By HOWARD WARD

PINEHURST – It’s tough to get Dan Maples talking about himself. He’d rather tell about the exploits of his father, legendary course architect Ellis Maples. Or maybe about some of the shenanigans he and brothers Joe, Don and David were involved in as youngsters.

"My father never liked the limelight," Maples said, "and I’m pretty much the same way. I usually try to dodge the cameras."

Despite his reluctance, the limelight often shines on the 53-year-old Maples. When you build high-profile courses such as Marsh Harbor, Oyster Bay, The Pit, Cramer Mountain, the Club at Longleaf, Rocky River, Little River, the Maples Course at Sea Trail, The Witch, the Wizard and Man ‘O War, the cameras seek you out.

Those are just some of the golf courses Maples has built, but they are all a mixture of tradition, innovation and enjoyment. The tradition came from learning under his father, Ellis, who trained and worked under the great Donald Ross. Dan’s uncle, Frank Maples, was the chief builder for Ross during the Pinehurst years, when such wonderful courses as Pinehurst No. 2, Mid Pines and Pine Needles were constructed.

Ellis Maples died in 1984 after being credited with designing at least 70 courses in the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia.

Dan Maples has established himself as one of the top course designers in the country and has branched out into course management in recent years. Joe Maples is now retired, after serving 35 years as head professional at Boone Country Club. Don and David work with Dan Maples Designs and are often found on bulldozers at a course under construction.

Maples is currently building a new course at Keith Hills in Buies Creek. His father built the original 18 and he takes great pride in putting his name on the adjoining layout.

"It’s going to be a totally different course from Keith Hills," he said, "but I think it will make a great fit. We’ve already got five holes sodded and the rest is coming along nicely."

Maples readily admits that he draws heavily on the techniques his father used.

"That’s ingrained in me," he said. "I grew up on golf courses and loved working with the machinery. When I was kid, I would do anything to drive a golf cart, and I was running a bulldozer as soon as Dad would let me on one."

For Dan, who is 17 years younger than his half-brother Joe, almost all of his childhood memories involve golf.

"When Joe was superintendent and head pro at Boone and I was just a kid, I couldn’t stay out of the golf carts," Dan said. "I got in a cart one day and started backing it up when I saw a pull cart behind me. I meant to hit the brakes, but hit the gas pedal instead and just crushed that pull cart.

"I finally got it out from underneath the cart, but it was all bent and broken and I knew Joe was going to kill me. So, I dragged it out in the woods and hid it under some bushes. Joe never found out about it until I told him a few years ago.

"When I was old enough to get my driver’s license, the examiner watched me awhile and then said, ‘You can’t back up with your left foot on the brake.’ But I’ve never been able to break that habit since running over that pull cart."

Dan Maples is obviously a man in love with his profession. When he’s talking about one of his existing courses or describing one of the new ones, his eyes light up with passion.

"I remember more than 15 years ago when Graham Bell and I were walking the property the summer before starting construction on Cramer Mountain (a private course near Charlotte)," he said, "and while it was an absolutely beautiful site, it was heavily wooded and there was no air moving at all. It was so hot our clothes were soaked, and when we came to this little stream, we just walked out into it and sat down with our clothes on.

"We sat there, talking about the plans, and I decided right then that little creek was never going to be damaged."

Maples is as proud of the courses he’s designed as if they were his children. And, in a way, perhaps they are. They certainly display his personality traits. His courses are honest, sometimes demanding, and always fun to play.

"I like to give golfers different looks," he said. "but I don’t believe in tricking things up. A par-4 doesn’t have to be long to be a good hole, either. There are some great short par-4s that require shotmaking and some thought."

Maples smiles a lot when he’s talking about his courses, whether he’s telling you how Little River was built in just three months, or about the rain deluge that almost wiped out Longleaf. He’s proud of his heritage and thankful for the legacy that his family will leave.

"I have so many good memories," he said. And now he’s supplying a lot of good memories for thousands of others.