Voted best course in West Virginia by “Golf Digest” and among top 100 in the U.S. by “Golf Magazine,” Pete Dye Golf Course just became even moreunique.

 

The 18-hole course’s “tee to green walk” between hole 6 and 7 – which has also been recognized by the industry – has been renovated into an exhibition coal mine, complete with artifacts celebrating the course’s history.

 

The world-class course is located at the former Pinnickinnick coal mine and camp, opened by Spanish immigrants circa. 1900. As it is believed to be the only historic coal mine to exist on an operating golf course, the exhibition celebrates and honors the community’s hardworking people, the coal traditions of West Virginia and golf course designer, Pete Dye.

 

“It is awesome that you can walk from one green to the tee, but we thought we’d take the experience a little deeper and maybe provide a glimpse into what it was like back then,” said Pete Dye Golf Course Owner Randy Buzzo.

 

Upon entry, golfers and other visitors step back in time to the early 20^th century, taking in sights of a miner and the lanterns and equipment he would have used. There are even canary cages with replica birds – which, back in the day, served as early-warning signals for toxic gases in the mine.

 

The renovation, which began as a vision in August of 2016, is an embellishment of Pete Dye’s vision, Buzzo said.

 

“Of all designers of golf courses, he is one of the most celebrated and for him to incorporate this into the course made it important enough for us to figure out a way to make it a real vital part of the experience,” he said.

 

Golfers from all over the world visit North Central West Virginia just to visit and play the Pete Dye Golf Course, Buzzo said. The recent renovation adds to that overall experience, he said.

 

Pete Dye Golf Course General Manager Donna Baldini Mitchell agrees and said refurbishing of the deep mine passage - located on the front nine of the course between holes 6 and 7 - is one of several improvements Buzzo and his wife Rachael have made to the course since purchasing it in August of 2016. 

The underground passage has always been appreciated, but now holds even more appeal, she said. 

 

"Whether cooling from the heat or using for a temporary shelter during a storm, the deep mine often becomes a haven for members and their guests," Mitchell said. "It is a unique element of the golf course and the renovations have brought it to life again."

Buzzo left the creative process up to Michael Biafore of Biafore Landscape Development, who did research to recreate the authenticity of the coal mine.

 

“Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of specific information on that particular mine, but we were able to locate some mining maps and information dealing with mining at the time,” Biafore said. “Our office really worked at the research, trying to recreate an experience as authentic as possible as you would encounter.”

 

The first step, he said, was to correct the drainage problem which in recent years has left the passage wet and unwelcoming.

 

“It was pretty labor-intensive project,” Biafore said, adding that the process was to channel the water onto a creek which ran along the course. “Once that was done, we could start working on more decorative features.”

 

A low-voltage LED lighting system with authentic-looking bulbs sets the atmosphere, making for the “bones” of the presentation, Biafore said.

 

“Some are hidden from sight, but you can see the effects on the water and the artifacts,” he said.

 

The canary cages, a working minor mannequin and lunch station are embellished with plenty of detail including antique hand drills, dynamite plungers and mine phones, among other items. Some of the items were previously on display – or discovered at the site – and refurbished for inclusion in the exhibit.

 

Some of the renovation work was for functional purposes too.

 

“They needed more tee space on the exit side, so we did some repair to the railroad tie wall, building it out of the railroad ties and extending the stone 18 feet past the original exit,” Biafore said. (See bottom photo.)

 

The overall project is, he said, is among the most unique ones he has done.

 

“I think we’re very pleased,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback, people commenting that (quality wise) it actually rivals the exhibit mine in Beckley.”

 

 

A private club, Pete Dye is located just off Meadowbrook Road, on the outskirts of Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured above are scenes from the coal mine exhibition and of the Pete Dye course. Also pictured is Baldini. See more photos in the gallery below. Take a video tour of the exhibition below.

View Photo Gallery

Pete Dye Golf Course and Exhibition Coal Mine