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"Bury Me in a Pot Bunker": Pete Dye's Legacy at Teeth of the Dog
Written by
Emily Gibbins-McBride
A Formidable Test
Beside the vast ocean hazard, the pot bunker might appear modest by comparison, but appearances are deceptive. Deep-set with steep faces, it leaves little room for manoeuvre and makes even a straightforward recovery a formidable task. Finding yourself in its depths can quickly turn a promising hole into a serious test of skill, patience and a carefully judged escape.
It is this contrast that gives the eighth its character. With the Caribbean stretching out alongside the fairway, the hole presents two very different hazards: one defined by its sheer scale, the other by its unforgiving design. Both demand precision, but the pot bunker has earned a particularly special place in the course's history.
A Lasting Tribute to Pete Dye
The bunker also holds a particularly special place in the history of Teeth of the Dog. Pete Dye, the honoured course architect behind its design, titled his memoir Bury Me in a Pot Bunker, reflecting his enduring fascination with the feature. Following his death in 2020, his ashes were laid to rest in this very bunker, making it an extraordinary tribute to the man whose vision shaped the course.
A plaque set into the neighbouring coral-stone wall commemorates Dye, displaying his portrait and signature alongside his own reflections on the game. It is a fittingly personal memorial, woven into the landscape of one of his most celebrated creations.
Where Day 2 Gets Serious
Set against the Caribbean coastline of Casa de Campo, Teeth of the Dog provides a spectacular setting for the final round of the Lürssen Golf Challenge on Sunday 20th December. As competitors return for Day 2, hole 8 presents an opportunity to gain ground or surrender valuable shots, with its infamous bunker ready to punish even the slightest miscalculation.
Following Jerry Pate's careful restoration, the course continues to honour Dye's original vision. At the eighth, his legacy is quite literally part of the game: a formidable golfing challenge, a memorable landmark and a fitting place for one of the sport's great architects to be remembered.
My opportunity to mold God's earth into a test that golfers can enjoy has given me great satisfaction.
Pete Dye