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People & the land Architect
Architect
Alice Dye
Alice Dye brought a competitive player’s experience to course design. A winner of more than fifty amateur tournaments, she worked for playable distances for women. Her Two Tee System for Women encouraged Clubs to add another set of forward tees, offering more than one starting distance.1
In the archive 3 Courses at 3 Clubs
Course work
Published course connections in the archive.
- Co-design
- Co-designOriginal Stadium Course design
- ConsultingContribution of the seventeenth-hole island-green concept.
- Co-designOriginal Straits course co-design with Pete Dye
Playable distances, and an island green
At the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, the seventeenth hole began with a small pond near the green, the putting area. Builders kept excavating the useful sand until water surrounded nearly all of it. After seeing the construction site, Alice suggested making the green an island. TPC Sawgrass credits her with the idea.2
She worked alongside Pete Dye in the design and construction of their first course in Indianapolis, and continued as co-designer at Crooked Stick, Harbour Town and other courses. Her contribution included both making courses and considering how different players would use them.1
Dye joined the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1983. She became its first woman president, serving from 1997 to 1998.1
Sources and record notes6 references
Sources for this history
- American Society of Golf Course Architects: Alice Dye remembrance
American Society of Golf Course Architects
Playing record; playable yardages and Two Tee System; island green; co-designs; membership and presidency.
Consulted 2026-11-06 - TPC Sawgrass: History
TPC Sawgrass
History of TPC Sawgrass: stadium-course purpose and the seventeenth-hole excavation and Alice Dye account.
Consulted 2026-11-06
Architect record sources
- Crooked Stick Golf Club (opens in a new tab)Architect identity · Course design
- Pete Dye Society: Course Catalog (opens in a new tab)Course design
- TPC Sawgrass (opens in a new tab)Course design
- PGA of America: Whistling Straits ready to take centerstage for Ryder Cup (opens in a new tab)Course design