Every April, as spring settles gently over the Lowcountry and azaleas bloom along the fairways of Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island steps onto a national stage. The tartan jackets emerge. The iconic red and white striped lighthouse frames the 18th green. And the world once again turns its eyes toward a place that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is more than a PGA TOUR event. It is a tradition, a community gathering, and a living testament to the staying power of a tournament that has shaped Hilton Head Island for more than five decades.
Ben Racusin, Payne Stewart, Jim Nantz, Bill McGowan, MCI, Joe Fraser
Behind the iconic scenes and storied finishes stands the Heritage Classic Foundation, the nonprofit organization that has quietly stewarded the tournament since 1987. Founded during a moment of crisis and sustained through decades of growth, change, and renewed purpose, the foundation’s mission has remained remarkably consistent: to host a world-class golf tournament in order to give back – generously, thoughtfully, and locally.
“We conduct the tournament so we can give back to the community,” said Angela McSwain, marketing and communications director for the foundation. “That’s why we do what we do. Everything else flows from that.”
The story of the Heritage begins long before the foundation itself. The first Heritage Classic was played in 1969, when Sea Pines founder Charles Fraser, along with legendary course designers Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, introduced Harbour Town Golf Links to the world. At the time, Hilton Head was still a quiet coastal destination, accessible by a single bridge and home to just a few thousand residents.
Vance Fowler, announcer
Hosting a PGA TOUR event on a remote barrier island was considered a gamble. But Fraser believed deeply in authenticity, community, and place. He envisioned Harbour Town not simply as a golf course, but as a gathering place – keeping development in harmony with nature while creating a destination that felt welcoming rather than exclusive.
That vision paid off almost immediately. Arnold Palmer won the inaugural tournament, and national media attention followed. Golf fans and travelers alike began asking a simple question: Where is this place?
The Heritage did more than showcase a course. It introduced Hilton Head Island to the country. Volunteers from churches, schools, and civic organizations staffed concessions, escorted players, and managed crowds. The tournament became a shared civic endeavor, uniting residents around a common purpose. Real estate followed. Tourism followed. And a once-sleepy island began its transformation into a world-recognized destination.
But success was never guaranteed – and the tournament’s future would soon face its greatest test.
Steve Wilmot at the Pro-Am Pairings Party
A Tournament Worth Saving
By the mid-1980s, the Sea Pines Company, which had been managing the tournament, encountered financial difficulties. In 1987, PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman delivered a firm requirement: To continue hosting the tournament, the host sponsor would need to post a $1 million letter of credit, guaranteeing the purse and funding immediate repairs and improvements to Harbour Town Golf Links.
“The PGA TOUR said they would not allow the Sea Pines Company, which was in bankruptcy, to sponsor the tournament,” recalled Simon Fraser, chairman of the Heritage Classic Foundation and nephew of tournament founder Charles Fraser. “If Hilton Head wanted to keep the tournament, several things had to happen.”
A new nonprofit had to be formed. And the money had to be secured – quickly.
Ten local businesses and individuals stepped forward, each contributing a $100,000 letter of credit. Together, they formed the Heritage Classic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created for one reason: to save the tournament.
“The PGA TOUR could have taken the event elsewhere,” Fraser said. “But the community stepped up. That moment defined everything that followed avoiding loss; it was about protecting what the tournament meant to Hilton Head.”
Deke DeLoach, Joe Fraser, Gov. Carroll Campbell
From that point forward, the Heritage Classic Foundation became what the PGA TOUR calls the host organization, a role it has held continuously since 1987.
Today, the foundation serves as the connective force behind the tournament – what McSwain affectionately calls “the little glue that sticks all the pieces together.”
The foundation contracts with the PGA TOUR, works closely with Sea Pines Resort, partners with title sponsor RBC and presenting sponsor Boeing, builds skyboxes, sells tickets, manages volunteers, and oversees all operational and charitable initiatives tied to the event.
“We run the event year-round,” McSwain said. “But we also ensure that the impact of the tournament extends far beyond tournament week.”
Governed by a board of trustees and supported by a professional staff, the foundation operates with the rigor of a major nonprofit and the heart of a community organization. Trustees serve on committees overseeing governance, finance, scholarships, marketing, and charitable initiatives, ensuring the foundation remains mission-focused, transparent, and responsive to community needs.
“That structure is part of why we’ve endured,” Fraser said. “This isn’t a once-a-year effort. It’s ongoing stewardship.”
1988: Deke DeLoach, Mike Stevens, Gov. John West, Joe Fraser, Greg Norman, Angus Cotton, Jamie Hutton, Pat Hancock, Charles Fraser, Tartan Guard, Jack Carlin, Coca Cola
A Philosophy of Broad Giving
That stewardship is most visible through the foundation’s approach to charitable giving. What sets the Heritage Classic Foundation apart on the PGA TOUR is not only the scale of its giving, but the philosophy behind it.
“We’re somewhat unique in that we don’t just wrap our arms around one charity,” said Steve Wilmot, president and tournament director of the Heritage Classic Foundation. “We wrap our arms around as many as possible.”
Among the foundation’s signature initiatives is Birdies for Charity, launched in 1993. The program allows donors to pledge an amount for every birdie made during the tournament, directing their contribution to a charity of choice. The foundation then provides a 20% match, amplifying the impact for participating nonprofits.
That same year, the foundation introduced its Heritage Scholar Program, awarding four-year college scholarships to high-achieving students from Beaufort and Jasper counties. Nearly 400 students have benefited to date, many of whom remain connected to the foundation long after graduation.
Tom Reilley, Mike Stevens, Joe Fraser, Don Campbell, MCI, John Curry, Francis Webster, Charles Bacon, John Davis, Jim Coleman, Gov. John West, Cliff Carnes, Paula Bethea, Ben Racusin, Dwight Holder, Angus Cotton, Mike Malanick
“One of our favorite stories is about a woman who was a Heritage Scholar in the early days and is now a Tartan Club member,” McSwain said. “She’s giving back to the same program that helped her.”
Additional initiatives, including Champions for Charity and the Tartan Club, further expand the foundation’s reach. Civic organizations also benefit directly by working concession stands during tournament week, continuing a grassroots tradition that dates back to the earliest years of the event.
“If we’re successful, then the charities are successful too,” Wilmot said. “It’s a ripple effect – and it works.”
Deke DeLoach, Charles Fraser, Gov. John West, Joe Fraser
Moments That Matter
For all its structure and scale, the Heritage has never lost its heart. Some of its most powerful moments have been unscripted.
In 1988, just the foundation’s second year, Greg Norman befriended a 17-year-old leukemia patient named Jamie Hutton, who had come to the tournament through a program called Thursday’s Child. When Norman won, he invited Jamie, wearing a borrowed tartan jacket, to share the spotlight during the trophy presentation.
“That story still means so much to us,” McSwain said. “It showed, early on, what this tournament was really about.”
Wilmot recalls a similarly personal moment when Davis Love III, a five-time Heritage champion, pulled a young boy into the champion’s interview after a win.
“Everyone thought it was Davis’s son,” Wilmot said with a chuckle. “But it was actually my son. He just grabbed him and said, ‘Come on, Charlie.’ That was almost 20 years ago, and I’ll never forget it.”
The physical transformation of the tournament mirrors its philanthropic growth. Fraser remembers a time before skyboxes, premium hospitality venues, and Signature Event status.
“When we first ran the tournament, the purse was about $450,000,” he said. “Now it’s $20 million. There were no skyboxes back then.”
Today, the RBC Heritage is a PGA TOUR Signature Event, one of the most prestigious stops on the schedule. Television ratings rival all but the major championships, and players consistently cite Hilton Head Island as one of their favorite destinations.
But the journey hasn’t been without challenges.
“In 2011, we didn’t have a title sponsor,” Fraser said. “That was a low point. But what it did was galvanize the community.”
Local and state leaders rallied behind the tournament, reinforcing its importance not only as a sporting event but as a cultural and economic anchor. That renewed support paved the way for the arrival of RBC and Boeing, ushering in a new era of stability and growth.
“We haven’t looked back since,” Fraser said.
Greg Norman and Jamie Hutton in 1988
Tradition Without Stagnation
One of the Heritage’s greatest achievements is its ability to evolve without losing its soul. While many long-running sporting events struggle to balance tradition with modern expectations, the RBC Heritage has managed to do both, intentionally and thoughtfully.
“The goal has never been change for the sake of change,” Wilmot said. “It’s about improving the experience while respecting what makes this tournament special.”
That philosophy shows up in countless ways. Infrastructure upgrades have enhanced comfort and accessibility without overwhelming the course’s intimate design. Hospitality venues have expanded, yet still preserve Harbour Town’s walkable, fan-friendly atmosphere. Even as the tournament earned Signature Event status, organizers remained committed to keeping general admission accessible and engaging.
Fraser believes that balance is essential. “Harbour Town was never meant to feel oversized,” he said. “The charm is in its scale. We’ve always been careful not to lose that.”
The same mindset guides decisions behind the scenes. Sponsorship relationships are treated as partnerships rather than transactions, ensuring alignment with the foundation’s charitable mission and community values. Long-term planning takes precedence over short-term gain, allowing the tournament to grow responsibly.
That approach has earned loyalty from players, sponsors, and fans alike. Many PGA TOUR professionals return year after year, drawn not only by the course’s strategic challenge, but by the atmosphere surrounding it. Families plan vacations around the tournament. Sponsors reinvest because they see tangible impact.
“Once people experience it, they understand why it’s different,” Wilmot said.
Perhaps most importantly, the foundation has resisted the temptation to let prestige overshadow purpose. Despite national visibility and financial growth, charitable giving remains the driving force behind every decision.
“It’s easy to get caught up in numbers, rankings, and television ratings,” McSwain said. “But for us, success is still measured by what we’re able to give back.”
That clarity of purpose has allowed the Heritage to grow stronger with time – not just bigger.
Charles, Joe and Simon Fraser
An Economic Engine with a Human Face
Beyond its charitable mission, the Heritage delivers measurable economic impact. A Clemson University study commissioned by the foundation estimates that the 2024 RBC Heritage generated $134.9 million in total economic output, supported 1,161 jobs, and produced approximately $8 million in state and local tax revenue.
More than 70% of attendees reported that the tournament was the primary purpose of their visit, with the majority staying on Hilton Head Island for nearly a week.
“That economic impact shows up everywhere,” Wilmot said. “Hotels, restaurants, retailers, seasonal workers – it touches every corner of the community.”
But the value extends beyond numbers.
“The exposure we get is priceless,” Fraser added. “There’s no way our community could buy that kind of national visibility.”
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Heritage is its people.
More than 1,700 registered volunteers – and well over 2,000 total contributors – support the tournament each year, from marshals and hospitality teams to students, civic groups, and families who return year after year.
“There’s a waitlist for volunteers,” Fraser said. “People want to be part of this.”
“That’s because this is not just our event,” Wilmot said. “It’s Hilton Head Island’s event.”
That sense of ownership has sustained the tournament through decades of change, and ensures it remains deeply rooted in place.
A Tournament That Teaches Stewardship
Another often-overlooked dimension of the Heritage’s staying power is its role as a teacher, quietly shaping how an entire community understands stewardship, partnership, and shared responsibility. For generations of residents, volunteers, and local leaders, involvement with the tournament has served as an introduction to civic engagement on a large scale.
“You learn very quickly that this isn’t something one person or one organization can do alone,” Wilmot said. “It takes coordination, trust, and a lot of people pulling in the same direction.”
Many volunteers return year after year, passing roles down through families. Parents work marshaling shifts alongside children who later volunteer as students. Civic organizations build their annual budgets around concession participation. Young professionals serve on committees and eventually step into leadership roles, carrying forward the foundation’s values.
Fraser sees that continuity as one of the tournament’s most meaningful legacies. “The Heritage has helped teach this community how to work together,” he said. “Not just during tournament week, but throughout the year. That mindset stays with people.”
That culture of stewardship extends beyond Hilton Head Island as well. Through its scholarship program, charitable partnerships, and economic ripple effects, the foundation has helped nurture future leaders – many of whom return to the region to live, work, and give back.
“It’s not just about what happens inside the ropes,” McSwain said. “It’s about what continues long after the last putt drops.”
Looking Ahead
With multi-year sponsorship agreements in place and a deeply engaged community, the future of the Heritage looks bright.
“We’re fortunate,” Wilmot said. “I don’t have to do this – I get to do this. And I feel blessed every day.”
As tartan jackets are once again pressed and the fairways readied for April, the Heritage Classic Foundation continues to do what it has always done best – bring people together, celebrate place, and lift lives through generosity and shared purpose.
More than 50 years after its debut, and nearly four decades after it was saved by a community unwilling to let it go, the Heritage remains exactly what it was always meant to be: a tournament with heart, and a legacy built to last.
