Hilton Head, S.C. — Sea Pines Resort announced golf course architect Pete Dye completed some minor renovations to Sea Pines’ Harbour Town Golf Links, which annually plays host to the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage.
Harbour Town’s layout was lengthened by 150 yards, a handful of trees were removed to improve sightlines and a select number of bunkers were reshaped or extended to bring hazards back into play.
“Pete Dye is a dear friend of Sea Pines and his name and legacy are intrinsically tied to this resort,” says Cary Corbitt, Director of Sports Division of Sea Pines Resort. “We are honored he returned to prepare Harbour Town for the next chapter in its colorful history.”
Dye was thrilled to make a return trip to Sea Pines. “Harbor Town made my career,” Dye says.
Forty years ago Harbour Town opened to much fanfare and hosted a nascent PGA Tour tournament — the Heritage Classic. Arnold Palmer staged one of his patented final round charges for the inaugural victory and the Lowcountry resort development became an instant must-visit destination.
Earlier this year, Dye did an evaluation of Harbour Town and mapped out a series of enhancements to ensure the layout would retain its lofty status and continued critical acclaim for years to come.
To complement Harbour Town’s makeover, Sea Pines also recently tapped Dye to create Heron Point golf course on the site once occupied by the Sea Marsh course. Rather than simply renovate Sea Marsh, Sea Pines gave Dye free rein to design an entirely new layout using the existing routing. The outcome was another timeless Dye-creation that has been lauded in national and regional golf publications including recognition as a “Top 50 Course for Women” by Golf Digest.
Says Corbitt: “With two Pete Dye classics — Harbour Town and Heron Point — we now offer as fine a ‘one-two’ golf combination as you’ll find anywhere in the game.”
Sea Pines also boasts the Ocean Course – the island’s first and a George Cobb/Mark McCumber design with an emphasis on traditional principles of course architecture.
The resort’s best-in-class collection of golf courses, amenities, meeting facilities and accommodations makes Sea Pines one of the most sought-after leisure and group destinations in America.
In addition to 54 holes of golf, Sea Pines features 23 clay tennis courts, eco-tours, water sports, fine and casual dining, spa, 14 miles of bike and walking trails, horseback riding and five miles of unspoiled beaches. Guests choose from an array of accommodations, including 300 villas, 100 rental homes and the luxurious 60-room Inn at Harbour Town, a Forbes Four-Star boutique hotel and Preferred Hotel Group member.
