Pete Dye

Whistling Straits - Straits

Kohler, WI

Whistling Straits - Straits, a Pete Dye masterpiece carved along two miles of rugged Lake Michigan coastline, embodies a relentless, championship-caliber vision. This walking-only course, rooted in the timeless traditions of links golf, presents a formidable challenge with its windswept terrain and over 1,000 bunkers. Among its many memorable holes, the par-3 17th, aptly named "Pinched Nerve," stands out as one of Dye's most intimidating, with a green guarded by sand dunes dropping 20 feet below. The par-3 3rd, "O'Man," despite its large green, demands precision to navigate its severe undulations and avoid the looming Lake Michigan and deep bunkers to the left. The course has a rich championship pedigree, having hosted the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010, and 2015, and the Ryder Cup in 2021, solidifying its reputation as a true test for the world's best. The finishing 18th, "Dyeabolical," perfectly encapsulates the course's demanding yet exhilarating playing experience, where a par is a truly coveted score.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Ocean

Kiawah Island, SC

Carved from the windswept dunes of Kiawah Island, Pete Dye’s Ocean Course, opened in 1991, stands as a testament to raw, untamed links golf. Dye famously designed the course to play as two distinct layouts—one for an easterly wind, one for a westerly—a brilliant response to the unpredictable coastal breezes. This ingenious design ensures a fresh challenge with every round, demanding strategic shot-making and unwavering focus. The course boasts an unparalleled 10 holes directly hugging the Atlantic coastline, with the remaining eight running parallel, offering breathtaking ocean vistas throughout the round. While many courses claim a signature hole, the Ocean Course’s consistent drama makes it difficult to pick just one, though the treacherous par-3 17th, often played into a stiff crosswind, remains a perennial highlight. The Ocean Course has cemented its place in golf history, famously hosting the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup, dubbed the “War by the Shore,” and later the PGA Championship in both 2012 and 2021, with another scheduled for 2031. Its championship pedigree and relentless challenge make it a truly special and unforgettable experience for any golfer.

TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Pete Dye's revolutionary vision for the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, opened in 1980, was to create a venue that not only challenged the world's best golfers but also dramatically enhanced the spectator experience. His design philosophy embraced a raw, almost intimidating aesthetic, featuring mounding and strategic hazards that frame every shot, ensuring that precision is paramount and mistakes are severely penalized. The course is famously home to The Players Championship, often dubbed the 'fifth major,' a testament to its consistent ability to identify golf's most complete players. Its iconic 17th hole, a par-3 with an intimidating island green, is arguably the most recognizable and nerve-wracking short hole in golf, demanding absolute commitment and accuracy. Equally formidable is the closing 18th, a long par-4 with water down the left, requiring a powerful and precise drive followed by an equally demanding approach. The overall playing experience is a relentless test of strategy, nerve, and execution, where every club in the bag is challenged, making it a truly unique and unforgettable round for those brave enough to take on Dye's masterpiece.

French Lick Resort - Pete Dye Course

French Lick, IN

Pete Dye's mountaintop masterpiece at French Lick Resort, Golf Digest's 2009 Best New Public winner. Measuring over 8,100 yards from the tips, this late-career Dye design showcases rumpled chipping swales, volcano bunkers, and country-lane cart paths across sweeping elevated terrain with multi-mile views in every direction. Ranked on Golf Digest's America's Second 100 Greatest Courses and consistently among Indiana's top three public courses.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort - Mystic Rock

Farmington, PA

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort - Mystic Rock, designed by Pete Dye, is a dramatic course at the Nemacolin resort in Farmington, PA. It showcases Dye\'s signature style with bold mounding, challenging bunkers, and stunning vistas of the Laurel Highlands. A championship-caliber course known for its challenging design and resort amenities.

Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Pete Dye ocean-view drama on the Pacific bluffs — one of the most spectacular public courses in America.

PGA West - Stadium Course

La Quinta, CA

The PGA West Stadium Course, a Pete Dye masterpiece opened in 1986, was born from a bold vision to create one of the world's most challenging golf experiences. Dye, known for his dramatic and often intimidating designs, sculpted this desert landscape with his signature mounding, deep bunkers, and deceptive sightlines, often creating features from seemingly nothing. The course is famously home to two of golf's most iconic finishing holes. The par-3 17th, dubbed "Alcatraz," demands a precise tee shot to its island green, surrounded by imposing boulders and water, a true test of nerve. Following this, the water-lined 18th presents a formidable challenge to close out the round. The Stadium Course has a rich championship pedigree, having hosted the Skins Game from 1986-1991 and serving as a host course for the PGA Tour's Humana Challenge (formerly the Bob Hope Classic), where it witnessed David Duval's historic 1999 final-round 59. This course is a relentless examination of skill and strategy, offering an unforgettable and often humbling playing experience that truly embodies Dye's philosophy of pushing golfers to their limits.

Blackwolf Run - River

Kohler, WI

Pete Dye's River course at Blackwolf Run follows the Sheboygan River, incorporating dramatic elevation changes and target golf into its wooded landscape. Part of The American Club resort in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Wolf)

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Wolf), designed by Pete Dye, presents a formidable desert golf challenge in Las Vegas, NV. This championship course is renowned for its extreme length, severe undulations, and the iconic island green on the 15th hole. It demands precision and strategic play amidst stunning mountain vistas, offering a truly memorable and rigorous golfing experience within the resort setting.

Whistling Straits - Irish Course

Kohler, WI

While often overshadowed by its legendary sibling, the Irish Course at Whistling Straits carves its own distinct identity, offering a captivating links-style experience that transports golfers to the Emerald Isle. Crafted by the visionary Pete Dye in 1999, this course embodies his renowned philosophy of visual intimidation and strategic deception, transforming a once-flat landscape into a dramatic canvas of rolling terrain, towering bluffs, and expansive dunes. Dye's masterful hand is evident in the dense native grasses, deep, penal bunkering, and cunning water hazards that demand precision and thoughtful shot-making throughout the round. The course presents a formidable challenge, where every hole feels like a signature moment, blending raw natural beauty with a rigorous test of skill. Players will navigate a course that feels both ancient and modern, with strategic mounding and cleverly placed hazards that reward thoughtful play over brute force. The par-3 13th, for instance, demands a precise carry over a chasm, while the finishing holes offer dramatic views and intense pressure. It stands as a testament to the world-renowned golf destination, sharing the prestige of a venue that has hosted major championships. Ideal for destination golfers seeking an authentic, challenging links adventure, the Irish Course promises an unforgettable journey through a meticulously designed, ruggedly beautiful golfing landscape.

Brickyard Crossing Golf Course

Indianapolis, IN

One of the most unique golf experiences in America — four holes play inside the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pete Dye designed this course with his trademark railroad ties, pot bunkers, and dramatic green complexes. Golf Digest ranks it among Indiana's top public courses.

Pound Ridge Golf Club

Pound Ridge, NY

Pete Dye's most dramatic public design — 40 miles from Manhattan, a world away from easy.

Kingsmill Resort - River

Williamsburg, VA

The River Course at Kingsmill Resort, designed by the legendary Pete Dye, is a standout example of his early design philosophy, seamlessly integrating with the natural landscape of Williamsburg, Virginia. Opened in 1975, Dye’s approach embraced the organic contours of the wooded terrain rather than relying on bold architectural elements. This par-71 course has a rich championship history, having hosted the PGA Tour’s Michelob Championship from 1981 to 2002 and now serving as a venue for an LPGA event. The final three holes are particularly memorable, winding along the James River. The par-3 17th, perched atop a bluff, is the signature hole, offering both a scenic vista and a strategic challenge that has been televised countless times. Ranked among Golf Digest’s Best in State for Virginia, the River Course offers a strategic and unforgettable experience for golfers of all skill levels.

TPC Louisiana

Avondale, LA

TPC Louisiana, a Pete Dye design opened in 2004, is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course in Avondale, Louisiana, renowned for hosting the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Dye's design philosophy is unmistakable, characterized by dramatic mounding, vast waste bunkers, and challenging greens, all meticulously integrated into the natural wetlands and cypress forests of the Louisiana landscape. The course features over 100 bunkers and numerous water hazards, demanding precision and strategic thinking on every shot. The par-5 18th hole, with its risk-reward options and water along the left, is a memorable finishing hole. TPC Louisiana offers a true PGA Tour experience, combining a challenging layout with pristine conditions and a beautiful, natural setting, making it a premier golf destination in the region.

Bulle Rock Golf Course

Havre de Grace, MD

Pete Dye designed Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, MD, a challenging public course known for its strategic bunkering and water features. This highly-acclaimed course has hosted professional events and offers a championship-level experience. It is known for its exceptional conditions and engaging play.

Full Cry at Keswick Hall

Keswick, VA

Pete Dye's Full Cry course near Charlottesville features railroad ties, island greens, and significant elevation changes across rolling Blue Ridge foothills terrain.

Links at Perry Cabin

Saint Michaels, MD

Pete Dye links-style design on the Chesapeake Bay at Belmond Perry Cabin

Wintonbury Hills Golf Course

Bloomfield, CT

Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, located in Bloomfield, Connecticut, is a celebrated Pete Dye design that opened in 2005. As Dye’s first championship course in New England, it showcases his distinctive philosophy of creating engaging and strategic layouts. The 6,711-yard, par-70 course masterfully blends open links-style holes with traditional tree-lined fairways, offering a diverse and captivating round. While not possessing the extreme bite of some of Dye’s more infamous designs, Wintonbury Hills still presents a formidable challenge, particularly on the back nine where several holes play tight with trees and hazards. The course is consistently ranked among the top in Connecticut, lauded for its unique blend of architectural styles and its ability to test golfers of all skill levels. Its setting in Bloomfield, northwest of Hartford, provides a picturesque backdrop for a memorable golfing experience, making it a must-play for those seeking a true Pete Dye challenge in a beautiful New England landscape.

Avalon Lakes Golf Course

Warren, OH

Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys)

Kohler, WI

Part of The American Club resort in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Sun Mountain)

Las Vegas, NV

Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course

Carmel, CA

Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course offers a truly exhilarating golf experience, distinguished as the sole Pete Dye design in Northern California. Originally crafted by the legendary Pete Dye in 1980 and thoughtfully renovated by Gene Bates, the course masterfully utilizes the dramatic elevation changes of the Carmel Valley. Golfers are treated to a visually stunning journey through verdant landscapes, meandering past vineyards, fragrant lavender fields, and ancient oak groves. The 11th and 13th holes stand out as signature challenges, boasting breathtaking drops into the valley that demand both precision and nerve. This par-70 layout presents a stout test, characterized by intimidating and heroic tee shots with forced carries, ensuring a memorable and challenging round. The course is meticulously maintained, providing near-perfect conditions that enhance the strategic design. Carmel Valley Ranch is ideally suited for destination golfers seeking a unique, challenging, and picturesque golf adventure, as well as locals desiring a consistently excellent and engaging round.

The Fort Golf Resort

Indianapolis, IN

Carved through the wooded terrain of Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, The Fort is a Pete Dye design that winds through mature hardwoods and ravines. One of Indianapolis's most scenic and challenging public courses, consistently ranked among Indiana's best.

The Cardinal by Pete Dye (Cardinal Course)

Greensboro, NC

Pete Dye's Cardinal Course — one of the Triad's premier public layouts

Riverdale Golf Courses (Dunes)

Brighton, CO

Tobacco Road Golf Club, a singular masterpiece by the late, great architect Mike Strantz, stands as a testament to bold, artistic design, challenging golfers to embrace its dramatic contours and unconventional beauty. Opened in 1998, Strantz's philosophy here was to create an immersive, almost theatrical experience, where every hole presents a unique visual and strategic puzzle. The course carves through an old sand quarry, featuring towering waste bunkers, expansive sandy expanses, and wildly undulating greens that demand creativity and precision. Signature holes abound, but the par-5 4th, with its massive, intimidating bunker complex, and the blind tee shot on the par-4 13th, leading to a green tucked precariously behind a dune, are particularly memorable. The overall playing experience is exhilarating and thought-provoking, a true test of nerve and imagination rather than brute strength. While not a traditional championship venue, its consistent ranking among Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses solidifies its reputation as a must-play. Tobacco Road is ideally suited for adventurous destination golfers seeking a truly unforgettable and distinct golf challenge, far removed from the mundane.

Paiute Golf Resort - Sun Mountain Course

Las Vegas, NV

The Sun Mountain Course at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is the original Pete Dye design at the 54-hole complex, opened in 1995. The 7,112-yard, par-72 layout is a classic Dye desert design featuring railroad ties, island greens, and dramatic elevation changes in the Spring Mountains foothills. One of the best public golf values in Las Vegas, the Sun Mountain is consistently ranked among the top public courses in Nevada.

Kingsmill Resort: River Course

Williamsburg, VA

Dye's James River masterpiece

La Quinta Resort & Club (Mountain)

La Quinta, CA

Plum Creek Golf & Country Club

Castle Rock, CO

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Snow Mountain)

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (Snow Mountain), designed by Pete Dye, offers a playable yet challenging desert golf experience in Las Vegas, NV. Known for its generous fairways and immaculate bentgrass greens, this course features strategic water hazards and Dye's signature mounding, providing a memorable round with stunning mountain views. It's a standout among the resort's three championship layouts.

TPC San Antonio (Canyons)

San Antonio, TX

Nestled within the serene seclusion of the Huron National Forest, Forest Dunes Golf Club presents a captivating design by British Open champion Tom Weiskopf. Weiskopf’s philosophy, evident throughout the course, emphasizes a classic style with compelling risk-reward opportunities on nearly every hole. The course masterfully blends two distinct personalities: the front nine gracefully carves through dense, wooded terrain of red pines and oaks, while the back nine dramatically opens up to reveal exposed sand dunes, a legacy of ancient glaciers. The layout offers a challenging yet harmonious journey through Michigan’s natural landscape. A notable feature is the picturesque 9th hole, a 203-yard par-3, often cited as one of the course’s most scenic one-shotters. For those tied after 18 holes, a unique "short 19th hole" provides a thrilling decider. Forest Dunes is celebrated for its exceptional conditioning and thoughtful integration with its environment, offering an immersive golf experience where every shot feels connected to the wild beauty of Northern Michigan. It's a truly unique destination for golfers seeking both a challenge and a profound connection with nature.

Fowler's Mill Golf Course

Chesterland, OH

Pete Dye's early design in northeast Ohio with classic characteristics.

Prestwick Country Club

Myrtle Beach, SC

Poipu Bay Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece on Kauai's south shore, embodies the architect's philosophy of strategic design harmonizing with the natural landscape. Opened in 1994, Jones Jr. masterfully integrated the course with the dramatic oceanfront terrain, creating a layout where wind is a constant, defining factor, influencing every shot. The course is renowned for its final four holes, which play atop a 150-foot cliff overlooking the Pacific. The 16th hole, often dubbed 'the Pebble Beach of the Pacific,' stands out as a signature, offering both challenge and breathtaking beauty. Beyond its stunning visuals, Poipu Bay holds significant history, having hosted the prestigious PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006, welcoming golf's major champions. The presence of 500-year-old Hawaiian heiau (places of worship) integrated into the landscape adds a unique cultural dimension. With its superb playing conditions, including seashore paspalum greens, and a layout that demands thoughtful strategy amidst unparalleled ocean vistas, Poipu Bay offers an unforgettable and truly championship-caliber Hawaiian golf experience.

Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course

North Myrtle Beach, SC

The highest-ranked of Barefoot Resort's four courses, Pete Dye's design features his signature bunker complexes and risk/reward opportunities. Classic Dye intimidation with playable options from forward tees.

TPC Sawgrass (Valley)

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

The Bridges Golf & Country Club

Montrose, CO

The Bridges Golf & Country Club, a prestigious Nicklaus Design, masterfully blends challenge with playability, ensuring an enjoyable experience for golfers of all abilities. Situated on Colorado\'s stunning Western Slope in Montrose at 5,794 feet, the course is defined by its abundant water features, coming into play on 14 holes, and over a hundred strategically placed sand bunkers. This traditional-style course seamlessly integrates with the natural beauty of the terrain, offering a visually striking and strategic round. Recognized as one of Golf Magazine\'s top ten new courses in 2005 and the number one new course by Celebrity Golf magazine, The Bridges offers a memorable and aesthetically pleasing golf experience. Its unique design, combined with the dramatic backdrop of the Western Slope, makes it a must-play destination for those seeking a challenging and beautiful round.

Omni Amelia Island Plantation - Oak Marsh Course

Amelia Island, FL

La Quinta Resort & Club (Dunes)

La Quinta, CA

Harbourtowne Golf Resort

St. Michaels, MD

The Westin Rancho Mirage - Pete Dye Resort Course

Rancho Mirage, CA

Pete Dye-designed resort course opened in 1987 with generally flat fairways and undulating greens. Forgiving off the tee with ample room to get the ball in play, but water hazards and deep bunkers lurk for wayward shots. Beautiful mountain views throughout.

Eagle Creek Golf Club

Indianapolis, IN

A 36-hole Pete Dye championship complex adjacent to Eagle Creek Reservoir. Consistently ranked among Indiana's top public courses by Golf Digest, the East and West courses offer classic Dye features including railroad ties, pot bunkers, and water hazards.

Fowler's Mill Golf Course - River Course

Chesterland, OH

An early Pete Dye design east of Cleveland, originally built for TRW Corporation employees. The River Course winds through undisturbed nature along the Chagrin River, with holes that crisscross the water and skirt a lake. One of the best affordable public access courses in Ohio.

Zollner Golf Course At Trine University

Angola, IN

Hickory Stick Golf Club

Greenwood, IN

Ruffled Feathers Golf Club

Lemont, IL

Pfau Golf Course at Indiana University

Bloomington, IN

Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1994 on the campus of Indiana University, the Pfau Golf Course is one of the finest university courses in America. The course features Dye's signature railroad ties, island greens, and strategic design challenges. Ranked among Golf Digest's Best Courses in Indiana.

Birck Boilermaker Golf Courses

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Golf Course (Kampen)

West Lafayette, IN

Heron Creek Golf Club

Lagrange, IN

The Highlands

Lake Geneva, WI

The Highlands, designed by Jack Nicklaus & Pete Dye, offers a championship experience amidst Lake Geneva's rolling terrain. This challenging course features dramatic elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and memorable holes culminating in breathtaking views of the Wisconsin landscape. It’s a true test of golf in a resort setting.

Chestnut Hills Golf Club

Fort Wayne, IN

Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (Kampen)

West Lafayette, IN

Oak Hollow Golf Course

High Point, NC