Hilton Head Golf Blog

Even without a new title sponsor in place, Heritage Tournament Director Steve Wilmot declared that the event would go in 2011.

"I've always said that this year would not be the last Heritage," Wilmot stated during media day at Harbour Town. "I can assure you that we'll have an event in 2011."

When Hank Haney talks, golfers typically lesson, especially if they're the impressionable young men and women from around the world who attend the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head Island.

This weekend Hank Haney spent some time watching the players who attend his school compete in the Hank Haney Invitational presented by BMW. The tournament was played on Harbour Town Golf Links and the Ocean Course, both of which are affiliated with the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head.

Hilton Head's Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort was recently included in a list of ten outstanding family-frinedly golf resorts featured on Golf.com.

The list, compiled by Golf Magazine Senior Editor Joe Passov, mentioned Palmetto Dunes in the same breath as acclaimed destinations such as Maui's Grand Wailea, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and Williamsburg's Kingsmill Resort & Spa.

About Palmetto Dunes, Passov wrote: 

Friday, July 3rd is Nike Golf Day at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course will host a demo of the the latest Nike golf equipment. The event will feature a wide array of equipment, custom club fitting, in-shop merchanside specials.

Anyone who tries on Nike footwear is eligible to receive a free sleeve of Nike golf balls while supplies last. Call (843) 785-1136 for more details.

The second round of the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis has been suspended, so we won't know the official 36-hole leader until the final few holes of round 2 are completed on Saturday morning, but it certainly looks like 2009 Verizon Heritage winner Brian Gay will occupy that position at 10-under-par.

Gay broke two significant records at Hilton Head's Verizon Heritage in April by completing the tournament at 20-under-par and crushing his nearest competitor by 10 shots.

In the days following this year's Northern Trust Open, won by Phil Mickelson at Riviera Country Club just outside of Los Angeles, information surfaced that Northern Trust, a company that had received government capital as part of one of the various financial rescue plans, had wined and dined its clients the week of the tournament, putting them up in the Beverly Wilshire, hosting concerts by Sheryl Crow and Earth, Wind and Fire and supplying some of them with Tiffany and Co. souvenir bags.

Congress took exception, and sent the bank a letter condeming the actions, calling the behavior "irresponsible and arrogant."

The tight tree-lined fairways at Harbour Town Golf Links, site of this week's Verizon Heritage, aren't appealing to the claustrophobic golfer. As South Carolina-native Jonathan Byrd puts it, "You start driving badly, it gets tighter and tighter, looks like a bowling alley."

Not so subtly the overhanging limbs of live oaks draped in Spanish Moss, plus the occasional pine tree encroach upon the short grass at Harbour Town, placing a premium on accuracy off the tee, well accuracy period. That 'the walls are closing in on me' feeling doesn't completely discourage driver; defending champion Boo Weekley still likes to hit that club as much as possible. But for others, Big Bertha won't be coming out of the bag as often this week.

Veteran Jim Furyk will head up a distinguished group of victorious American Ryder Cuppers at the 41st annual Verizon Heritage to be played April 13-19 at the Harbour Town Golf Links.

Furyk, J.B. Holmes and Hunter Mahan have just made commitments to play, joining fellow Ryder Cuppers defending champion Boo Weekley and 2002 winner Justin Leonard who had both committed previously. 

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C. has earned a sterling reputation as a vacation destination, but this award-winning resort also excels at planning memorable golf outings for groups of every size.

Voted one of the World's Best Golf Resorts by Travel + Leisure Golf's annual reader survey, Palmetto Dunes offers more amenities, more golf and more fun than any other resort in the Southeast. Plus, this world-class vacation destination has been consistently honored as one of the nation's top resorts by Golf magazine.

Group travel is a specialty at Palmetto Dunes, a full-service beachfront paradise offering golf packages and group incentives throughout the year. Whether you're planning a family reunion, golf buddy trip or a getaway with a few close friends, this stunning oceanfront resort has just what you're looking for.

The entry deadline is fast approaching for the 2nd annual Martin Luther King Golf Outing at Palmetto Dunes. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Entry fee is $75 per person and includes green fees, cart fee, range & box lunch. The format is best two balls of the foursome at full handicap. Handicaps will be deducted on each hole to obtain a net score for the hole. Men will use the white tees and ladies will use the green. Winter rules will be observed.