Verizon Heritage of Golf
Not many people know that the first PGA TOUR event on Hilton Head Island was to be played in 1968 on the Ocean Course inside The Sea Pines Resort. But when the tournament was postponed to 1969, it was decided that the pros would be playing on the brand new Harbour Town Golf Links.
Charles Fraser, the mastermind of The Sea Pines Resort, wanted the world to know that golf in the United States began in South Carolina. The South Carolina Golf Club was built in 1786 at Harleston’s Green, Charleston, South Carolina. Fraser wanted to honor its heritage and recognize the historic relationship between golf in Scotland and in South Carolina. He asked Jack Nicklaus and unknown architect Pete Dye to build a course that would continue this tradition. HarbourTown, with its short fairways and small greens is reminiscent of the classic links courses of Scotland. Charles Fraser and his staff knew this unique course would become a landmark in American golf. The Heritage was born.
The fledgling tournament got an immediate break when Arnold Palmer won the inaugural event. The 
Heritage was made. The tournament rolled along successfully, with such outstanding golfers as Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo winning at HarbourTown. But by the middle of the 1980’s The Sea Pines Company was in financial trouble and the future of the Heritage was in jeopardy.
In 1987, Charles’ brother, Joe Fraser stepped in with a plan to save the tournament. Together, with a group of Island businessmen, they created the Heritage Classic Foundation, a non-profit organization. It was also in 1987, that MCI joined the tournament as the Title Sponsor.
With this newfound stability, came a newfound goal. The Foundation wanted the Tournament to make more than just an economic impact on the community. They wanted to give to the charitable groups who needed it the most. In that first year, the Heritage Classic Foundation distributed $133,695 to 18 organizations.
That number has continued to grow year after year and in 2006 records were broken. Proceeds distributed from the 2006 Verizon Heritage will reach $1.8 million, surpassing 2005’s total by $220,000. The Heritage Classic Foundation donated the funds in several different ways. Each year, the Foundation’s Charity Committee meets to grant a portion of the tournament proceeds. In 2006, they donated $1.3 to 98 non-profit groups throughout South Carolina and Georgia.
In 1993, the Board broadened its scope to include the Scholar Program. Since it began, the Scholar Committee has helped 136 BeaufortCounty students attend college with grant money surpassing $1.3 million. In 2006, 13 students were named Foundation Scholars. These high school seniors not only achieve superior academic records, they also demonstrate outstanding leadership in their communities as well as at their schools.
Volunteers are a key part of the Verizon Heritage’s success. Currently there are 1,200 volunteers who give their time to the tournament. They handle registration duties, update scoreboards, serve as marshals and scorers and help make the professionals and their families feel welcome. Some volunteers are members of civic organizations who man the concession stands located along the Harbour Town Golf Links. In 2006, nine groups shared $208,056 in profits.
The Birdies for Charity program was started in 2000. It is a way for charitable organizations to use the Verizon Heritage scores as fundraisers. It is a completely volunteer program, in which approved charitable organizations ask their supporters to pledge a small amount for each birdie made at the tournament. The Foundation collects the pledges and checks are then sent to the charities. The Foundation adds in an additional $100,000. In 2006, 36 organizations received $396,581 bringing the overall total to more than $1.2 million.
Since the Foundation’s inception, Board members have focused on improving the lives of others. Thanks to that dedication and the support of sponsors, volunteers and spectators, the Foundation has donated $14.75 million.