A few years ago I was at the meeting at Coral Key in Dixon cove which of course is now part of the Mahogany Bay Carnival Cruise Ship Project. After the meeting I was sitting with Mr. Albert Jackson and the conversations soon turned to the Golf course being developed on the North side of Roatan opposite French Harbor.
I asked Albert, if he knew who had designed the course. He told me he thought it was a man by the name of Dye - or something like that. I asked him was it Pete Dye and then Alberts said, "Let me call Danny" - Danny is Danny Mc Nab, Albert's son in law and an associate of the Project that includes the Golf Course. Albert handed me the phone and I immediately asked Danny if it was really the famous Pete Dye who designed the course and he confirmed that it was!
Now let's flash back to the late 70's... I was back in North Carolina on vacation. My best friend and golfing buddy, Tim Wright, invited me to Hilton Head, where he now lives, for a golfing weekend.
Hilton Head is a Resort Island off the South Carolina coast famous for its Golf and Tennis Clubs.
As teenagers and beyond, Tim and I have played all the great courses of the Carolinas including the U.S. Open Site - Pinehurst #2 and the challenging Uwharrie National Course near our hometown.
As we planned the outing Tim reiterated over and over again, "Willie, there is one course on Hilton Head I want you to Play".
The day finally arrived and we were playing that particular golf course. After about three holes I was completely mesmerized or perhaps enthralled would be a better word. The experience was beautiful! The course gently wound its way through the pines of Hilton Head and carefully through the wetlands of the Island. The fairways were narrow, the greens relatively small and the surrounding scenery exquisite. It was like nature on nature and a joyful! Joyful! golfing experience.
After finishing the 18th hold along Calabogie Sound, I asked Tim who in the world designed this course? He told me it was a man by the name of Pete Dye. "Wow", I said. I just wished one day I could meet him.
The course we played was Harbor Town and a PGA Tournament is held there every year. Watch it on TV and you will understand why it is always rated one of the top courses in the world. (The Tournament is the Heritage Open from April 21 through April 24th) |
