HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina — When people speak of renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, one thought that should immediately come to mind is railroad ties, which then quickly leads the brain synapses to think about Harbour Town Golf Links.
See, the ubiquitous railroad ties are a major contributor to Dye’s Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, masterpiece.
Opened in 1969 with design consultant Jack Nicklaus, Harbour Town has been a mainstay of the Low Country ever since. And now, 56 years later, the Dye chef-d’oeuvre is in the spotlight again.
For the first time in 25 years, the home of the RBC Heritage Classic has been spruced up with slight changes throughout the par-71 design. Davis Love III, a five-time winner of the PGA Tour event, arrived in Hilton Head with one specific requirement in mind: don’t screw it up.
Love played the links 34 times in competition, so he better than anyone knew what was required to keep Dye’s genius part of the finished product. Love’s intent was to restore the course, which sits adjacent to the Calibogue Sound, as if Dye were still alive. Dye passed away in 2020.
No blade of grass was too insignificant to touch, and every tee, green and bunker was taken into consideration. Greens were moved; trees were added and removed; and bunkers were rebuilt with over 4,000 railroad ties replaced.
The renovated Harbour Town looks like what Dye and Nicklaus produced in 1969, but with a modern, high-tech feel.
As a professional golfer, the annual pilgrimage to play the RBC in April will be a special event. Still, for the resort guest who will enjoy the other 51 weeks of the year, they will experience a round of golf that is both enjoyable and challenging.
But Sea Pines Resort is more than just the golf course at Harbour Town. It’s a unique experience that includes the Sea Pines hotel, expertly appointed and as comfortable as a new pair of shoes. The 5,000 acres of Sea Pines include miles of sandy beaches and 20 miles of paths for walking and biking.
A trip to Sea Pines is not just about the golf, but with the changes to Harbour Town, you would be foolish not to bring your clubs.