ResortQuest Announces its Participation as an Official Patron Sponsor of the 43rd PGA The Heritage Golf Tournament at Sea Pines Resort

Leading vacation rental company offers five-night stay in Hilton Head's Harbour Town including two complimentary tournament Grounds Badges and walking-distance access to the golf course


The Scottish red tartan jacket worn by the tournament's victor and candy-striped lighthouse overlooking the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links are each enduring symbols of one of golf's greatest tournaments: The Heritage.


Last year's finish at Sea Pines Resort's prestigious course was a testament to the sport's gentlemanly traditions when professional golfer, Brian Davis, admitted an error on his swing, which cost him two strokes thus awarding the title to his rival, Jim Furyk. The professional golfers will tee off once again on Thursday, April 21, 2011, for The Heritage's 43rd season on the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) tour.


As an official Patron Sponsor of The Heritage, ResortQuest^® by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is offering two complimentary Grounds Badges with a five-night stay at a vacation rental home or villa in the Harbour Town area of Sea Pines. The Grounds Badges, a part of the "Heritage Package 2011" package, allow access to the links for all seven days of the tournament, beginning April 18 and concluding April 24, 2011.


Some of ResortQuest's premier vacation rentals sit directly on the Harbour Town Links golf course. These private homes — many with gourmet kitchens, gas grills and large decks overlooking the links, and even a private pool or hot tub — provide more amenities at a greater value for entertaining during The Heritage.


With the spring season already in full swing, there are plenty of ways for non-golfers to make the most of a Hilton Head vacation during Heritage Week. The Harbour Town villa complexes not only lie within walking distance of The Heritage events but are also convenient to shopping, dining and water activities at the marina.


All ResortQuest guests enjoy discounted golf rates at the island's top courses, including Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes. While tee times are unavailable for Harbour Town Golf Links during The Heritage, guests still may play two other notable Sea Pines courses during the week, Ocean Course and Heron Point by Pete Dye.


Whether this year's The Heritage finale is determined by unpredictable breezes off the Calibogue Sound or the unexpected revelation of an honor-bound opponent, spectators will anticipate an exciting finish, and the PGA pros know to approach the 18th hole with a healthy dose of respect.


To take advantage of Heritage Golf Lodging Package including complimentary Grounds Badges, guests should call 855-299-3327. Availability is limited, and this package must be booked by phone. More details are available online at www.ResortQuestHiltonHead.com/heritagegolftournament.htm.

Heritage Classic Foundation Donates $300k to Local Charities

courtesy of www.islandpacket.com
By JOSH McCANN
jmccann@islandpacket.com
843-706-8145
Published Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Heritage Classic Foundation, which runs Hilton Head Island's PGA Tour event, dipped into its reserves to distribute some of the $300,000 it awarded to area charities Thursday.

David Ames, chairman of the Children's Center and chairman emeritus of Hope Haven, encouraged the charities at the luncheon at the Harbour Town Conference Center to discuss at upcoming board meetings how they can help the tournament. Verizon announced it will not continue its title sponsorship after 2010.

Such efforts would serve as a "thank you" to the foundation, which has provided the "lifeblood" of many nonprofits over the years, he said.

"I think the Heritage Classic Foundation deserves our thanks and that of our community," Ames said. "But it also deserves our help and support at this time in our island's circumstances."

Other charity leaders were invited to speak, too.

Some spoke of the benefits the tournament provides for their organizations. Others shared strategies on how to use the foundation's Birdies for Charity program, in which agencies collect pledges for each birdie players make during the tournament.

Vera Bailey, executive director of the Pregnancy Center & Clinic of the Low Country, wished foundation leaders the best as they search for a new title sponsor.

"I know it's our collective prayer they will find a sponsor (after) next year," Bailey said. "We need you," she told the tournament's organizers.

Including Thursday's grants, the foundation will give more than $1.3 million to charity this year, down from the nearly $1.8 million distributed in 2008. About $200,000 came from reserves, said Ed Dowaschinski, the foundation's vice president of finance and administration.

Tournament officials attributed the decline to the economic downturn, which hurt secondary sponsorships and ticket sales, they said.

Money is distributed in several ways besides grants and the birdies program, including scholarships and a concession program in which charities run booths during the tournament to raise money.

The foundation has distributed almost $20 million since it took over the tournament in 1987.

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