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Legendary architect Dye doesn't like today's golf ball technology
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For much of the past the United States Golf Association has made a serious attempt to clamp down on golf club technology. The USGA has regulated everything from shaft length to the size of grooves in an effort to keep technology, as it sees it, from ruining the game. During that same time, however, the USGA has done little to curb golf ball technology.
Today's multi-layer, urethane covered balls, combined with high-tech clubs and the tremendous swing speeds of PGA Tour players, have each contributed to the advent of courses that have to play in excess of 7,400 yards in order to protect themselves.
Don't believe me? Listen to Pete Dye. Arguably the world's greatest living golf course architect, Dye likes today's golf balls about as much he likes nematodes.
"I think (the ball) has hurt the game more than it's helped it," Dye said recently while standing outside the clubhouse of The Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla. "The ball is helping the good professional but it's not helped the higher handicap player. A professional player can hit it 280 yards. Why help him hit it 330 yards?
"There's no doubt that with the configuration of the golf ball and with their speed, the ball goes like a bullet for professional players. I think the USGA has let this get far out of hand.''
The ball is one reason that Dye, at age 83 the newest member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, has been re-visiting and re-working many of his most famous and best loved courses the past several years, including Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C., Crooked Stick near Indianapolis and The Dye Preserve.
Originally opened in 1988 as Cypress Links Golf Club, The Dye Preserve, redesigned in 2002, is one of the country's best private club experiences and a labor of love for Dye and developer Joe Webster. The pair first worked together on Harbour Town and the Long Cove Club. Webster is a disciple of Charles Fraser, the late founder of the Sea Pines Company whom many credit with developing resort golf as its exists today.
"Like going back to an old friend," Dye said of his re-design work. "I'm very pleased to stay in contact with many of the people the courses I've designed.''
And no doubt these people are very pleased to be associated with Pete Dye. Now about that ball. . .
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