Dye to Receive GCBAA Award


The Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) has announced Pete Dye as the recipient of its Don A. Rossi Award. The Rossi award is given by the GCBAA to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to golf and its growth and inspired others by example. It is named for Don A. Rossi, who served as executive director of the National Golf Foundation from 1970 to 1983, was instrumental in forming the National Golf Course Owners Association and served as executive director of the GCBAA from 1984 to 1990.

With a reputation of being a creative genius and one of the most imaginative course designers in the world, many consider Dye, now 89, to be the foremost golf architect alive today.

"In the history of the awards program, we have honored builders, architects, and celebrity golfers, and Pete encompasses all the aforementioned. He has been an amazing contributor to our industry and we are thrilled to bestow on him this special recognition," said Justin Apel, GCBAA executive director.

Though a fine player, Pete's true interests were in the design and maintenance of golf courses, so he left the insurance business to work in golf. Supported and accompanied by his wife, Alice, Pete built a nine-hole course called El Dorado, now Royal Oak Country Club, and an 18-hole course, Heather Hills, now named Maple Creek Country Club, both in his home state of Indiana.

Dye's subsequent designs were influenced by a 1963 trip to Scotland. After touring Scottish courses, Dye began to incorporate such concepts into his own work. Besides being unique and incomparable, his designs are also environmentally friendly.

The turf sessions Pete attended under Dr. William Daniel fostered his interest in course maintenance, and today his projects feature innovative drainage and irrigation designs and wetlands areas, which help recycle and purify water.

The Don A. Rossi Award will be given at the 2015 Golf Industry Show to be held in San Antonio, February 24, during the GCBAA Opening Reception at the Marriott Riverwalk Hotel. For those interested in attending the award presentation, call the GCBAA executive office at 402/476-4444.

About the GCBAA and the GCBAA Foundation

The Golf Course Builders Association of America is a nonprofit trade group of the world's foremost golf course builders and leading suppliers to the golf course construction industry. It was founded in the early 1970s and its members represent all segments of the industry. The GCBAA Foundation is the charitable arm of the GCBAA and a separate, 501(c)(3) organization. The GCBAA's national executive office is in Lincoln, Neb.

The above report is courtesy of the GCBAA. For more information, visit www.gcbaa.org.