Pete Dye - 2015 Rossi Award commemorative book

Mr. Pete Dye

2015 Don. A Rossi Award GCBAA

Paul (“Pete�) Dye, born December 29, 1925 in Urbana, Ohio to Paul and Elizabeth Dye, is a legend in the field of golf course design and construction throughout the expanding world of golf.

Considered in many circles to be the most influential golf course architect of the last five decades, Pete is nearly 90 and still designing golf courses.

In 2015, Pete Dye was the recipient of the prestigious Don A. Rossi Award, an award given by the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of golf and its growth, and who have inspired others by example. With a reputation of being one of the most imaginative course designers in the world, many consider Pete Dye to be the most famous golf architect alive today.

When Pete’s parents married, their car broke down and they stayed overnight at the Mount Summit Inn. His father, Paul, rented a set of golf clubs and was immediately hooked on the game. By the time he was 6-years-old, Pete was working on a 9-hole golf course built by his father on his family’s land.

Pete worked on the family golf course, eventually becoming the Greens Superintendent before he joined the Parachute Infantry when he turned 18. He spent two years in the infantry before being assigned as the Greens Chairman of the Fort Bragg Golf Course.

Pete met Alice O’Neal when he was a freshman and she was a junior at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Pete and Alice married in 1950 and had two sons, Perry and P.B. (Paul Burke).

Pete set his eyes on golf course design. With Alice by his side, the couple set out to design their first 9-hole course, El Dorado, in 1961, south of Indianapolis. It was the first of a long and storied career that has led to numerous awards and world-wide recognition. To this day, Pete is considered to be one of the most influential golf course architects in the world.

On February 24, 2015, Pete was honored with the GCBAA’s Don A Rossi Award at the Marriott Riverwalk hotel in San Antonio, Texas. JROTC Color Guard cadets from John F. Kennedy High School kicked off the Opening Reception and award ceremony with the presentation of the American and Texas Flags. They were joined on stage

by GCBAA members Paul Granger and Bill Lakel for the singing of the National Anthem.

While on patrol in Iraq in 2007, Staff Sergeant Shilo Harris’ Humvee hit an IED. He lost his ears, part of his nose, some fingers, and over a third of the skin on his body. He also lost his three best friends. He spent nearly two years in a medically induced coma, before retiring from the military in 2010 and dedicating his life to helping other wounded veterans.

In 2012, Harris was chosen to be the recipient of a new home, courtesy of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Several GCBAA members donated their time, equipment, and materials to help build Harris a new home, complete with a putting green and driving net. Tonight, Harris joins us to share his story and thank the GCBAA for being part of his recovery.

As the applause died down after Harris’ touching story, the large projection screens next to the stage flickered to life. Though Pete Dye was unable to join the large crowd that gathered in his honor, his special video message filled the room and gave the lively crowd even more to celebrate.

Pete’s son, Perry Dye, took the stage to accept the award in his father’s honor.

A heartfelt thanks to our generous Opening Ceremony and Rossi Award Presentation sponsors:

American Golf Construction Caterpillar, Inc. Course Crafters, LLC Duininck Golf Ewing Irrigation Golf Development Construction LASCO Fittings, Inc. MacCurrach Golf Oncore Consulting Prince Rain Bird Corporation Sunbelt Rentals The Toro Company Total Turf Services, Inc.