Harbour Town Golf Links: The Calibre of a Classic
Harbour Town Golf Links on Sea Pines Plantation at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is one of the finest resort golf courses in the American Southeast and one of the most consistently praised designs Pete Dye produced across his career. Opening in 1969, designed by Dye in collaboration with a young Jack Nicklaus, the course established Dye's reputation for tight, demanding, strategically complex layouts that punish the slightly misplayed shot more severely than the design's modest length would suggest. It has hosted the RBC Heritage every year since its opening.
The Design
Harbour Town plays to approximately 7,100 yards from the back tees — short by modern tour standards — but its difficulty is architectural rather than numerical. Dye lined most fairways with trees that eliminate the miss-by-10-yards approach that more open courses permit. The greens are small and subtly sloped, requiring precise approach angles rather than aggressive pin-seeking. The marshes that border several holes on the back nine add both visual drama and genuine penalty for errant shots.
Nicklaus's contribution to the design — he was 29 years old and still in the early years of his design career — is most evident in the routing's strategic logic, particularly on the back nine, where the course builds toward the 18th without the abrupt gear-change that less carefully planned courses often produce entering the final holes.
The 18th Hole
Harbour Town's 18th hole is one of the most recognized finishing holes in American golf. The par 4 plays to a small green adjacent to the Calibogue Sound, with the Harbour Town lighthouse — white with red stripes — visible behind the green throughout the approach. The lighthouse is the most photographed structure in South Carolina golf and the image associated with the RBC Heritage in broadcast coverage every spring.
The approach to the 18th green requires a precise shot to a surface that slopes away from the water — the temptation to play aggressively toward the lighthouse view must be balanced against the consequences of the miss. It is a golf hole that rewards the conservative professional's approach while offering enough drama to make the conservative choice feel unsatisfying. This tension is exactly what Dye designed it to produce.
The RBC Heritage
Harbour Town has hosted the RBC Heritage — previously the MCI Heritage, Verizon Heritage, and various other names reflecting sponsorship changes — every year since 1969. It is the oldest continuously-held PGA Tour event at its original venue after Augusta National's Masters. The field traditionally features a mix of top-ranked players and Hilton Head-specific specialists who have learned the course's exacting demands across multiple visits.
Arnold Palmer won the inaugural Heritage in 1969. Subsequent winners include Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Hale Irwin, and multiple repeat champions who demonstrate the course-specific knowledge advantage that Harbour Town rewards. The event typically follows the Masters by one week, providing a contrast between Augusta's parkland drama and Harbour Town's marshland precision.
Playing Harbour Town
Harbour Town Golf Links is accessible to resort guests at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Tee times are available through the resort, and the course is open for public play outside the RBC Heritage week. The caddie program is strong, and local knowledge — particularly on the approach angles to the small greens — rewards use of a caddie on the first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What PGA Tour event is played at Harbour Town?
The RBC Heritage (formerly the MCI Heritage, Verizon Heritage, and other names) is played at Harbour Town Golf Links annually, typically the week after the Masters. It is the oldest continuously-held PGA Tour event at its original venue after the Masters.
Who designed Harbour Town Golf Links?
Harbour Town Golf Links was designed by Pete Dye in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1969. Nicklaus was 29 years old at the time and in the early years of his golf course design career. The collaboration produced one of Dye's most acclaimed designs and established his reputation for demanding, strategically complex layouts.