The RBC Heritage

This year’s Heritage week represents 58 years of the PGA Tour coming to Hilton Head. The tournament has come a long way since my favorite golfer, Arnold Palmer, won it in 1969. The original purse was $100,000, with the winner receiving $20,000. In 2026, the purse is now $20 million, with the winner receiving $3.6 million.

The Heritage has been designated as a “Signature Event.” This means the top players will compete in a no-cut tournament. As a result, you will get to see the entire field on Saturday and Sunday. The winner will receive 700 FedEx Cup points.

The professionals enjoy coming to the relaxed atmosphere of Hilton Head after the intensity of the Masters Tournament. Players often bring their families to experience the beach, biking, restaurants and more.

Last year, after the tournament ended, Harbour Town Golf Links closed for a major renovation. The course was originally designed by Pete and Alice Dye, with assistance from Jack Nicklaus. The layout at Harbour Town has always been known for its narrow fairways and small greens.

Davis Love III, a five-time winner of the Heritage, was asked to lead the restoration. Love was committed to “protecting the strategy and integrity of Dye’s original design.” It remains the original Pete Dye design. They were able to refer to many photographs and videos from the early days. Love’s role was to honor Pete Dye, which is why the project was called a “restoration.” He did not want his name listed as a designer out of respect for one of Dye’s masterpieces. His design company improved the agronomy, rebuilding all greens and bunkers, and reconstructing the bulkheads. The TifEagle greens and Celebration Bermuda tees, fairways and rough remained the same.

John Farrell, director of sports operations, said “Davis Love offered a tour player’s expertise and was in tune with management’s desire to keep the course fun, exciting and challenging for the other 51 weeks of the year.” Most of the changes will primarily affect tour players. The addition of a dozen pot bunkers places them in areas where professionals are more likely to hit than amateurs.

Some of the course changes include:

• Improvements to the agronomy; all greens, bunkers and bulkheads were rebuilt.

• Changes to the front-side par-3s, including the elimination of bridges over the lagoons.

• The large fairway bunker on the left side of hole No. 2 has been moved seven yards to the right to make it more in play on tee shots. Another bunker has been added behind the green to catch aggressive shots.

• On the par-5 fifth hole, the lagoon on the left side is more in play. On the right side, an oak tree was uprooted and moved 20 feet, creating a forced carry.

• The par-4 ninth hole has a new pot bunker that can catch an errant approach shot.

• The 13th hole, designed by Alice Dye, has several changes. Bulkheads were replaced, and the putting surface now sits closer to a large bunker that wraps
around the green on three sides.

• Hole No. 14, one of the most difficult holes on the course, has noticeable changes. Two pot bunkers were reintroduced on the left side of the green. With water to the right, the bunkers come into play as players avoid the hazard. The difficulty of the hole attracts many spectators, and a hospitality house adds to the atmosphere.

• The 15th hole’s green has been reshaped to provide more hole locations.
The course will still be a challenge for the pros, since accuracy remains more important than length.

Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com