Steve Wilmot – Tournament Director

An Intimate, Off-the-Cuff View of the RBC Heritage Classic

June 1, 2023

For his GIC General Meeting presentation on June 1st, Steve Wilmot’s (Tournament Director at the Heritage Classic Foundation) best-laid plan was to play a 25-minute video for us recently produced to herald the 55th Anniversary of the Tournament. This video premiered less than a week ago at a convening of key tournament stakeholders including VIPs from the PGA, SC government, and high-level sponsors.

Alas, for the GIC presentation, technical difficulties scuttled the playing of this film. And that’s the great news for us because the result was a magical, intimate, off-the-cuff talk with no A/V support and lots of insider information and juicy anecdotes. Steve Wilmot proved himself to be calm under pressure and a superb “dancer” indeed. Click here to watch the video that we didn’t get to see.

Eschewing more widely known particulars about the Tournament and Foundation, here are some of the lesser-known fun facts and noteworthy insights that Steve regaled us with.

  • The State of South Carolina very recently signed a 5-year multi-million-dollar agreement to support and promote the RBC Heritage Tournament. The State recognizes the irrefutable and immense long-term positive impact the Tournament confers on the State. Steve shared that it is unprecedented for the government to support a golf tournament in this way and to this degree – a testament to the vital importance of the RBC Heritage Classic.
  • Steve and his team recognize the essential role of the family members, caddies, and various support personnel that surround each of the Tournament players. To which, over 80 children from PGA player families participated in the Heritage Day Care program where these kids not only receive superb care but also have the time of their lives in a way only Hilton Head can deliver. Another reason why PGA player families LOVE the Heritage and Hilton Head.
  • This year a new element was added to the 360-degree player-family experience in the form of a Caddy Tournament that took place on Tuesday of Heritage week on Sea Pines’ Atlantic Dunes course where the pro’s caddies (aka some of the best players in golf) got to strut their stuff. The 2023 Heritage Caddy Tourney included prize money and a playoff. The professional players and members of the PGA touring troop were on hand to cheer for “the guys on the bags.”
  • The player contingent enjoys the use of 165 BMWs while on HHI which are washed for them twice during the week.
  • Officially 4,734 bikes were parked at the Harbour Town bike lot during Tournament week. Many, many more were parked around the community near other Tournament points of entry. It is believed that the RBC Heritage is far-and-away the most biked-to golf tournament in the world.
  • CBS Sports unveiled for the first time new state-of-the-art drone camera technology at this year’s Heritage which afforded viewers around the world the to experience the majesty of Hilton Head Island in ways never-before-seen. And mother nature’s gift of a postcard-perfect weather weekend added even more magic to the viewer experience.
  • The following quote from legendary CBS Sports announcer and Hilton Head Island super-fan, Jim Nantz, says it all: “My favorite 3 hours at Augusta is the drive to Hilton Head.”

You can read more about the RBC Heritage Classic and the Heritage Classic Foundation on their website.

Steve Wilmot Bio

Steve Wilmot is the Tournament Director of the RBC Heritage, presented by Boeing. He has been involved with the Heritage Classic and the Heritage Classic Foundation for 34 years.