| Tweet |
Over its 42-year history, the Heritage has been known by many names: The Heritage Classic; The Sea Pines Heritage Classic; The MCI Heritage Classic; The MCI Classic-The Heritage of Golf; The WorldCom Classic-The Heritage of Golf; the MCI Heritage; and the Verizon Heritage. Less formally, it’s has become known to professional golfers as the fun, relaxing week after the highly serious Masters in Augusta, Ga. And to locals, it’s become known as Spring Break for Adults. No matter the name — and we hope there’s a good one next year — the Heritage has had its share of memorable moments. Here are some of our favorites.
BOO WEEKLEY
Just a few of Weekley’s Heritagerelated bon mots:
• Regarding a charity tournament in Philadelphia: “I don’t know if you’ve ever been to downtown Philly. It’s different. Got a lot of concrete. Ain’t no dirt roads.”
• On returning after winning two consecutive Heritage tournaments: “Ain’t nothing different from last year, except now I’m the two-time defending champ. I’m still nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
• Tournament director Steve Wilmot said of Weekley’s participation in the opening ceremonies: “He’s wanting a little bigger cannon.” To which Weekley replied: “I want a live round.”
THE FANS
• As locals know, it’s advisable to avoid swimming in alligatorinfested lagoons. And yet one year, a Heritage fan jumped in a lagoon on the 10th fairway, where he was promptly addressed by a fairly large one. The fan jumped out before things got too chewy, but he lost a flip-flop along the way. The gator is believed to have kept it.
• The Heritage also traditionally marks unofficial start of the boating season. In 2010, some fans misjudged the tides in Calibogue Sound and found themselves a bit close to shore when the tide went out and stranded their boat in the pluff mud. And though they had their troubles that day, they also had a great viewing spot on the 18th green — at least until the tide came back in.
CLEVER APPAREL
• The Heritage Foundation has given out millions over the years in scholarships and to local charities. But one of the tournament’s most interesting donations came in 2010, when organizers sent 300 Heritage shirts and jackets to Cameroon.
• Did you know that the Heritage tartan is trademarked and registered in Scotland? And while we love the traditional jacket, the 1999 winner of the Heritage, Glen Day, was promised matching pants if he won the tournament for a second time. Norm Harberger, then-chair of the board of Sea Pines Associates, quipped, “Turns out this was not a positive incentive.”
ODDS & ENDS
• At the first tournament in 1969, just before the first golfers of the day were ready to tee off, Charles Fraser decided he didn’t like the red stakes that warned golfers about alligators, so he personally walked the course pulling them up.
• Who says golf isn’t a contact sport? In 2000, golfer Rich Beam was hit in the lower leg by a metal rod used to anchor the ropes surrounding the gallery as he was walking to the 9th tee. He left and didn’t return to the tournament.
• Legend has it that one year a player hit four people in one round — including one of his family members.
• Various politicos make appearances every year at the Heritage. Former Gov. Mark Sanford has been spotted, as has U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. No lie. One year he brought along a friend, a fellow by the name of John Boehner.
• The folks who run the Heritage see no reason to waste perfectly good signage. With that in mind, they are using the “Quiet” signs from last year by cutting off the top of them, and lopping off the words “Verizon Heritage.” (And be on the lookout for more localized signs that simply read “Hush Y’all.”
