Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
IN HIS OWN WORDS: CHARLES FRASER WROTE ABOUT FOUNDING THE TOURNAMENT
Charles Fraser described himself as a “historian of golf” and a golf businessman, not a “golfer” by recreation. From the beginning, he was convinced that golf would be important in the story of Sea Pines. In 1993, he drafted this description of how he brought golf to Hilton Head Island and later created the Heritage tournament. His daughter Laura Lawton Fraser was kind enough to share it with Monthly. Below are excerpts:
“HE NEEDS TO SLEEP WITH THAT PUTTER.” — IN REFERENCE TO GOLFER IAN POULTER
Hilton Head Island’s annual PGA Tour stop crowned its first Asian champion when Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira surged from six shots back in the final round of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. He defeated South Korean Si Woo Kim on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
A LOOK AT THE HERITAGE, THEN AND NOW
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is celebrating the 50th PGA Tour stop on one of Hilton Head Island’s best golf courses. While the track has remained mostly unchanged over the years, almost everything else about the island has changed.
TOP PGA PROS EXPECTED AT THE HERITAGE
Wesley Bryan first visited Harbour Town Golf Links as a 14-year-old more interested in bird-dogging the PGA Tour stars than watching his dad tee it up in the Heritage.
It was a different story last year, when he came back from a four-shot deficit in the final round to become the first Palmetto State native to don the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing’s signature tartan jacket.
TIPS TO ENSURE HERITAGE IS FUN FOR EVERYONE
First time attending the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing? You're in for a real treat — but the scene at Harbour Town Golf Links can be a bit daunting to a first-time spectator.
Let's get the most important thing out of the way first: Do not, under any circumstance, yell "Get in the hole!" Just don't do it. The marshals are instructed to lead anyone who does so to the nearest lagoon and feed them to the alligators. (OK, that last part isn’t true, but it's still not advisable.)
Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland won The Open Championship in 2011 at Royal St George's and also captained Europe's Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine in 2016. In 2005, he finished runner up in The Heritage. Clarke’s charitable foundation helps further junior golf in Ireland and raises money for breast cancer awareness. He’s also the owner of Darren Clarke’s Tavern on Hilton Head Island, an old-world, golf-themed tavern specializing in steaks and Irish-inspired cuisine.
Wesley Bryan earned the first PGA Tour victory of his career with a win at the 2017 RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. Bryan edged out Luke Donald by one shot to finish atop the leaderboard April 16. Patrick Cantlay, Ollie Schniederjans and William McGirt rounded out the top five. Bryan earned $1.17 million for the win.
Melvin Abel and Patrick Conley weren’t alone in their love for golf during April’s RBC Heritage Tournament, but their paths to get there certainly stand out.
The organization’s impact can’t be measured in dollars and cents alone.
Every year, the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing rolls into town, and every year, the numbers get bigger. Hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for this, hundreds of thousands raised for that.
It’s a testament to the fantastic work this organization does that we somehow find ourselves getting numb to the numbers. We applaud when we hear the total and congratulate everyone on another year of fundraising.
