The tradition of the Verizon Heritage began in 1969 when Arnold
Palmer won the inaugural tournament on Hilton Head Island. Harbour Town Golf Links was so new that the famous candy cane striped lighthouse was
still under construction and parts of the fairways needed to be
spray-painted green.
Harbour Town is now ranked the #1 course in South Carolina
by Golf Magazine, and the Verizon Heritage boasts a distinguished list of champions including: Jack
Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman, Davis Love III
and the late Payne Stewart. According to a 2005 study conducted by
Clemson University, the tournament generates $84 million in sales each year.
Since its inception, the driving force of the Verizon Heritage,
played each April, has been to improve lives, one tournament at a time.
Every dollar of revenue generated by the Heritage Classic Foundation, general
tournament sponsor, is distributed to charitable organizations
across the state. More than $16.6 million has been donated to those in
need, since the Foundation was created in 1987. "One hundred and
fifty-one high school seniors have gone to college thanks to our scholar program,"
says Tournament Director Steve Wilmot, "that is in addition to
the hundreds of groups who receive grants, work our concession
stands and participate in our Birdies for Charity program each year."
One of those groups is the Hilton Head Heroes, a non-profit organization that provides no-cost resort vacations for children with
life-threatening illnesses. "It's a fun-filled week, free of doctor's
visits and financial worries," says Founder Gregg Russell. "The funding
we receive from the Heritage Classic Foundation
plays a major role in enabling us to give these families a vacation they will remember
forever."
In keeping with tradition, the real winners of South Carolina's
only PGA TOUR event are its residents.
Click here to order tickets.
