Perry O’Neal Dye, 68, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 8th in Denver, Colorado.
Perry was born September 21st, 1952, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Alice and Pete (Paul) Dye. He grew up in Indianapolis, attending the Orchard School and spending summers in Culver, Indiana on Lake Maxinkuckee. After attending the The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Massachusetts, Perry moved to Denver to attend the University of Denver where he met the love of his life Ann (Hibbard) Dye who he married in 1974. After a brief stint in Real Estate, Perry decided to follow in his parent’s footsteps and become a golf course designer.
Over the decades Perry has not only been an integral part of Pete and Alice Dye's design team, part of the inner circle and 'brain trust,' but he's also gone on to great acclaim with dozens of solo projects around the world. Starting in Colorado, where he's made his home for many years, Perry’s earliest creations include TPC Plum Creek, Riverdale Dunes and Glenmoor Country Club, all located in the Denver suburbs. He spent his career working all over the world building dozens of renowned courses through the western United States, Europe, the Far East and Latin America.
With over 80 courses to his credit, Perry was truly dedicated to golf: he promoted the growth of the golf course industry by cooperating with and supporting industry and professional groups, civic organizations, and the general public. He has spoken at conferences held throughout the world on various topics affecting golf course design and construction. A past president and member of the Golf Course Builders Association of America, in 2004, Perry received the inaugural Perry Dye Award, which honors "exceptional individuals who have unselfishly contributed their influence to foster positive changes for the association and have continually endeavored to make it better.”
Perry gave so many a hand up in their lives and careers, helping them attend college and find jobs in the golf industry. He will be lovingly remembered for his adventurous spirit, unwavering kindness, dependability, big personality and easy-going disposition. He made a lasting impression on everyone he met and demonstrated compassion, integrity and an unwavering loyalty and generosity to those he held close. Perry lived his life to the fullest. He was known for throwing the best parties and always making weddings, birthdays and holidays for his friends and family the most memorable of celebrations. He was a supporting, loving husband, wonderful father and the ultimate “Pop-pop” to his grandchildren, whom he adored.
Perry enjoyed playing golf and was also an avid fisherman, first learning to bonefish in the Bahamas with his Grandmother Lucy. He also loved spending summers at his cottage in Culver, Indiana with his family, teaching his children and grandchildren how to play golf, waterski, sail, fish and to treasure the amazing Maxinkuckee sunsets.
Perry is survived by his wife Ann, children and their spouses Lucy (Erik) Bowman and Lilly (Ross) Harmon, grandchildren Brooks and Margaret Harmon and brother Paul Burke Dye (Jean).
As Perry would say “Keep it in the fairway.” In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Golf Course Builders Association of America Foundation at 6040 South 58th Street Suite D Lincoln, NE 68516 (information@gcbaa.org) or The International Circle of Friends, Inc., 12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 208, Wellington, FL 33414 (www.internationalcircle.org).
A celebration of life will be held in the early fall - details to come.
