The time was the late 1960s, and Sea Pines Plantation was looking to add a third golf course to its collection. But owner Charles Fraser didn't want just another resort softie. What they created was a far cry from what some had feared. When Harbour Town opened for play in 1969 with the staging of the inaugural Heritage Classic, it quickly became the buzz in golf circles. At 6,916 yards from the tips, it is not overly long for a Tour course.
Placement is the key, as the holes meander through a thicket of pines and Spanish moss.
Sound are among the best in golf. The 378-yard 13th hole looks rather innocuous as it doglegs slightly to the left, but is considered by many to be the best par four on the course. A deep U-shaped bunker fronting the green makes the target seem minuscule. Players have Pete Dye's wife, Alice, to thank for this menacing feature. She came up with the idea for the bunker, and in fact assists Pete on many of his projects.