I had a great time at the Verizon Heritage golf tournament this past weekend.  I watched the leader through the first 15 holes and after he birdied 15 I hopped in my car and drove home to watch the last few holes on television.  I got home in time to see the leader play 17 and 18. 

The footage of 18 was the most spectacular footage I have ever seen.  They shot it from the air and once I saw that, I thought to myself that millions of people are going to see this and they are all going to want to come to Hilton Head.  I never realized how valuable a tool of the Heritage on Hilton Head Island is.

Over the years I have had many people tell me that they first heard about Hilton Head by watching the golf tournament on television; obviously that is a big boost for us.

Wow – what a Heritage!  Four days of absolutely perfect weather – what are the chances of that happening? 

I have often wondered what is the value of the Verizon Heritage is to Hilton Head Island. 

How many people buy property on Hilton Head simply because the first time they came to the island was for the Heritage golf tournament and they fell in love with the island. 

How many people saw the Verizon Heritage on television and thought this was the most beautiful place – we should go for a vacation there and ended up buying property on Hilton Head?

Nobody will ever know the actual value of the tournament to real estate values on Hilton Head; but I can assure you it is a lot more than any of us can probably figure.

One of the main reasons people buy real estate on Hilton Head is because it is a great place to vacation, the weather is good, the amenities are good and it is a fun place.  Anyone who was at the Heritage tournament this weekend they had lots of fun – excitement, good golf, great weather – what more could someone ask for on Hilton Head Island?

I had someone ask what would happen to Hilton Head if we did not have the Heritage.  Let’s hope that does not happen – I think our Heritage Classic committee is doing a good job to ensure that the tournament stays here, but I do know it affects real estate values and the local economy. 

I would love to see more of our locals in attendance at the tournament.  People spend thousands to come to Hilton Head to go to the golf tournament.  As locals, all we have to do is buy a $135 pass – we already have a place to stay and we are already here.  It makes sense.

Next year I want to encourage more of my clients to attend the Heritage; it is a great event and I’m glad we have it on Hilton Head Island.

Heritage week has always been the greatest week of the year to be on Hilton Head Island. 

I remember when I first moved here and my first Heritage which was March of 1982.  This was back in the old days when we were the week before the Masters. 

I had never been to a golf tournament before and I asked my sales manager, Rick Turner, what to do and he suggested that I just go down there and pick someone out and follow them.

I took my 2 year old daughter and we got to the golf tournament and picked out a young man to follow.

It happened to be Fred Couples playing in one of his first events and I have been a Fred Couple’s fan ever since.  He played great in the tournament and ended up in about 3rd place.

Let me encourage you to pick out a player and follow them for a week and you will have the time of your life.