Hole No. 5 - Harbour Town Golf Links

Harbour Town Golf Links Changes: What Pros Will Notice at the RBC Heritage

Will the pros notice? How a handful of tweaks may test the world’s best

When the PGA Tour arrives for the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, and the world’s best golfers play Harbour Town Golf Links for the first time since its refresh, will they notice anything different? The best answer: maybe.

“Generally speaking, the changes to the golf course would be considered very subtle, very modest,” explains John Farrell, director of sports operations at The Sea Pines Resort. “They’re apt to say something about a few holes, for sure, and all for different reasons. For example, there are 11 bunkers on the course that were pot bunkers before but are now stacked sod, which gives them a steeper face.”

LOCAL Life asked Farrell which holes are most likely to draw the pros’ attention.

  • Hole No. 5 - Harbour Town Golf Links
    Hole No. 5: What once felt generous now demands precision, asking players to think twice before committing to the layup. ©Bill Hornstein, The Sea Pines Resort
  • Hole No. 7 - Harbour Town Golf Links
    Hole No. 7: Cleaner sightlines change the mood of the hole, even if the challenge remains intact. ©Bill Hornstein, The Sea Pines Resort
  • Hole No. 10 - Harbour Town Golf Links
    Hole No. 10: A handful of new sentinels on the right side turn a familiar landing area into a sharper test of nerves. ©Bill Hornstein, The Sea Pines Resort

    • On No. 2, the bunker on the left side of the fairway, about 260 to 270 yards off the tee, has been shifted slightly to the right by only three to four yards. In addition, a back-right hole location that had been lost as the green shrank over time has been restored.

    On No. 5, the layup landing area has been considerably tightened by moving the lagoon as much as 30 feet closer on the left and shifting the bunker about 50 yards short of the green approximately 15 feet closer on the right. In keeping with the goal of restoring Pete Dye’s original strategy, the fifth green was also lowered to its 1969 height when the course first opened. “The players are all younger now, so they don’t remember it,” Farrell says. “But we certainly do.”

    The bridge that once crossed the middle of the lagoon on No. 7 has been removed, a change that affects aesthetics more than playability. The shot values remain intact, but the look is different. Bulkheading was also added around the entire lagoon, another primarily visual update.

    They will likely notice what’s new on No. 10, where seven trees were added on the right side of the landing area. Four of those trees, Farrell notes, will significantly affect shot values.

    On No. 14, the championship tee, known as the Heritage Tee, was enlarged to allow for varied yardages across all four days of the tournament. That expansion gives the PGA Tour setup team more flexibility in how the hole is played.

    PGA Tour golfer Matt Kuchar brought his wife, Sybi, and their sons, Cameron and Carson, to the cannon ceremony the year after his dramatic 2014 victory
    PGA Tour golfer Matt Kuchar brought his wife, Sybi, and their sons, Cameron and Carson, to the cannon ceremony the year after his dramatic 2014 victory. Unlike many stops on the PGA Tour schedule, the RBC Heritage often feels like a family affair, with players bringing loved ones along to enjoy a relaxed island vacation between rounds. ©Arno Dimmling

    Where golf slows down

    After Augusta’s intensity, the RBC Heritage offers a breath of Lowcountry air

    For players and their families, the RBC Heritage is a welcome respite on the spring schedule. Coming on the heels of the pressure cooker that is the Masters, the golf season’s first major, the laid-back, beachy feel of this tournament allows competitors to relax and spend precious time with their families.

    Farrell says one of his favorite parts of tournament week is to “see the players finish their rounds, meet their families and go for a bike ride on the beach. Or they walk down to the harbor for ice cream, holding hands. They’re coming to experience Sea Pines the way we get to see it year-round and really embrace it. We’re a family-style resort with an atmosphere and a feeling that’s a little more relaxed.”

    That’s not to say the golf isn’t taken seriously at Harbour Town. After all, this is a PGA Tour Signature Event, which means a limited field, a larger purse of $20 million, including $3.6 million to the winner, and 700 FedExCup points.

    The tournament addresses nearly every need a player might have, a benefit that is especially appreciated in the smaller, more intimate setting. Ease of access, on-site lodging and the beach at your doorstep are just the beginning. As Farrell explains, “We’re more of a small ballpark for them, and they love it. They enjoy the intimacy of the resort.”

    Of course, players receive red-carpet treatment from the moment they arrive and throughout the event. From personalized lockers and VIP services to specialized menus with an emphasis on healthy eating, an on-site barbershop and a fitness trailer that travels with the PGA Tour, every creature comfort is considered.

    Farrell added, “The relationship between the Heritage Classic Foundation and The Sea Pines Resort is remarkable. There’s an unselfishness. We collaborate on everything we do.”

    And it’s not just the players who enjoy first-class service. The hosts focus on every aspect of the guest experience, from parking and concession lines to restrooms and viewing areas. “Everybody coming to the tournament gets the same level of consideration and thoughtfulness,” Farrell said. The event is a weeklong celebration rooted in Southern hospitality.

    It’s no surprise that the RBC Heritage has been named the most fan-forward event on the PGA Tour.

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