Today, Hilton Head Island golf courses are known around the world for challenging play and outstanding resort amenities. But in 1969, Hilton Head Island was just a little-known Lowcountry treasure. So
when Sea Pines developer Charles Fraser announced a PGA-level tournament would be held at the newly created Harbour Town Golf Links over Thanksgiving weekend, people had their doubts. An unfamiliar course on a little-known island on a holiday weekend? There was no guarantee the big names in golf would be there for the first Heritage Classic. But when both Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus (who had helped legendary golf course designer Pete Dye lay out the course) committed to play, people bega
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| The RBC Heritage |
| The RBC Heritage is now held the week after the Masters, and the original purse of $100,000 ($770,000 in today’s dollars) has jumped to $20 million. The fan base has grown, too, thanks in part to extensive TV coverage by both CBS and The Golf Channel. Each year, more than 100,000 spectators arrive from across the US and around the globe, bringing an estimated $102 million annually to the state. And each year, the RBC Heritage leaderboard features some of the biggest names and brightest stars in the sport. |
| Today, Hilton Head Island golf courses are known around the world for challenging play and outstanding resort amenities. But in 1969, Hilton Head Island was just a little-known Lowcountry treasure. So when Sea Pines developer Charles Fraser announced a PGA-level tournament would be held at the newly created Harbour Town Golf Links over Thanksgiving weekend, people had their doubts. An unfamiliar course on a little-known island on a holiday weekend? There was no guarantee the big names in golf would be there for the first Heritage Classic. But when both Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus (who had helped legendary golf course designer Pete Dye lay out the course) committed to play, people began to realize the Heritage Classic was going to be something special. Palmer went on to win the inaugural Heritage Classic, his first victory in 14 months, drawing even more press coverage than usual. Commentators and journalists praised Dye’s new links course and soon everyone knew that Hilton Head Island was THE new resort destination. |
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