Hilton Head Island is never more alive than during the spring season with one of the most beloved traditions in professional golf: the RBC Heritage. Played at the legendary Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort, Heritage Week—typically the second week of April— blends world-class golf, Lowcountry charm, and vibrant coastal energy in a way few sporting events can match.
For locals and visitors alike, it’s not just a golf tournament. Heritage week is a celebration of everything that makes the foot-shaped island off the coast of South Carolina special.
A Tournament Unlike Any Other on the PGA Tour
While many PGA Tour stops feel like large stadium events, the RBC Heritage has always kept a more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
The course winds through maritime forest, lagoons, and towering live oaks before finishing beside the Harbour Town Yacht Basin, where the iconic red-and-white lighthouse creates one of the most recognizable backdrops in golf. The intimate layout allows fans to walk close to the fairways and experience the action up close.
The Heritage Golf Tournament is more of a community celebration than a high-pressure tournament, which is part of its charm. Spectators walk beneath towering live oaks, watch approach shots framed by sailboats in the marina, and gather along the finishing hole with the unmistakable red-and-white Harbour Town lighthouse as the backdrop.
It’s a scene that perfectly captures the laid-back spirit of the Lowcountry.
The Iconic Harbour Town Experience
At the heart of Heritage Week is Harbour Town Golf Links, one of the most recognizable courses in American golf. Designed by Pete Dye with input from Jack Nicklaus, the course is famous for its strategic layout, narrow fairways, and demanding approach shots.
But beyond the golf itself, Harbour Town creates an unforgettable setting. Fans stroll along the marina, browse the shops and restaurants nearby, and gather around the lighthouse for one of the most scenic finishing holes in the game.
When the champion slips on the tournament’s famous plaid jacket, it happens just steps from the water — a uniquely Hilton Head moment that has become one of golf’s most recognizable traditions.
A Week That Showcases the Hilton Head Lifestyle
Heritage Week offers visitors a chance to experience the island at its most vibrant. Restaurants buzz with activity, outdoor patios fill with friends catching up after a day at the course, and boat traffic around the marina becomes part of the celebration.
Beyond the tournament itself, guests enjoy everything the island is known for:
- biking under moss-draped live oaks
- kayaking through tidal creeks
- dining on fresh coastal seafood
- exploring miles of scenic beaches
It’s the perfect introduction to the lifestyle that draws so many people back to Hilton Head year after year.
Why Many Visitors Decide to Stay
For some visitors, Heritage Week becomes more than a vacation tradition. It becomes the moment they fall in love with the area.
Seeing the island during one of its most exciting weeks often inspires guests to imagine what life here could look like year-round. The blend of outdoor recreation, world-class golf, coastal beauty and welcoming community is hard to forget.
Golf communities such as Berkeley Hall, Belfair and Colleton River offer the same lifestyle visitors experience during the tournament. Beautiful homes. Exceptional courses. And easy access to everything the Lowcountry has to offer.
Experience Hilton Head at Its Best
The RBC Heritage has helped define Hilton Head’s identity for more than five decades. It’s a week when the island’s love of golf, hospitality, and natural beauty all come together.
Whether you’re following your favorite PGA Tour player down the fairway, enjoying sunset views from Harbour Town marina, or simply soaking in the atmosphere beneath the lighthouse, Heritage Week offers a glimpse of Hilton Head at its very best.
And for many visitors, that first Heritage experience becomes the beginning of a lasting connection to the island. One that brings them back again and again.
