Work Underway on New Dye Collaboration in Honduras


The father-and-son golf-architect duo of Pete and Perry Dye are collaborating on a new course in Roatan, Honduras. The initial nine holes of the Black Pearl should be ready for play this fall, with all 18 completed by the end of the year. The layout will boast 14 holes with views of the nearby Caribbean.

The Black Pearl will serve as the centerpiece for Pristine Bay Resort, a master-planned community that will also feature a five-star hotel, spa, deep-water marina, beach club and a variety of housing options. The golf course will be augmented by an expansive practice facility with a variety of instructional programs.

Located on the tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, Pristine Bay Resort will occupy 400-plus acres adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The island is abutted by the world's second-largest barrier reef.

Black Pearl will be the Dyes' first project in Honduras and Roatan's first golf course. The par-72 track, which will stretch 7,057 yards from the tips, begins next to the Caribbean and then rises into the island's rolling foothills. From there, golfers will be taken on a wild ride back to the seaside-bordering clubhouse. It will feature island greens, and 14 of the 18 holes will offer stunning vistas of the ocean and the Meso-American Barrier Reef.

Dye Designs, pioneers of the use of Paspalum turf for its Tropics-based projects, is grassing Black Pearl with the saltwater-tolerant strain known for its environmental compatibility, ease of irrigation and maintenance, and green hue.

Other resort facilities include a 155-slip full-service marina with deep-water access for a variety of sea-going vessels. Residents and guests will also enjoy the oceanfront Bay Village at Pristine Bay with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options. The 120-room Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, to be managed by the Lancaster Hotel Group, is scheduled to open at the same time as Black Pearl.

Roatan International Airport (RTB) is served by nine weekly nonstop flights from the U.S. (Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Newark) on Continental, Delta and TACA. Flights to the island through the Honduran cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are also available.

For additional information about the Black Pearl course and the new development, visit www.pristinebayresort.com.