Luminant began mining lignite at the Big Brown Mine, near Fairfield, Texas, in 1971. Since then, over 15,000 acres have been mined and reclaimed. In its 41-year history, Big Brown Mine has moved over 2.3 billion cubic yards of earth material and mined an estimated 175 million tons of lignite. Lignite is delivered directly to the nearby power plant, which generates economical and reliable electric power for the citizens of Texas. Mining occurred from 1996-2001, with backfilling and grading of the final pit completed in 2005 and the lake filled to capacity in 2009.
(Photos courtesy of Interstate Mining Compact Commission)
No. 45 on Golf Digest’s ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Courses and No. 9 on Golfweek’s ranking of the Best Modern Courses, Pete Dye Golf Club ingeniously weaves former coal mining remnants and rambunctious terrain into a course that tempts and tests you from the opening tee shot to your final putt.
Inside the Tour magazine featured the course, and noted, “Many of the natural contours and features of the land are incorporated into the design. Old coal cars line the 10th fairway, some bunkers are pulverized coal. Mine portals, exposed strip-mined high walls, a passageway through a deep mine, a coal tipple and creeks and waterfalls utilizing the mine drainage are but a few examples of Pete’s commitment to the land’s heritage. There is no other course like this in the world.” (Photos courtesy of Pete Dye Golf Club)
