So, I made it out to the Heritage down at Hilton Head this year, 2024. Always a good time, that plaid jacket thing they do, right? Harbour Town is just a classic spot.
Getting there was the usual kind of travel shuffle. You know, pack the bags, make sure you got sunscreen – learned that lesson the hard way years ago, believe me. Funny thing is, I almost didn’t go this year. Work’s been piling up, felt like I couldn’t really justify taking the time off just to watch golf. It reminds me a bit of back when I was trying to switch careers, felt like every spare minute had to be productive, learning some new skill or networking. Spent a whole year just grinding, barely saw the sun. Felt like I was digging myself into a hole rather than climbing out. Took my wife telling me I looked like a ghost to finally snap me out of it and actually take a break. So, remembering that, I figured, heck with it, booked the trip.
Getting Settled In
Flew into Savannah, grabbed a rental. The drive over to Hilton Head always gets me in the mood. You cross that bridge, see the marshes, smell that salt air. Found my rental place, nothing fancy, just needed a place to crash. Dumped my stuff and headed straight out to grab some seafood. First night is always about easing in, you know? No rush.
Hitting the Course
Okay, the actual tournament days. Woke up pretty early Thursday. Gotta beat the worst of the crowds, right? Grabbed a coffee and a quick bite, then hoofed it over to the course.
- Thursday: Mostly just walked around, got the lay of the land again. Followed a couple of groups for a few holes. The weather was decent, not too crazy hot yet. Saw Scheffler hit a few shots, man, that guy is just smooth. Like watching a machine, but in a good way.
- Friday: Decided to camp out near one of the par 3s for a while. Watched guys try and hit that green. Always interesting to see how the pros handle the pressure spots. Crowds were picking up. Lots of chatter, lots of plaid pants. It’s a whole scene.
- Weekend: Saturday and Sunday get intense. Found a spot near the 18th fairway for a good chunk of Saturday. The energy definitely builds. You see the leaders come through, the roars from other parts of the course. Sunday was much the same, just trying to soak it all in. Didn’t follow one specific group too long, more just wandered and watched whoever was nearby.
One thing I noticed this year, maybe it’s just me getting older, but I spent less time trying to see every single shot and more time just enjoying being out there. The sound of the ball strike, the crowd reactions, the boats in the harbor by the 18th. It’s the whole package.
Didn’t really have any crazy interactions or anything. Just watched good golf, ate some decent food truck grub, maybe had a beer or two. It’s not like those early days when I first started going to tournaments, trying to get autographs or push to the front row. Nah, now it’s more about just being present.
Wrapping Up
So yeah, Heritage 2024. It was good. Flew back feeling pretty relaxed, actually. Sometimes you just need that break, that change of scenery. Glad I decided to go instead of staying chained to the desk. It’s easy to forget you need to step away sometimes. Definitely worth the trip, just like always.