The 2019 RBC Heritage: Inside the Course (Harbour Town Golf Links Review)

Every year we know what to expect. 132 players make a post-Masters trek to Hilton Head.  They compete for a chance to slip on some tartan swag.  And the iconic 90-foot red and white striped lighthouse behind the 18th green guides the eventual champion to victory with the sun setting over the Calibogue Sound. 

 

Sure it's not the green jacket and it's definitely not Augusta, but the RBC Heritage has a rich history of producing quality champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and inaugural champion Arnold Palmer. 

The event is played on Harbour Town Golf Links, a 7,099-yard, par 71 Pete Dye designed track that's widely respected as one of the finest shot-making courses on the PGA Tour.  It's considerably shorter than most venues on Tour, but that doesn’t mean we should automatically expect an annual 59-Watch. 

 

Legions of pine and oak trees line fairways as narrow as bowling alleys, and in many instances even hang over into the fairways.  Accuracy off the tee more important than distance.  And finding the right spot on the fairway is equally important, with trees blocking direct shots into the green on more than half of the holes.  Getting lost in the trees might not have been disastrous at Augusta but it will be at Harbour Town. 

Diminutive postage stamp greens are nearly twice as small as the average green size on Tour, and historically produce the lowest greens-in-regulation percentages for any event all season.  The last 10 champions here hit greens at an average rate of about 65-percent. 

 

The greens themselves are raised and relatively firm with very little undulation.  But menacing bunkers protect almost every hole, and on five holes water prominently comes into play.  If coastal winds start howling throughout the course, scorecards can be ravaged (queue maniacal Dye laughter). 

Signature Hole 
Harbour Town saves its signature hole for the last dastardly hurdle on the course, the par-4, risk-reward 472-yard No.18.  The safe play off the tee is an extremely wide landing area on the left side of the fairway that extends out to the Calibogue Sound.  More aggressive players can get a lot closer for their second shots with a forced carry over marsh and sand dangers where the fairway severely tightens up. 

 

On approach there's a bailout on the right side of the green, but when the wind starts howling the small green becomes even tougher to hit and par is always a good score. 

Bogey Alert 

Like all Dye courses, Heritage is intimidating, beautiful, and terrifying all at the same time.  A perfect example is the risk-reward par-3, 192-yard 14th hole.  Last year's bogey or worse to birdie ration was nearly 5 to 1.  It's a tough hole. 

 

A dramatic railroad tie lined lagoon meanders from tee to green along the right side, and branches hanging over the putting surface can be obnoxious for wayward shots.  The green slopes down and right towards the water, and only the absolute best shots will be rewarded with birdie opportunities. 

Birdie Watch 

The dogleg-left, 588-yard 15th hole is the last par-5 on the course and requires perfect shot execution off the tee to avoid perils on approach.  Quality shots however, will be rewarded with definite birdie opportunities. 

 

Water to the left of the green and bunkers closely guarding both sides demand shots be placed within a table clothed size area on the putting surface.  Players should also be aware of the resident alligator that calls No. 15 home.