By land, by sea, by air: No matter how you get to the RBC Heritage, golf is the star of the show

During Heritage Week Harbour Town Golf Links draws fans from every direction. Some roll in on bicycles, others cruise up by boat, and a few just fly over. No matter the method, the destination is the same: great golf in plaid-clad Harbour Town.

The bicycle brigade

Two-wheelers, bicycles built for two and even the occasional unicycle. Bicycles are everywhere in Sea Pines during tournament week. For fans on the south end of Hilton Head Island, biking is an attractive option for getting into Sea Pines to spectate. Cyclists can enter through the main gate on Greenwood Drive or the Ocean Gate on South Forest Beach Drive. The key, of course, is where to park. Between 800 and 1,000 bikes arrive each day, nearly 5,000 over the course of the event. That’s a lot of wheels. Enter Bill Haley. Now in his 12th year coordinating the RBC Heritage bike parking program, Haley helped launch the Ride and Park project in 2014 after the PGA Tour suggested centralizing bicycle parking away from the course. Previously, bikes were scattered throughout the grounds.

In 2015, with help from tournament operations, two areas were designated for bike parking: the Harbour Town tennis courts and the 13th green area on Baynard Park Road. More than 80 volunteers staff the lots, primarily from the Kickin’ Asphalt Bike Club, Long Cove Club and the Hilton Head Kiwanis Club, helping riders park their bikes. Cyclists must show a valid digital ticket or volunteer badge for entry, and bringing a lock is recommended. Occasionally volunteers assist with small repairs such as fixing flat tires or adjusting seats. According to Haley, “We’ve never had a bike go missing, although leftover bikes the next morning are common.”

A party on the water

Music, laughter and the occasional hoot and holler carry across the water as you approach the Harbour Town Yacht Basin. Leslie Whitener, harbourmaster of the basin, has spent 42 years watching the waters off Hilton Head Island. During RBC Heritage week, the marina’s 100 slips are “absolutely full,” Whitener says. Reservations open in mid-February and fill steadily through tournament week. Years ago, professional golfers occasionally stayed onboard during the event, although none have in recent memory. Beyond the marina, more than 100 pleasure craft often anchor in Calibogue Sound to watch the action and enjoy the festivities, weather permitting. Boaters gather to be seen on television or shuttle ashore for the tournament. H2O Sports runs a boat shuttle to the marina throughout the week. Does Whitener’s team help arrange the onboard parties? “No,” she says with a laugh. “We simply provide the atmosphere. Get your plaid on!”

Flyover for the fairways

Few sights are more dramatic than an aerial view of Harbour Town Golf Links on a clear April afternoon. 2026 marks the 15th year Boeing has served as presenting sponsor of the RBC Heritage. The flyover has become a tournament tradition and a highlight for fans and players, typically taking place Saturday afternoon. While the aircraft for this year’s flyover has not yet been announced, previous years have featured the Boeing 787 Dreamliner assembled in North Charleston. The flight from North Charleston to Hilton Head Island takes about 15 minutes, though crews depart roughly an hour early to time the pass precisely. Onboard are two Boeing test pilots and a flight test engineer. No passengers are permitted. The crew uses the South Carolina coastline to line up the aircraft before entering the course airspace at the perfect moment. Selected for their training and qualifications, crew members perform the flyover while maintaining strict FAA safety guidelines. Aircraft may fly as low as 1,000 feet while maintaining safe distances. This year spectators may also see nods to Boeing’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

News and notes

Mad for plaid

If you’ve lived on Hilton Head for any amount of time, you’ve likely noticed an unusual proliferation of plaid around town. It pops up on apparel, dangling earrings, umbrellas, pocket squares and even iconic Heritage Shortbread cookies. Local companies have stepped up to create specialty items available online through the Plaid Nation website, on the tournament grounds at Harbour Town Golf Links and at Lighthouse Kids Co. in The Shops at Harbour Town. Heritage Shortbread is handcrafted locally from a recipe passed down in Willow McGrain’s family for generations. The delicious shortbread evokes joyful memories and is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser during tournament week and throughout the year.

Lissy Rawl, designer and creator of Little Fish BOATEAK, a handcrafted jewelry brand, creates designs from her Hilton Head studio. Drawing on her interior design background, Rawl incorporates fabric swatches, plaid included, into a collection inspired by texture, color and storytelling. The Sunshine Shop, located at 62 Arrow Road on Hilton Head Island, showcases crafts and screen-printed items made by adults with special needs. It is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Rays at Pockets Full of Sunshine have created an array of Heritage-themed items, from Sir Willie blankets to hostess kits to yard flags. Additionally, on the tournament grounds and in resort shops, “mommy and me” outfits, pet bandannas and outerwear are available.

Know your gnome

One of the most popular tournament keepsakes is also one of the most unexpected: a gnome. For the past three years the tournament has sold out of these whimsical characters. The 2026 version is a starter, dressed in classic starter style with a straw hat and clipboard in hand. The design was inspired by the familiar voice heard on the first tee box. Previous versions have paid tribute to spectators and caddies, whose indispensable role in the game is well documented. The gnomes, which stand 12 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide, are available for $65 in the main merchandise tent.

PGA Tour Charity of the Year 

The Deep Well Project was named the 2025 PGA Tour Charity of the Year. Founded in 1973 to provide clean, safe drinking water on Hilton Head Island, The Deep Well Project has evolved into a vital source of emergency assistance for the local community. Today its primary focus is housing support for the workforce that powers the island’s hospitality-driven economy. The Charity of the Year award includes a $30,000 grant from the PGA Tour, which will support Deep Well’s Emergency Rent/Mortgage and Livable Housing Home Repair programs. The Heritage Classic Foundation, the charitable arm of the RBC Heritage, supports more than 90 registered charities in the local community across six pillars. The Deep Well Project falls within the Health and Welfare pillar. Since 1987 the Heritage Classic Foundation has raised and distributed $68.1 million to charities in South Carolina and Georgia.

“This recognition reflects the incredible impact The Deep Well Project has made in our community, and we couldn’t be prouder to support their mission,” said Steve Wilmot, president and tournament director of the RBC Heritage. “Their dedication and compassion inspire us all, and we look forward to standing beside them as they continue to change lives on Hilton Head Island.”

Tuning in to the tartan

Can’t make it to Harbour Town? The RBC Heritage will be broadcast nationwide throughout tournament week. Early rounds air on Golf Channel, with weekend coverage shared between Golf Channel and CBS as the leaders chase the plaid jacket on Sunday afternoon. Streaming coverage is also available on PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, featuring marquee groups and key holes from morning tee times through the final putt.