It’s Heritage time once again on Hilton Head Island. One of our favorite things to do each year is make the pilgrimage to the Sea Pines Harbour Town Golf Links and watch PGA Tour players navigate their way down narrow fairways and hit their golf balls onto the small greens. Far too narrow a course for Phil and Tiger. Boo has decided to claim this course as his own…. at least for two years but, Davis Love is still Lord and Master of the Links with 5 wins 🙂

All the times that Rob and I have attended the tournament, we’ve not had the chance to watch the opening ceremonies. Our schedules didn’t allow us to attend the official tournament this year but, we were able to purchase passes for opening day and the practice rounds.

Monday’s weather wasn’t very promising. With golf umbrella and chairs in tow, we walked down 10, made the turn up 16 and headed for 18 to watch the ceremony at noon. We had a little time to frolic at the 18th tee and watched some players come through – well, Rob watched, I couldn’t resist the view out over the marsh to the Calibogue Sound. It was cloudy and dreary. The wind cold. But, as I opened my sketchbook and began to sketch the scene before me, weather and people melted away. I knew I had to work fast so we could get a good seat in the stands along the 18th green. I was able to get the basics down to finish the sketch later.

Once in the stands, the different angle of view over the beach, marsh and sound called to me once more. I had a good half hour to work. Later, after the opening ceremony finished, spectators to my left and behind me in the stands commented to me how they enjoyed watching the scene take shape on my journal page. I was surprised as I so tune everything out that I had no idea I had my own group of spectators! Not to mention, I was not at all thrilled with my attempts to capture the scene. I would have to wait to tweak this sketch when we returned on Wednesday for the Pro AM.

We arrived around 10 a.m. on Wednesday and made our way around the course to our favorite holes where we can easily watch a number of holes at once. One such location is where #2 green, #3 tee, #6 green and # 7 tee are bunched together. Food and restrooms are also there 🙂 My only request for the day was to make it over to holes 13 and 14 around 2 p.m. so I could finish last years sketch of some wonderful live oaks that separate the two fairways. Meanwhile, I worked on Monday’s two sketches – they were pretty weak and needed a lot more pigment. I was sitting near the #3 tee box, feverishly working away. Rob was bouncing between holes, happy as a clam. The weather was perfect. Cool in the a.m. but sunny all day with afternoon temps in the low 70’s.

When I finished tweaking my sketches, I was still unhappy with the outcome. Hmmmmm, how can I make this page more memorable? Well, it was PRO AM day, and the golfers were signing autographs…… Then along came Brandt Snedeker to the #3 tee box. He’s so all American with an “Opie” like quality. “Oh, Brandt, would you sign my journal page for me?” That was pretty easy! Then along came Boo. That was a must!

It was time to head toward 13 and 14. Along the way we happened upon Chris DiMarco teeing off on 11. I waited on the side line next to another woman who admitted she’d wait for Chris all day long…….. Good choice! Later in the day, after I finished last years sketch of the live oaks, we moved to 16. There we waited for Tom Lehman for the finishing touch to my page.