Island Packet Verizon Heritage 2008 Coverage | Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC

Cary Corbitt

Job title: Director of sports for Sea Pines, liaison between Sea Pines Resort and the tournament office and an advisory member of the Heritage Classic Foundation board.
Hometown: McCormick, S.C.
Golf handicap: Class A PGA member, however, I play only about twice a month.
Previous job: Before his promotion to director of sports, Corbitt was the head professional at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Fun fact: Corbitt is the only member of the Heritage Classic Foundation board who has actually played in the tournament. Earning one of the berths set aside for Carolinas PGA club pros in 1984, Corbitt shot 92-81 and missed the cut.
The best thing about Heritage week is: The beauty. It’s spring, there’s excitement. Everything is wonderful.
If you weren’t at the tournament during Heritage week, you would be: I have been working with the event for so many years, I can’t imagine.

John Farrell

Job title: Director of golf at Harbour Town Golf Links and The Sea Pines Resort and the host professional for the Verizon Heritage.
Hometown: Pittsfield, Mass.
Golf handicap: Class A PGA Professional.
Previous jobs: Head professional at Sea Pines’ Ocean and Sea Marsh golf courses from 1989-91 and director of golf at Harbour Town Golf Links until job title changed in 2008.
The best thing about Heritage week is: With out question, it’s the people. From the Heritage Classic Foundation and the tournament staff lead by Steve Wilmot, to the volunteers, to the PGA Tour rules officials, the patrons, the tour players, the young men and women who help with our driving range operations. If “it takes a village,” then this is the best village I have ever seen.
If you weren’t at the tournament on Heritage week, you would be: Somewhere with my wife Jane and my children, Megan, Thomas and Charlie.

Simon Fraser

Job title: Chairman, Heritage Classic Foundation.
Hometown: Hilton Head Island (moved from Hinesville, Ga., in 1965 at age 12.)
Golf handicap: 12, prior to double hip replacement surgery in Decemeber.
Other job: Real estate attorney with the firm of Fraser & Allen.
Fun fact: Is the nephew of Sea Pines and Heritage founder Charles Fraser and the son of Joe Fraser, whom he succeeded as the Heritage Classic Foundation chairman before the 2007 tournament.
The best thing about Heritage week is: The competition, seeing friends, meeting new people, going to parties.
If you weren’t at the tournament during Heritage week, you would be: Working, unfortunately.

Gary T. Snyder

Job title: Golf course superintendent at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Golf handicap: 18.
Previous jobs: Golf course superintendent at Haig Point (1986-98) and Moss Creek 1980-86.)
Fun fact: Even before coming to Harbour Town, Snyder was no stranger to preparing a golf course for a top-shelf professional event. During part of his tenure at Moss Creek, the course played host to an LPGA event.
The best thing about Heritage week is: We get to display one of the premier golf courses on national television, and it’s all about golf.
If you weren’t at the tournament on Heritage week, you would be: In the mountains of North Carolina.

Stan Smith

Job title: Heritage Classic Foundation trustee chair of the player relations committee.
Other employment jobs: Chairman of Stan Smith Events, co-owner of Smith Stearns Tennis Academy.
Hometown: Hilton Head Island now, originally Pasadena, Calif.
Golf handicap: 4.
Fun fact: The Verizon Heritage might not be a regular stop for Tiger Woods, the world’s No. 1 golfer, but it has long been home to Smith, the former top-ranked men’s tennis player. Smith began his relationship with Sea Pines not long after winning the 1971 U.S. Open. He was ranked No. 1 then, as he was the next year when he won Wimbledon. Though his playing schedule has diminished greatly since those days, he still plays in several senior events and is in his 37th season as Sea Pines’ official touring professional.
The best thing about Heritage week is: Great competition, the wonderful atmosphere and money raised for charity.
If you weren’t at the tournament on Heritage week, you would be: Watching on television, as I have over the years when I was on the pro tennis tour.

Steve Wilmot

Job title: Heritage tournament director.
Hometown: Moorestown, N.J.
Golf handicap: 16.
Previous jobs: Before he was the tournament director, Wilmot served under Mike Stevens as assistant tournament director. Before that, 23 years ago, he worked for the Carolinas PGA Section and also is a former front-office employee in the now-defunct USFL.
Fun fact: Before Wilmot came to South Carolina, he worked as Santa Claus at Cherry Hill Mall in a south New Jersey. “It was either be the Easter Bunny or come down here,” Wilmot quips.
The best thing about Heritage week is: EVERYTHING. I love all the work involved in making a successful tournament.
If you weren’t at the tournament during Heritage week, you would be: With my family. I do not see much of them from February to the end of April.