EarthGolf

One of Pete Dye’s early designs got a new lease on life from the architect. Designed 35 years ago, the course had lost a lot of its luster.

After shutting down 13 months for extensive renovations, the Cardinal is back open for business and bogeys. Raleigh businessman John McConnell bought the club last year and immediately brought back Dye to return the course to its old glory.

On Monday, McConnell, Dye and a few other lucky golfers got a chance to test drive the course before it opens to members Wednesday.

Everyone, it seemed, liked what they saw. Bunkers have been repositioned further down fairways, a nod to the game’s longer-hitting players. Greens that were once slow and bumpy are now smooth and slick thanks to a new irrigation system. And those heavily contoured greens Dye is known for are back.

But it’s not all good news…

Dye, who’s best known for designing Sawgrass, Hilton Head and Whistling Straits, likes to have one signature hole on each course. At the Cardinal, that the hole is the par-3 12th.

Dye’s most famous hole is the island green, the par-3 17th hole he created at Sawgrass. He thinks No. 12 at the Cardinal is even more intimidating.

Originally the hole was about 160 yards across a lake, but Dye moved the tee box around the lake and stretched the hole to 220 yards. The water still comes into play because it runs the entire length of the hole and behind the narrow green.

“I really think it’s my hardest par-3 ever,” said Dye, who lost two balls in the water trying to reach the green Monday. “You can’t ignore the water. It’s everywhere you look.”

I’d really like to know if Dye said he “likes to have one signature hole on each course”. I seriously doubt it.

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