As The Heritage gets set to welcome golf professionals and fans to Hilton Head Island April 18 for what could be the last time, S.C. State Sen. Tom Davis expressed optimism that a new title sponsor will be found. Davis and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson spoke with media April 16 following an appearance by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann at a voter registration drive in Bluffton.
“I am very optimistic about the prospects of there being a title sponsor emerging at the last moment,” Davis said. “I think we are probably going to have some good news, at least I’m hopeful that we are.”
Verizon pulled out as sponsor after the 2010 event and finding a corporate sponsor has proven difficult with no major corporations located in the Hilton Head area. The tournament has an economic impact of $81.9 million, according to a survey conducted last April by Clemson University’s Institute for Tourism Research and Development.
Both Davis and Wilson said they are working closely with S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, her Commerce Director Bobby Hitt and her Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Duane Parrish. When Parrish was nominated, Haley said a top priority would be finding a corporate sponsor for the Heritage.
Davis said Hitt and Parrish “have been working daily on this matter.” He said he talks with their offices daily and that they have been discussing with two or three companies very intensely.
The 2011 tournament is being funded by Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County and money from the Heritage Classic Foundation. Wilson said he agrees with Haley who said private money should be used for sponsorship in the future.
Wilson said he is backing up Haley and all the initiatives of the Heritage Foundation itself to recruit a new sponsor and said he appreciates that Verizon has previously funded the Heritage. “This should be private funding and we will all be working toward that end.”
He said he has sent letters to CEO’s “from San Diego to London” urging different businesses to consider being a sponsor of the Heritage. “All of us are working together.”
Wilson will be part of the opening ceremony at noon Monday when defending Heritage Champion Jim Fuyrk will hit the ceremonial golf shot into the Calibogue Sound as a cannon is fired. Hilton Head residents and state political leaders continue to work to make sure the cannon does not go silent.
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