This weekend marks the 30th year RBC Heritage Tournament Dir STEVE WILMOT will be at the helm of the PGA Tour event in Hilton Head, S.C. He estimates with the inclusion of this year’s tournament, nearly $35M has been raised for charity. Wilmot said, “The reason we do what we do is the bottom line and that is for charity. The rewarding thing is the scholarships, giving back to so many organizations and to have the volunteers that we have.” He also is proud of the impact the Heritage has had on the local community. He said, “We do not compete with the NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL. This is the biggest event in South Carolina. I am very proud and honored to be a part of it.”
STAYING THE COURSE: Early in the week I am focused on the players and spending time with them. That is why we put on a PGA Tour event. But as the week goes on, I turn my focus to the sponsors. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for them. On Thursday, I started with the back side of the course and finished with the front side. Then on Friday, I start with the front side and go to the back side to visit with them all. I will do the same on Saturday and Sunday before finishing up at the Skybox on 18.
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: This is my 30th year, and my parents still ask me what I am doing for the next six months. People don’t realize this job is 53 weeks and 13 months out of the year. I usually get in about quarter 'til 5 in the morning on Thursday and Friday and everybody in my staff rolls in by 5:00am. I will not leave until 9:00 or 10:00pm. Saturday starts a little later with tee time at 9:00am so we can finish with TV for CBS at 6:00pm or until dark. We will be here until the bitter end.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Sunday is very much the same. I tell people I wish the tournament was two weeks because we do not get a chance to sit back and enjoy it. But I am out there to truly thank the players, sponsors, trustees and officials for the support they have given us. It is about building relationships. I tell my sales guys that it is not about the deal today, it is about securing and building a relationship for many, many years. I am not done learning and I will continue to learn each and every day. The day you stop learning is the day you get out of the business.
SCENIC VIEW: I am blessed to live here in Sea Pines, with my family, where our offices are. I get to play golf, ride bikes and go to the beach. We have 400 great restaurants on this island and 380 of them are good. It is a special place. I enjoy spending time with my family. I have two children -- a son that is a junior at Auburn and a daughter. I joke with people that I live on Hilton Head Island and my golf stinks and my tennis is terrible. But I am playing pretty decent basketball these days, and I try to get in a run every once in a while.
