Hilton Head News

The 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing takes place at Harbour Town Golf Links April 12-18. The prestigious event will feature limited spectators on-site and strict health and safety protocols, which you can learn about in our RBC Heritage Guide. The tournament, held annually since 1969, is expected to feature some of the world's best golfers. Webb Simpson returns to defend his title, and Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are scheduled to compete. Our guide offers a snapshot of some of the top golfers set to participate, offers an update on the Heritage's safety protocols and takes a look at the economic impact in our community. The guide also provides a complete listing of the televison coverage. Enjoy the action.

TEAM RBC EMBODIES PINNACLE OF PERFORMANCE

Team RBC was established in 2009 and consists of 14 elite male and female golfers who embody the pinnacle of golf performance, according to Heritage Classic Foundation marketing and communications director Angela McSwain. Ambassadors support RBC's client-hosting experiences and marketing initiatives and display RBC branding on their apparel and golf bags. Webb Simpson, the RBC Heritage defending champion, is an ambassador. These are a few of the other ambassadors who are scheduled to play at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing this year, including South Carolina-born Dustin Johnson.

WEBB SIMPSON WILL DEFEND RBC HERITAGE TITLE

Webb Simpson is back to defend his championship at the 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The April 12-18 tournament is at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. 

Simpson, a Team RBC Ambassador, surged through a tightly packed leaderboard last June to win the Heritage. He finished 22-under-par 262 to beat a group that included Daniel Berger, Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka. The winning score was a record, beating Brian Gay’s 20-under 264 finish in 2009. 

BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANS OUTDOOR GRADUATION CEREMONIES 

The Beaufort County School District plans on holding in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies for its 2021 graduates. To hold the ceremonies outdoors, the graduation schedule is adjusted in order to accommodate rain days: Beaufort High School, June 14 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 22 at 10 a.m.); May River High School, June 15 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 22 at 7 p.m.); Whale Branch Early College High School, June 16 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 21 at 7 p.m.); Hilton Head Island High School, June 17 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 19 at 7 p.m.); Bluffton High School, June 18 at 10 a.m. (Rain date: June 19 at 10 a.m.), Battery Creek High School, June 18 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 21 at 10 a.m.); June 23 is an extra rain day if needed. The district planned to submit plans to the S.C. Department of Commerce and Department of Health and Environmental Control for approval.

This year’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing will be played with limited spectators and strict health protocols because of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual event will still make an impact in the community. 

Patrons who flock to Harbour Town Golf Links to watch some of the world’s top golfers have traditionally pumped millions of dollars into Hilton Head Island’s shops, restaurants and hotels. 

YOUNG GOLFERS CONNECT WITH THE PROS BY VOLUNTEERING AT HARBOUR TOWN DRIVING RANGE

Every year at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, a group of aspiring young golfers get an opportunity of a lifetime to share the spotlight on 

Hilton Head Island’s grandest stage. Local middle- and high school students are given the chance to volunteer on the PGA Tour event’s driving range at Harbour Town Golf Links, connecting with players, caddies, and sponsors along the way while building lasting memories. 

Tennis icons and Hilton Head residents Dennis Van der Meer and Kerry Melville Reid will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Known as the “teacher of teachers,” Van der Meer founded the Van der Meer Tennis Center on Hilton Head and Professional Tennis Registry. He was named Olympic Developmental Coach of the Year in 1997. Van der Meer, who died in 2019 at 86 years old, will be inducted posthumously. Reid, who lives on the island, will be inducted as part of the Original 9, which was a group of women in 1970 who signed $1 contracts to compete in a new women’s tournament, paving the way for the WTA Tour. The induction ceremony is set for July. 

SOLICITOR’S OFFICE COLLECTS ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR CHILDREN’S SHELTER 

Essential items were donated recently to the area’s only home for abused and neglected children thanks to a community partnership between the Child Abuse Prevention Association, the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center and a Solicitor’s Office program. 

The Victims Services Center and the Pre- Trial Intervention program donated toiletries, healthy snacks, school supplies, and clothing to CAPA and the Open Arms Children’s Home, which primarily serves children ages 12 and older who have been removed from an abusive or neglectful situation. 

The Beaufort County Library Bluffton Branch is beginning renovations that are estimated to last several months. The library will be open with the same hours, but the main portion of the library will be closed. The library’s entryway and large meeting room will serve as a “miniature pop-up” library for the coming months as the renovation project begins. Updates will be posted on the library system’s Bluffton Renovation page and Facebook page. For more information, call 843-255-6497. 

A Bluffton woman’s lucky numbers won her a $100,000 prize playing the South Carolina Education Lottery. 

The winning ticket was bought at the Parker’s No. 33 on Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. The numbers for the Feb. 25 drawing were 2-12-15-19-35. 

More people are eligible for coronavirus vaccinations. The S.C. Department of Health in March moved to Phase 1b, which includes all people age 55 and older. It also includes people 16-64 with “high-risk” medical conditions, frontline workers with occupational risk, and school staff. The state expects to further expand eligibility around April 12 by implementing Phase 1c, which will include those age 45 and up. Phase 2 is set to begin around May 3, in which people 16 and older will be eligible. Online appointments can be made at scdhec.gov/ vaxlocator or by calling 1-866-365-8110. 

It certainly has been a year like no other. And in no other year have we been more excited or grateful to welcome you back to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. 

COVID-19 brought great perspective for all of us: Community is so important, especially through the biggest challenges. Challenges unimagined. To have the opportunity to welcome our fans back to the grounds is an honor. 

Three Beaufort County sites are now among six spots joining the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. The national collection includes 67 public and private sites and programs that provide education, historical interpretation, and research related to the American Reconstruction era from 1861 to 1900, a news release said. The local sites are Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island, Penn Center on St. Helena Island and Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaufort. 

Led by Dior Shelton’s 17 points, Hilton Head Christian Academy’s girls basketball team won the SCISA Class AA state basketball championship. The Eagles defeated Palmetto Christian Academy 48-32 at Sumter Civic Center to earn their third straight title. Abby Peduzzi added 11 points. 

In SCHSL competition, the Hilton Head High boys basketball team fell to South Point High 52-50 in the Class AAAA state-title game at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. 

At the SCHSL state wrest l ing championships, Eli Hall (220 pounds) and Gabe Juarez (160 pounds) of May River High and Hilton Head High’s James Levy (113 pounds) won state titles. 

The Rotary Club of Bluffton canceled 2021 Mayfest due to the COVID-19 concerns. This would have been the event’s 43rd year. 

“We look forward to better days ahead and to hosting Mayfest in 2022,” a news release said.