Pete Dye, a name synonymous with revolutionary and challenging golf course design, left an indelible mark on the sport. Alongside his wife Alice, Dye’s 1963 tour of British Isles courses sparked a design philosophy that redefined American golf architecture. His designs are renowned for their strategic complexity, deceptive aesthetics, and a test of skill that intimidates and rewards in equal measure. From the dramatic water hazards to the iconic island greens, a Pete Dye course is an unforgettable experience for any golfer.
Dye’s influence extends beyond his own creations. Mentoring renowned designers like Tom Doak and Bill Coore, his legacy continues to shape the landscape of modern golf. With 14 courses featured in Golf Digest’s prestigious “America’s 100 Greatest” and “Second 100 Greatest” lists, Dye’s impact is undeniable, second only to Tom Fazio in representation. His courses have hosted major championships, Ryder Cups, and the coveted Players Championship, solidifying his place as a true legend in golf architecture.
This article, drawing upon the expert scores from Golf Digest’s 1,800 course-ranking panelists, presents a definitive ranking of the best Pete Dye Courses in the United States. Please note that this ranking focuses exclusively on U.S. based courses, and does not include international masterpieces like Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo. Explore this meticulously curated list to discover the pinnacle of Pete Dye’s design genius and plan your next golfing adventure. For a deeper dive, click through to each course page to access bonus photography and detailed reviews from Golf Digest’s panelists. We also encourage you to contribute your own ratings and reviews, adding your voice to the ongoing conversation about these exceptional courses.
1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course, South Carolina
Public Course, Kiawah Island, SC
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.8
Panelist Reviews: 47
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is often cited as the first course intentionally designed to host a major event – the 1991 Ryder Cup. This spectacular layout masterfully blends links-style features with lagoon landscapes, resulting in what many consider Pete Dye’s most formidable and ingenious creation. Sawgrass edges every hole, demanding precision and strategy from tee to green. The greens themselves are notoriously undulating, adding another layer of challenge to putting. Bunkers seamlessly blend into the surrounding sand dunes, creating a visually stunning yet strategically demanding environment.
Stretching along nearly three miles of Atlantic coastline, the Ocean Course is a testament to Dye’s design philosophy and his collaboration with his wife, Alice. Following Alice’s suggestion, Dye elevated the fairways and greens to provide golfers with breathtaking views of the Atlantic surf. However, this coastal elevation also exposes every shot and putt to the ever-present and often fierce coastal winds, making club selection and course management paramount. The Ocean Course cemented its legendary status when Phil Mickelson secured an unforgettable victory at the 2021 PGA Championship on this very ground.
Explore our full review of The Ocean Course
2. Whistling Straits: Straits Course, Wisconsin
Public Course, Sheboygan, WI
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.7
Panelist Reviews: 52
Whistling Straits’ Straits Course is a remarkable transformation of a flat, abandoned army air base along Lake Michigan into an authentic Irish links experience. Pete Dye masterfully sculpted this landscape, creating rugged fairways and windswept greens reminiscent of Ballybunion. A defining feature of Whistling Straits is its staggering number of bunkers – over 1,000 at last count. Adding to the links feel, there are no rakes provided, encouraging golfers to embrace the “rub of the green” and the unpredictable nature of links golf.
This course is designed to challenge even the most seasoned professionals, proven by its hosting of three PGA Championships, the 2007 U.S. Senior Open, and the 2021 Ryder Cup. The Straits Course is a true test of skill, strategy, and mental fortitude, demanding creative shot-making and adaptability to the ever-changing conditions dictated by the Lake Michigan winds. It exemplifies Pete Dye’s ability to create a world-class golfing experience in seemingly unlikely locations.
Explore our full review of Whistling Straits: Straits Course
3. The Honors Course, Tennessee
Private Course, Ooltewah, TN
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.7
Panelist Reviews: 17
When The Honors Course debuted in the early 1980s, it was considered a radical departure from conventional design. Pete Dye incorporated acres of towering native-grass rough, resilient Zoysiagrass fairways, and intimidating greens perched atop imposing rock bulkheads. Today, The Honors Course is revered as a meticulously preserved example of Dye’s signature “death-or-glory” architectural style. It demands bold shot-making and precise execution, with little margin for error.
Dye largely maintained the original design throughout his career, making only minor adjustments in the late 1990s and 2008 to green contours and bunkering. In 2015, a new practice facility was added by Georgia architect Bill Bergin, and Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner further refined the course in 2022, ensuring its continued relevance and challenge for modern golfers. The Honors Course remains a testament to Dye’s vision and his commitment to creating demanding yet rewarding golf experiences.
Explore our full review of The Honors Course
4. TPC Sawgrass: Stadium Course, Florida
Public Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.6
Panelist Reviews: 23
The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is the embodiment of PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman’s vision for a true “stadium” golf experience. Designed by Pete Dye in 1980, the course was conceived to rigorously test the world’s best golfers. Dye achieved this by masterfully blending demands for distance with the precision of target golf. The greens are characteristically defended by Dye’s “grenade attack architecture” – a collection of random lumps, bumps, and hollows that punish imprecise approaches.
The course’s signature hole, and perhaps the most iconic in golf, is the par-3 17th island green. This heart-stopping hole offers no bailout and demands absolute precision, especially when the Atlantic coast winds are swirling. The 17th at Sawgrass has inspired countless imitation island greens worldwide. To further enhance the excitement for tournament play, Steve Wenzloff of PGA Tour Design Services recently remodeled several holes, notably transforming the 12th into a drivable par 4, adding another layer of strategic intrigue to this legendary course.
Explore our full review of TPC Sawgrass: Stadium Course
5. The Golf Club, Ohio
Private Course, New Albany, OH
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.5
Panelist Reviews: 18
Built in 1966, The Golf Club represents a pivotal point in Pete Dye’s design evolution. It embodies his transition towards “lay-of-the-land” layouts, inspired by his 1963 tour of Scottish courses. Here, Dye reintroduced deception, strategic misdirection, and the use of railroad ties into American golf architecture. The construction of The Golf Club attracted the attention of local golf prodigy Jack Nicklaus, who visited frequently and offered valuable suggestions. This collaboration led to a five-year design partnership between Dye and Nicklaus, further shaping the landscape of golf course design.
The Golf Club remained largely untouched for nearly 45 years until Pete Dye himself returned in 2014 to rebuild holes. He subtly adjusted some original green contours to better suit modern green speeds and relocated the fifth green, adding a more complex putting surface characteristic of his later designs. These modifications serve as a quiet reminder of the evolution of Dye’s design philosophy throughout his illustrious career.
Explore our full review of The Golf Club
6. Oak Tree National, Oklahoma
Private Course, Edmond, OK
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.5
Panelist Reviews: 12
Originally conceived as the men’s-only Oak Tree Golf Club, Oak Tree National drew inspiration from earlier Pete Dye designs. The par-3 eighth hole, for instance, bears a striking resemblance to the famed 17th at Harbour Town, even featuring a similar basket trap on the back left. Oak Tree National has long been recognized as one of Pete Dye’s most demanding tests of golf. Its hilly terrain is punctuated by numerous water hazards, deep bunkers guarding notoriously small greens, and the ever-present challenge of Oklahoma winds and thick Bermudagrass rough.
In recent years, Oak Tree National has become a fixture on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, hosting the 2006 Senior PGA Championship and the 2014 Senior U.S. Open. Recent refinements by Tripp Davis have ensured that Dye’s original architectural vision remains sharp and relevant for today’s game. Oak Tree National stands as a testament to Dye’s ability to create courses that are both beautiful and brutally challenging.
Explore our full review of Oak Tree National
7. Pete Dye Golf Club, West Virginia
Private Course, Bridgeport, WV
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.8
Panelist Reviews: 17
Similar to Pikewood National (another top-ranked course), Pete Dye Golf Club is built atop a West Virginia mining deposit, specifically an active coal mine. This unique setting is woven into the course’s identity, with visible evidence of its industrial heritage throughout. A strip-mine wall flanks the par-5 eighth hole, black cinder bunkers define the par-4 sixth, and an abandoned coal train adds character to the dogleg on the 10th. Remarkably, a genuine coal mine shaft even serves as a passageway to the seventh tee.
The extended construction period meant that Dye’s design style evolved during the course’s development. Early holes feature the railroad-tie motifs reminiscent of Oak Tree National, while later holes showcase the echo-chamber bunkering style of Whistling Straits. This blend of design periods creates a fascinating and unique golfing experience, showcasing the breadth of Pete Dye’s architectural vocabulary.
Explore our full review of Pete Dye Golf Club
8. Crooked Stick Golf Club, Indiana
Private Course, Carmel, IN
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.4
Panelist Reviews: 14
Crooked Stick is widely recognized as the course where “Pete Dye became Pete Dye.” Inspired by an extensive tour of British courses, Pete Dye conceived Crooked Stick, located the land, secured funding, and designed the course himself. He deliberately rejected conventional golf hole designs in favor of more radical concepts, utilizing vertical telephone poles to create dramatic elevation changes and expansive sand areas to emulate dunes. Notably, Dye personally built the course, enlisting the help of his wife Alice and sons Perry and P.B. in the construction process.
The back nine opened first in 1965, featuring Mackenzie-style boomerang greens, followed by the front nine two years later, incorporating lines and angles inspired by Donald Ross. Crooked Stick holds the distinction of being the first Pete Dye course to host a major championship, the 1991 PGA Championship, solidifying its place in golf history and marking a turning point in Dye’s career.
Explore our full review of Crooked Stick Golf Club
9. Blackwolf Run: River Course, Wisconsin
Public Course, Kohler, WI
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.4
Panelist Reviews: 39
Pete Dye’s vision for the River Course at Blackwolf Run involved convincing owner Herb Kohler to essentially dismantle an already award-winning course. Dye combined the front nine of the original 18-hole Blackwolf Course with nine newly constructed holes nestled within a sweeping bend of the Sheboygan River to create the River Course. This bold move resulted in some of Dye’s most thrilling and memorable holes.
Highlights include the risk-reward par-4 ninth with multiple playing options, the uniquely shaped boomerang par-5 11th, and the formidable par-4 18th. For major tournaments like the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, Dye’s original 18-hole layout was utilized. However, Golf Digest’s rankings and reviews focus on the River Course configuration, which is available for everyday play. The River Course showcases Dye’s willingness to innovate and push boundaries, even when it meant reimagining existing masterpieces.
Explore our full review of Blackwolf Run: River Course
10. French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course, Indiana
Public Course, French Lick, IN
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.4
Panelist Reviews: 17
The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort, named Golf Digest’s Best New Public Course in 2009, demonstrated that even at the age of 80, Pete Dye was still brimming with fresh and innovative ideas. This mountaintop design features distinctive rumpled chipping swales, charming country-lane cart paths, and dramatic “volcano” bunkers. Stretching over 8,100 yards from the championship tees, it is undeniably a long course, though not the first to exceed 8,000 yards in Golf Digest’s rankings.
While the prodigious yardage might be a talking point, the lasting impressions of Dye’s French Lick masterpiece are the panoramic, multi-mile views, the generous fairways, and the greens that seemingly extend over the edges of the dramatic land formations. The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is a testament to Dye’s enduring creativity and his ability to craft unforgettable golfing experiences in spectacular settings.
Explore our full review of French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course
11. The Dye Course at White Oak, Florida
Private Course, Yulee, FL
Golf Digest Ranking Score: Not Available
(2022 Best New Private Course)
Panelist Reviews: Not Available
From Golf Digest Architecture Editor Derek Duncan: The Dye Course at White Oak, recognized as Golf Digest’s 2022 Best New Private Course, is among the most exclusive golf courses built in recent memory. Nestled on the Florida-Georgia border outside Jacksonville, it enjoys near-complete natural seclusion. Remarkably, it has no members, no clubhouse, and has been played by very few beyond owner Mark Walter’s personal guests and Golf Digest panelists.
Walter commissioned Pete Dye to design the course in 2013. However, by the time construction began in 2017, Dye’s declining health meant he could no longer actively oversee the project. The responsibility for completing White Oak fell to Allan MacCurrach, a longtime confidant and veteran course builder who had collaborated with Dye on over 20 previous projects. MacCurrach skillfully interpreted Dye’s vision based on extensive prior discussions and his own deep understanding of Dye’s design principles.
Explore our full review of The Dye Course at White Oak
12. Harbour Town Golf Links, South Carolina
Public Course, Hilton Head Island, SC
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.5
Panelist Reviews: 42
In the late 1960s, Jack Nicklaus secured the design contract for Harbour Town but entrusted the design to his new partner, Pete Dye. Dye was determined to create a course that stood apart from the work of Robert Trent Jones, a leading designer of the era. Upon opening in late 1969, Harbour Town immediately garnered acclaim, debuting in America’s 100 Greatest as a Top 10 course. It represented a radical departure from the prevailing golf course aesthetics of the time.
Harbour Town featured no elaborate mounding, no elevated tees or greens – instead, it emphasized a low-profile design with abrupt transitions. Tiny greens perched precariously on railroad ties directly over water hazards, and strategically placed trees forced golfers to think carefully about their shot selection. Harbour Town not only brought Pete Dye national recognition but also launched Jack Nicklaus’s career in golf course design. Pete’s wife, Alice, also played a crucial role, particularly in shaping the distinctive 13th green, a challenging feature bordered by cypress planks.
Explore our full review of Harbour Town Golf Links
13. Medalist Golf Club, Florida
Private Course, Hobe Sound, FL
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.3
Panelist Reviews: 9
Medalist Golf Club is a long and demanding course, stretching to approximately 7,600 yards from the tips. This length is essential, given its membership roster which includes golf icons like Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka. These top professionals appreciate Medalist for its relaxed atmosphere and convenient location, but also for its rigorous test of driving ability. The holes wind through a protected sanctuary of wetlands and low scrub vegetation, exposed to strong Atlantic crosswinds from every direction.
Pete Dye collaborated with Greg Norman (for one of Norman’s first U.S. designs) on Medalist. The course showcases Dye’s signature S-shaped holes curving around sand buffers, subtle ground contours, and small, low-profile greens that blend seamlessly into short-grass surrounds. While the course underwent modifications in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a 2015 renovation by Bobby Weed successfully restored much of Dye’s original design character.
Explore our full review of Medalist Golf Club
14. Long Cove Club, South Carolina
Private Course, Hilton Head Island, SC
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.4
Panelist Reviews: 8
Long Cove Club’s initial routing was conceived by Frank Duane and Arnold Palmer in the early 1970s. Pete Dye was subsequently offered the design job but initially declined due to his commitment to TPC Sawgrass. However, after completing TPC, Dye was persuaded to take on Long Cove. Having already designed Harbour Town nearby, Dye aimed for a different aesthetic at Long Cove. He incorporated knobs, mounds, framing berms, remarkably large greens, and two holes that skirt the Colleton River.
Dye’s construction crew included several young individuals who would later become prominent golf architects, including Bobby Weed, Tom Doak, and Pete’s son P.B. Dye. In 2018, Bobby Weed, designer of Olde Farm, was chosen to restore Pete’s original design, which had become overgrown over time. This restoration re-emphasized the ground game, allowing golfers to again run the ball onto 16 of the 18 greens, a key feature of Dye’s original vision.
Explore our full review of Long Cove Club
15. PGA West: Stadium Course, California
Public Course, La Quinta, CA
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.0
Panelist Reviews: 28
Originally a private club, the Stadium Course at PGA West was part of the Bob Hope Desert Classic rotation. However, some professional golfers, finding it excessively difficult, petitioned for its removal (it has since been reinstated). PGA West Stadium Course is Pete Dye at his most audacious and challenging. It features a finish reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass: a risk-reward par-5 16th (nicknamed “San Andreas Fault”), a short par-3 17th to an island green, and a demanding par-4 18th with water hazard extending all the way to the green.
While considered by some to be aesthetically challenging and brutally difficult by 1980s standards, the Stadium Course has matured into a respected piece of architecture representing the latter part of Dye’s extreme design phase. In 2024, Tim Liddy, a protégé of Dye, returned to PGA West to oversee a restoration project aimed at returning putting surfaces and bunker complexes to their original dimensions, ensuring the preservation of Dye’s original design intent.
Explore our full review of PGA West: Stadium Course
16. Austin Country Club, Texas
Private Course, Austin, TX
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.0
Panelist Reviews: 8
Austin Country Club, established in 1899, is intrinsically linked to the legendary golf instructor Harvey Penick. Penick’s association with the club spanned an incredible 82 years, beginning as a caddie at the club’s original location. He progressed through various roles, becoming head professional in 1923 at the young age of 18. Over his career, Penick mentored numerous golf luminaries, including Kathy Whitworth, Ben Crenshaw, and Tom Kite.
In 1984, the club relocated to its current site along the banks of the Colorado River, just north of downtown Austin. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Pennybacker Bridge, the Pete Dye designed course hosted the prestigious WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event from 2016 to 2023. Austin Country Club combines a rich history with a challenging and strategically designed course, making it a significant venue in the world of golf.
Explore our full review of Austin Country Club
17. Blackwolf Run: Meadow Valleys, Wisconsin
Public Course, Kohler, WI
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.0
Panelist Reviews: 19
Even before Pete Dye completed the River Course at Blackwolf Run, he had already reconfigured the original Blackwolf Course. Dye merged the front nine of the original layout with a newly constructed nine to create the Meadow Valleys Course. While the Sheboygan River is less prominent on Meadow Valleys compared to the River Course (except for the 18th hole which plays over it), the course still offers plenty of classic Dye challenges – deep bunkers and strategically demanding pin positions.
Meadow Valleys provides a distinct but equally compelling golfing experience compared to its sister course, the River Course, at Blackwolf Run. It showcases Dye’s versatility and his ability to create diverse and engaging layouts within the same resort setting.
Explore our full review of Blackwolf Run: Meadow Valleys
18. Nemacolin: Mystic Rock, Pennsylvania
Public Course, Farmington, PA
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.2
Panelist Reviews: 8
Mystic Rock stands out as one of Pete Dye’s more unconventional designs, characterized by its predominantly oval greens and rectangular bunkers. The course’s construction, blasted from solid rock, results in distinctive features such as fields of boulders in the rough and water hazards bulkheaded with stacked stone. Mystic Rock concludes with a signature Dye finish: a risk-reward par-5 16th, a challenging 205-yard par-3 17th over water, and a strong par-4 18th.
The 18th hole at Mystic Rock was rebuilt and lengthened prior to the course hosting the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic from 2003 to 2006. Mystic Rock offers a unique and visually striking golfing experience, showcasing Dye’s ability to adapt his design principles to dramatic and challenging terrains.
Explore our full review of Nemacolin: Mystic Rock
19. The Dye Preserve Golf Club, Florida
Private Course, Jupiter, FL
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.2
Panelist Reviews: 12
Located slightly inland in Jupiter, Florida, The Dye Preserve Golf Club embodies many of Pete Dye’s defining design characteristics. These include signature railroad tie-lined water hazards, deep pot bunkers, teardrop mounding, and intimidating sightlines that demand precision and strategic thinking. With the course stretching to nearly 7,300 yards from the tips and a course rating just below 76, The Dye Preserve offers a stern test for golfers of all skill levels.
Like many courses in the Jupiter area, The Dye Preserve counts numerous PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players among its members, a testament to the quality and challenge of the golf course. It represents a classic example of Pete Dye’s ability to create courses that are both visually striking and exceptionally demanding.
Explore our full review of The Dye Preserve Golf Club
20. Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, Virginia
Public Course, Radford, VA
Golf Digest Ranking Score: 4.0
Panelist Reviews: 12
A generous donation from the Goodwin family in 2003 enabled a complete redesign of an existing 18-hole layout along the New River in Radford, Virginia, by Pete Dye. The resulting Pete Dye River Course earned fourth place in Golf Digest’s Best Remodel rankings of 2006, the highest ranking awarded to a public facility that year. The course, home to both Virginia Tech and Radford University’s golf teams, has since gained a reputation as one of the premier collegiate golf courses in the United States.
The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech exemplifies Dye’s ability to transform existing courses into exceptional golfing experiences. It provides a challenging and memorable layout for both collegiate players and the general public, further solidifying Dye’s legacy in golf course architecture.
Explore our full review of Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech
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