ “He had a basic concept before designing a hole, but his true talent was modifying, adjusting and tweaking the work on the ground until he liked it. He made everyone feel a part of the process and because of that I sincerely believe everyone gave their best effort to improve the design.” “Pete loved everything about the game of golf including building golf courses and the people,” says P.B. Ground-breaking designs “Pete and Alice had made such an amazing team in life and golf,” says Bill Coore, ASGCA. “Professionally, I would say that Pete Dye was one of the most influential golf architects in the history of the profession. “He was the only golf architect who changed the course of golf architecture twice, first with Harbour Town, an old-world design with characteristics totally opposite to the contemporary golf architecture then in vogue. Then, he and Alice redirected golf architecture again with the creation of TPC Sawgrass, a course that would dictate the direction and style of golf architecture around the world for the next two decades. “Personally, I can say Pete Dye was one of the most influential people in my life. Golf, golf architecture and I will miss him.” “His designs matched his personality: strong, bold, smart and creative,” says Liddy. “He was a mentor to so many, a true legacy of his genius and compassion. He was my mentor and his love of golf and golf design was infectious. “One of Pete’s most famous quotes was, ‘If you can get a pro thinking, you’ve won the game.’ The interesting thing is that it applies just as much, if not more, to a shot or hole that will be played hours later as it does to the shot immediately at hand. The lesson is that every course should have something that the golfer is already thinking about before he or she steps on to the first tee.” “Pete’s midwestern background showed in his personality,” says Schmidt. “He was a great storyteller, worked hard, loved to learn about people and gave generously to many. My alma mater, Purdue University, benefited greatly as Pete remodeled two of the university’s golf courses for one dollar each. “He lived a full and wonderful life and touched so many lives. The legacy he left through his courses, other architects he mentored and the impact he left on the game of golf is a life well played. I will miss you, Pete.” “Pete was a generational figure in architecture and golf,” says Muirhead. He was the only golf architect that changed the course of golf architecture twice 16 | By Design