Last week our sport lost a legend, as infamous Golf Course Designer Pete Dye passed away aged 94.
Alongside his wife and fellow designer Alice, Pete Dye was responsible for designing more than 100 courses around the world earning him a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008. A number of Pete Dye Golf Courses are featured among the Worlds Top 100 Courses including the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina & Whistling Straits, Wisconsin.
In addition, Pete Dye was responsible for two of our favourite courses at La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Dye Fore Course, Casa De Campo
Par, 72. Length, 7,770.
The namesake Dye Fore Course was opened at the turn of the new millennium and contains three nines. The Chavon nine sits high above the Chavon River and offers dramatic holes along a cliff edge. Pete designed this course with a lot of risk and reward opportunities with wide fairways. It's not the most difficult course but due to the numerous raised greens, scoring can be difficult if you don't nail your approach shots.
Stuart & Mark have also played the Marina nine which also had more than generous fairways and outstanding views along the Chavon river and down to the coast. The Course is overlooked by a number of hugely impressive mansions and contains no weak holes.
Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog Course, Casa De Campo
Par, 72. Length, 6,888.
Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog Course was thrust onto the golfing world in 1971 and has since always remained within the top 100 courses, usually within the top 50. It is also considered to be the best Golf Course in the Caribbean.
Teeth of the Dog is known for its iconic coastline holes but what is overlooked is the number of beautiful mature trees dotted throughout. Pete & Alice Dye have designed the inland holes of the Teeth of the Dog Course in a way that requires your concentration. The raised greens and the many clever bunkers mean if you miss the green at any hole you will face a challenge to get up and down.
Pete Dye courses are known throughout the world but what's unique about these two Caribbean Golf Courses is that the Dyes had a house at Casa De Campo which allowed them to frequently make edits throughout the years.
Now these remarkable courses will remain in their final form, a testament to a true golfing legend.