"Pete Dye Golf Courses" book chronicles a legend

Depending upon what camp you sit in, Pete Dye is either a beloved innovator or an irrational maniac when it comes to golf course architecture.

Love him or hate him, there’s no disputing his impact on the game.

Dye, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last November, tells his story to the world with the book, “Pete Dye Golf Courses: Fifty years of Visionary Design” by Joel Zuckerman.

So much has been written about Dye, and his courses photographed so often, that the book’s best attribute is how it sheds new light, splashed with some new photography, about some of the game’s greatest courses he created - the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, TPC of Sawgrass, Harbour Town Golf Links and the Blackwolf Run golf courses in Kohler, Wisconsin. I’ve played all of them, and they’re all thrillers.

Dye is a colorful character who considers himself a dirt pusher more than artistic architect. His unique personality makes Zuckerman’s job detailing his career that much easier. The book was rated one of the 10-best of 2008 by golf.com. I tend to agree.

The book, published by Harry N. Abrams Inc. (www.hnabooks.com), costs $50.

BTW, check out Joel Zuckerman’s golf blog here on the WorldGolf.com Network.