Another great memory of PB’s was designing and building the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Pete designed the course alongside Jack Nicklaus, who served as the golf course consultant. Pete had known Nicklaus for years, as the two families had a connection. Pete’s father, Paul Francis Dye, used to play golf with Nicklaus’ father, Charlie. “We started at Harbour Town in September of 1968 and on Thanksgiving morning in 1969, they played the first PGA Tour tournament there,” remembered PB. “On the morning of that opening round on Thanksgiving Day, I was putting sod above the bunker next to the 18th green when they were teeing off the 10th.” Four days later, Arnold Palmer came walking down the tournament’s 72nd hole with a onestroke lead. Palmer pulled his approach left of the 18th green. It finished in an oyster bed at low tide. Palmer found his ball, chipped it to 15 feet and then made the tournament-winning putt. “Afterwards, Palmer publicly thanked Pete Dye for designing such a great golf course,” said PB. “Thank goodness that it was low tide and Palmer found his ball.” That endorsement helped launch Pete Dye’s career which can best be described as authentic, truly genuine, extremely dedicated, and quite passionate. Pete Dye learned his craft building courses in Indiana and is a true son of the Hoosier State. Indiana Golf Journal
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