Here's hoping we haven't seen the last of The Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links

Only a week after the Masters, another noteworthy golf tournament concluded, this one with a playoff victory by Brandt Snedeker over Luke Donald. It would take three holes of sudden death at the PGA Tour’s Heritage tournament for Snedeker, who shot a final-round 64, to deny Donald his place among the top of the World Golf Rankings. (With a win, Donald was projected to ascend to World No. 1.)

A comment just a few moments earlier, however, by CBS announcer Jim Nance spoke of something even more compelling.

“They keep going like this and there will be a 2012 Heritage – this one,” Nance quipped as the playoff continued.

Then he echoed what most of us feel. “We all hope, of course, there will be (a Heritage tournament in 2012). I’m optimistic about that. There’s just too much history.”

What he’s referring to is the fact that The Heritage doesn’t have a title sponsor, and tour and tournament officials, as well as South Carolina politicians, have been working to make something happen to make sure the tournament continues in 2012 and beyond. Without a title sponsor (it was formerly the Verizon Heritage) that’s highly unlikely, and that would be a shame. But officials are optimistic something can be worked out soon.

As Nance said, there’s been so much history. Located on golf-rich Hilton Head Island, The Heritage is South Carolina’s only PGA Tour event, and it’s been around and played at Harbour Town Golf Links since 1969. The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye (and later renovated by Dye), and the initial tournament, The Heritage Classic, was played on Thanksgiving weekend. Arnold Palmer won the first event, and a litany of great players has been victorious since. Over the years, it’s become a favorite stop on tour.

The tournament also serves to give exposure to a wonderful golf area ? Hilton Head Island. With more than 30 courses, Harbour Town is but one example of the excellent golf in the area. The courses at Palmetto Dunes and Palmetto Hall resorts, Heron Point by Pete Dye and the Ocean Course at Sea Pines, and the Shipyard are just a few of the choices. And the area is jam-packed with terrific dining, recreation and beaches, which makes for a great golf vacation. Keeping the tour at Harbour Town helps keep it that way.