RBC Heritage Course Preview
Harbour Town Golf Links, SC, USA- Course details, past champions, field overview, course comparisons
We are heading out of Augusta National and on to the next stop for the RBC Heritage. Located just off the Atlantic Coast in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Harbour Town Golf Links boasts a par 71, 7,213-yard course. This iconic design by Pete Dye, slightly lengthened for 2024, has been home to the RBC Heritage since the 1960s. Known for its challenging layout featuring tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and small, contoured putting surfaces, it continually tests the skills of the world’s best golfers. With a premium placed on ball-striking, recent winners have excelled in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. Opened in 1967, the public course sees over 38,000 rounds played annually, cementing its status as one of America’s most popular golf destinations.
RBC Heritage- Harbour Town Golf Links
Par - 71
Yards – 7,213 yards
Cut- top 65 and ties
Fairway Width- 30-40 yards
Greens: Poa Trivialis Overseed
Fairways: Perennial rye overseed
Rough: Perennial ryegrass overseed – 1.25″
Water in play – 18 holes
Bunkers- 54
Average Green size- 3,700 sq ft
Harbour Town Golf Links offers a challenging yet playable experience with its relatively short course length and shallow, manageable bunkers. However, the small greens, averaging just 3,700 square feet each, pose a significant challenge, ranking as the second smallest on the PGA Tour.
Pete Dye’s signature design features abundant trees and water hazards, creating a demanding environment, particularly for those prone to slicing. The course, originally crafted by Dye in 1969, maintains its architectural integrity despite modest updates over the years. Its strategic layout, characterized by narrow fairways and demanding doglegs, requires precision and strategic thinking rather than sheer power. Players must navigate through tree-lined corridors, transitioning to coastal landscapes along marshy grass, a hallmark of the Carolina region.
The tight course design emphasizes positioning over power, with strategic rough placements often more critical than hitting fairways. Despite its challenges, Harbour Town has witnessed memorable finishes, showcasing Dye’s genius in creating an enduring, memorable venue on the PGA Tour. With some of the smallest greens on tour and intricate green complexes, it promises a test of skill and strategy for players teeing.
Course Comparisons
TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course) - Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Colonial Country Club - Fort Worth, Texas
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) - Palm Harbor, Florida
Past Champions
2023: Matt Fitzpatrick
2022: Jordan Speith
2021: Stewart Cink
2019: Webb Simpson
2018: CT Pan
2017: Satoshi Kodira
2016: Wesley Bryan
2015: Brandon Grace
FIELD LIST
Thank you for reading
David Slinger (Jackie Paper)