‘We can see everything.’ Residents watch RBC Heritage action from their backyards

It’s one thing to have some of the world’s best golfers come and play in your community, but quite another to have them playing in your backyard.

Many of the homes, villas and condos in the Sea Pines Resort community surround the Harbour Town Golf Links, giving those living or staying there incredible views of the play at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

The best part? Tickets are optional.

Lyle Van Wyk, through Pella Windows where he works as a sale manager, has watched the Heritage from a rented house in Sea Pines for the last five year. The house’s patio gives the perfect views of three different holes — the tee at hole 8, the greens of hole 7 and the fairway of hole 3.

“You can see them come to you and you can sit here and have all the comforts of home,” said Van Wyk. “We can see everything you see ... right here.”

Where many fans on the course the Heritage follow the action, those sitting comfortably at Sea Pines can let the action come to them. Further down hole 8, Kenny Ross, a part-time Hilton Head resident, and his son-in-law, Chad Dewig, watched the second round on Friday from Ross’ house located toward the middle of the hole where they many drives end up.

“There’s nothing like being able to sit here and watch the best in the world, basically come through your backyard,” said Dewig. “It’s very cool just to literally sit on my back porch and be able to see the No. 1 handicap on this course and just watch everybody land right in front of me on their drives.”

While Dewig was watching, one of the tournament’s players was nearly hitting from his father-in-law’s backyard. Dewing stood on the boundary of the property to watch them play from just a few feet away.

At the end of the hole was Josh Noordeloos and his grandmother, Joan Sully. This is Noordeloos’ sixth year watching the Heritage from his grandmother’s house, which was full of family and friends on Friday.

From her backyard they have a close view of hole 8’s green.

“My brother, he’ll bring a bunch of friends, “ said Noordeloos. “I’ll bring a bunch of friends and then we party.”

When asked what the biggest benefit of watching from home was, Noordeloos had a quick answer: “the beer.” Most watching from the comfort of their patio agreed on that point.

“It’s very nice to be able to just come back and make yourself a stiff one and get back out on the course,” said Dewig

Where those watching from the patio differed was in buying tickets. Because they can watch from their backyard, Noordeloos and his grandmother buy tickets for Saturday only.

But Ross and Dewig prefer to buy tickets everyday.

“We try to support the event as much as possible,” said Dewig “This is something incredible that you want to continue to see, so you’ve got to do what you can do. Buy the merchandise and support concession stands and more importantly just have fun.”

“I wouldn’t sit there in front of a TV and watch them play the same hole all day,” Ross added.

Ross, who plays the course a few times a year, said it’s humbling to see the pros come in and play on the same course. Then, Ross added, each April, he gets the see the course played “the way its supposed to be.”