Golf’s ‘Greatest Living Architect’ Readies Storied Layout for PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage
(HILTON HEAD, S.C.) — The Sea Pines Resort announces Pete Dye has completed enhancements to Harbour Town Golf Links – the legendary golf course architect’s iconic masterpiece and home to the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage.
The layout was lengthened by 150 yards, a handful of trees were removed to improve sightlines and a select number of bunkers were reshaped or extended to bring hazards back into play. Both TOUR players and resort guests will savor the challenge as the iconic 18 continues to evolve as the epitome of strategic design.
“Pete Dye is a dear friend of Sea Pines’ and his name and legacy are intrinsically tied to this resort. We are honored he returned to prepare Harbour Town for the next chapter in its colorful history,” says Cary Corbitt, Director of Sports Division of Sea Pines Resort.
“Harbor Town made my career,” says Pete Dye. Forty years ago Harbour Town opened to much fanfare and hosted a nascent PGA TOUR tournament — the Heritage Classic. Arnold Palmer staged one of his patented final round charges for the inaugural victory and the Lowcountry “must visit” destination was launched. During an onsite evaluation in early 2011, Dye toured the course and charted a series of enhancements, insuring the layout would retain its lofty status and continual critical acclaim for years to come.
To complement Harbour Town, Sea Pines also recently tapped Dye to create Heron Point on the site once occupied by the Sea Marsh course. Rather than simply renovate Sea Marsh, Sea Pines elected to give Dye free rein to fashion an entirely new layout using the existing routing. The outcome was another timeless Dye-creation that has been lauded in national and regional golf publications including named as a “Top 50 Course for Women” by Golf Digest.
At 7,000 yards maximum, the dramatic 18 can play considerably shorter if needed via a sextet of tees on each hole, but length has little to do with the layout’s overall strategic challenge. Golfers will face a sequence of risk-reward shots, fairways that slope devilishly towards hazards and Dye’s signature mounding and swales framing target areas.
Says Corbitt, “With two Pete Dye classics — Harbour Town and Heron Point — we now offer as fine a ‘one-two’ golf combination as you’ll find anywhere in the game.”
Sea Pines also boasts the Ocean Course – the island’s first and a George Cobb / Mark McCumber design with an emphasis on traditional principles of course architecture. For more information about the resort and its wide-variety of golf packages: www.seapines.com, 866.561.8802.
About The Sea Pines Resort
One of the true crown jewels of American golf, The Sea Pines Resort is home to legendary Harbour Town Golf Links (home of the PGA TOUR’s The Heritage) designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, Heron Point by Pete Dye, and the Ocean Course. The resort’s best-in-class collection of golf courses, amenities, meeting facilities and accommodations makes Sea Pines one of the most sought-after leisure and group destinations in America.
In addition to 54 holes of pure Lowcountry golf, Sea Pines features 23 clay tennis courts, eco-tours, water sports, fine and casual dining, spa, 14 miles of bike and walking trails, horseback riding and five miles of unspoiled beaches. Guests choose from an array of accommodations, including 300 villas, 100 rental homes and the luxurious 60-room Inn at Harbour Town, a Forbes Four-Star boutique hotel and Preferred Hotel Group member.
