PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. will unveil the newly restored 18-hole Dye Course on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka, legendary course designer Pete Dye, the 2004 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner and Port St. Lucie Mayor Patricia Christensen, are scheduled to be on hand at 1:30 p.m. EDT, for a press conference that will highlight the recent changes made by Dye.
The event will include Dye, who will officially mark the reopening of the Dye Course at The PGA Golf Club, ranked by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America." In addition, there will be VIP and media rounds of golf beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Dye opted to make changes to his namesake Dye Course that reflected a more historical restoration, as opposed to the traditional golf course renovation. So, instead of turning the Dye Course into resort-style golf, the renovations allow the course to stay true to its form and remain a distinctly different links-style course set within South Florida.
"I really like that golf course," said Dye. "It's one of my better golf courses. I've always thought that."
One of the most significant changes to the Dye Course appears on the first hole. With the addition of impressive landscaping, the opening hole now offers golfers a totally different feel, and a sense that players are not actually playing in a residential community. In fact, an open bowl effect offers stunning views of the 100-acre "Big Mamu" Wetland and the wildlife that call it home.
"The PGA of America is proud to unveil the Dye Course, as we complete the capital improvement plans for our three magnificent courses," said PGA President Brian Whitcomb, who was instrumental in ensuring that the improvements to The PGA Golf Club's three courses and the recent expansion of the golf shop were completed on schedule. "People will know now that what we have with the Dye Course restoration is a really unique and special design for a course that is quite special in its own right."
"With the restoration of the Dye Course and last year's capital improvements to the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses, The PGA Golf Club now has three remarkable courses in place to provide a best-in-class golf destination for generations to come," said Steranka.
Dye Course aficionados will notice how stunning the contrast of colors are on the course; how crisp, clean and concise the golf course has become; and how much more playable it has become seemingly overnight. "It's satisfying to see the Dye Course return to its glory," said Bob Baldassari, PGA General Manager of The PGA Golf Club. "It's a special and pure golf experience that's in-line with Pete's one-of-a-kind design work."
Other changes include:
--Installation of new Champion Ultra Dwarf grass on all 18 greens
--Paspallum grass on all tee grounds
--New irrigation and coquina base installed along the car paths to reduce the amount of dust produced from the sand
--Greenside bunkers were improved with the replacement of sand
--Vista portals were also cleaned and maintained along the course
Another significant highlight to Dye's restoration is an environmentally friendly drainage plan, which allows the old, self-contained marsh to drain into a sump pump, which is then recycled back onto the playing area when needed.
"Those marshes set up as good as any golf course I've ever been associated with environmentally," stated Dye. "There's nothing else like it in that area."
About The PGA Golf Club
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class public courses at The PGA Golf Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" for 2007-08, The PGA Golf Club also features the award-winning 35-acre PGA Learning Center golf park and PGA Historical Center. The PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier daily fee facilities in America, and to serve as a home club for our 28,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals. For more information, please visit www.pgavillage.com.
About The PGA of America
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf, while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Golf Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
