Daughter n’ Dad on the Dye

Two Generations of Golfers Take in The PGA Village & the National Minority Golf Championships

By Colin Rock

“I’m looking forward to seeing a bobcat or two while we’re out here,” I told my daughter as we rode our cart to the first tee. She looked at me with a frown of curious caution. “Uhmm, I don’t know if I want to see that, Dad,” she said. We were starting our Daughter n’ Dad round at the Pete Dye course at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida, as part of our weekend getaway together. She’s 15 and loves golf and the sun—not necessarily in that order. So I suggested we pack our clubs and bathing suits and head south to see the 23rd PGA National Minority Golf Championships, along with the beach.

I saw it as an opportunity for us to bond in a way that we seldom do. So when I broached the subject, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she was cool with hanging out with Dad for a weekend. In a moment of youthful exuberance, after we really started making plans, she exclaimed “I’m really excited about getting out of here!” “Out of where?”, I asked. “Out of here and going to Florida. I am ready for some sun!” Turns out she also wanted to catch some rays to get the right tan for her upcoming junior prom.

The Pete Dye Course, built in 1999 and completely renovated in 2007, is the most difficult course at the PGA Village. It’s part of a three track compound (along with the Ryder and Wanamaker) that amounts to an unforgettable experience. This compound is also home to The PGA Learning Center, one of the world’s largest and most advanced instructional/practice facilities.

Under her Mom’s guidance, my daughter has been playing golf for over 5 years, and she’s a member of her high school team. In addition to lessons she’s taking back in New Jersey, she expressed a desire to work on getting more distance and control with her driver and short irons during this trip. In anticipation of the challenges in store at the links style, bunker-filled Dye course, we hit some balls the night before our round at the PGA Learning Center driving range. I had a little success working my way out of three of the amazing seven varieties of training bunkers.

The bunker work proved to be a necessary evil. Pete Dye spared no sand in the design of this course. Every hole was a combination of deep pine straw rough, undulating fairways and greens that would rival the toughest X Games motorcycle course. To my left, right, front and back—bunkers were scattered throughout the course like an abundance of deep moon craters. The deftest of touches was required to stay out or get out. The par 3, 13th hole felt like a dry version of the infamous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, with a concave green surrounded by nothing but a beach moat.

I cherished talking strategy with my daughter. Our conversation not only focused on the course, but also her future. The round of golf together became a metaphor for staying positive, focusing on what’s needed to be successful, and following through. I wasn’t there to teach or preach, but just to enjoy a day conquering the course. She took incredible pictures and they’ll be memories that I’m sure we’ll both treasure.

The annual PGA National Minority Golf Championships is a gathering of the nation’s sharpest and most talented collegiate golfers. HBCU’s are well represented in the field of competitors. It’s a three round tournament set up for team and individual stroke play. My daughter was able to benefit from being surrounded by coaches, peers and role models. One such role model, Head PGA Professional Holly Taylor, is the first female ever to hold that position at the PGA Village.
When my daughter and I were done with the course we explored St. Lucie County and the surrounding region’s premier sites. Fort Pierce, about 30 minutes to the north, is the gateway to Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, a public beach with pavilions, tables and grills to make the most of your family outing. Fort Pierce is also the final resting place of Zora Neal Hurston, the African-American playwright and novelist, best known for her 1937 work, Their Eyes Were Watching God. We enjoyed taking some time away from the bunkers to trace her impact on the community by following the Zora Neal Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail and stopping by the library that bares her name.

History can also be witnessed at the Historical Center in the PGA Village. The legacy of the PGA is chronicled since its inception in 1916, including a display on the African American contribution to the game. My daughter was intrigued by the evolution of the equipment—why woods are still called woods even though they are made of all sorts of high-tech metals today.

Well, we didn’t see any bobcats during our round, but a wild hare smartly hopped into the bush as a hawk circled above. That was my National Geographic bonding moment – a lesson in making smart moves to protect your future. I am sure my daughter took that in, along with all of the other fun we had. When we arrived home she said “Thanks, Dad.” And that’s all I needed to hear.