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By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Pete Dye's golf courses have personality, and he has plenty of personality, too.

Jerry Kelly (left) with Pete Dye

Asked how many projects he works on at any given time, he responds, "One. I am not good enough to do more than one at a time."

His self-deprecating style and comedic timing make Pete a wonderful storyteller. Many of those stories are about his most famous project, the THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

He smiles as he talks about the goats that were used to help clear away the land and underbrush at the home of the PGA TOUR. Unfortunately, one particular goat kept climbing onto the roof of the clubhouse.

Commissioner Deane Beman didn't like the unsightly quadruped's hangout and the goats were removed. Pete still remembers the interloper's name.

He laughs when he tells about his most famous hole, the par-3 17th. He explains that after they dug all the sand out of the area there was nothing but a huge pit. He gives credit to his wife, Alice, for the hole's design. She was the one who suggested an island green. He didn't warm to the idea as quickly. He thought that there should be a bail-out area.

Interestingly enough, the hole that became one of the most famous in golf also created something of a trademark for Pete Dye. The railroad ties that he used to bulkhead the green and the surrounding pond have become a signature for his designs.

Pete tells another story about the project nearly getting stopped in its tracks. The bank that was financing the original design required plans for the course. Pete didn't have any. The night before the meeting Alice put together some fabricated plans. Pete said there were all sorts of numbers and things that didn't mean a thing. However, the bank was satisfied and the project that became the TPC Sawgrass remained on schedule.

Far more recently, Pete came to the conclusion the course may be in need of serious maintenance. More than a year ago, he took a sod and soil sample to see how much life the soil had in it. As the story goes, he took the sample into Tim Finchem's office and placed it on his desk. The image of the aging designer plopping sod on the desk of the PGA TOUR commissioner never fails to bring a smile.

Dye explained that the time had come for the Stadium Course to get a facelift. Finchem agreed and the result is the most technologically advanced golf course in the world.

When Pete Dye discusses the massive undertaking you can see the passion in his face. It is obvious that he not only loves his job but that he is still having a heck of a lot of fun.

Jim Furyk characterizes Pete Dye's courses as "Being intimidating to look at." There is no question about that. Pete's golf courses require players to play to certain spots. That is why they stand the test of time.

While the game has gone through a technological revolution in recent years, many courses have had to grow to accommodate the longer ball. Pete's courses tend to maintain their difficulty and their playability even with players bombing drives well over 300 yards.

The list of past champions at THE PLAYERS Championship speaks to the fact that Dye's course doesn't tend to favor any type of player. The Stadium Course is a complete test of a player's game.

Quality shotmaking and the ability to move iron shots in both directions the focal point of the famed course. Certainly a good short game is required. Around the greens there are pot bunkers and run off areas that can be diabolical. But quality shots are rewarded.

Pete Dye's golf courses tell a story. They are works of art and this is his masterpiece. The Stadium Course at the TPC Sawgrass is once again on display, and Pete is very pleased with the renovation. Whatever the outcome this weekend, it should be a heck of a story.