event was just what the island and Sea Pines needed. Again, his foresight didn’t fail him. Since that first Heritage Classic Golf Tournament in 1969, attendance has grown to more than 100,000. In addition, Sea Pines hosted the Family Circle Tennis Cup tournament for several years. Today there are three golf courses in Sea Pines – Ocean Golf Course , Sea Marsh and Harbour Town Golf Links, which was finished in 1969 – just in time for the first Heritage golf tournament. As the story goes, sand was still being poured in bunkers as golfers were teeing off for the first round. The Harbour Town Lighthouse (“Fraser’s Folly”) was still under construction at the time of the first tournament. But Fraser believed the tournament and the lighthouse were the “hooks” that he was looking for – the things that would make Sea Pines stand out and be recognized. Today the lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country and one of the most recognized corporate logos in the world. In the early 1960s, the first condominiums in Sea Pines were built, most of them clustered along Lighthouse Road. With them, the nature of Sea Pines changed. It no longer was just a private residential community but was quickly becoming a resort destination catering to vacationers. Visitors became buyers, and, before long, Sea Pines was running out of new property for sale. In the 1970s, Sea Pines bought the northeast end of the island for more than $8 million, which quickly sold and became its own village, Hilton Head Plantation. For nearly two decades, Sea Pines enjoyed successful growth. Between 1968 and 1974, employment at Sea Pines Company increased tenfold. Charles surrounded himself with smart people, and, in the early 1970s, he was reported to have recruited more Harvard MBAs than any other firm in America. Getting their feet wet at Sea Pines, many of them went on to develop other world-class resorts themselves. Feeling that Sea Pines was close to completion, Charles tried to develop 3,000 acres on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and all of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. In both cases, his efforts were thwarted. In addition, Fraser invested in Puerto Rico’s Palmas del Mar in 1970, which incurred “intractable problems” – a combination of the ailing economy and a culture clash. In 1974, with the national economy plummeting and interest rates soaring, the resort’s second home market suffered. Between 1980 and 1986, Sea Pines and Hilton Head Plantation changed ownership three times. In 1982, Vacation Resorts, owned by Heizer Corp., paid $10 million for the company. Then Bobby Ginn came along with a slew of deal-making concepts to get the company back on track, none of which panned out. Ginn sold to Roylat Holding Corp, with financing from Philip Schwab, who sent in a new management team. Fraser sold his stake in Sea Pines in 1983. However, he continued to live on the island, serving on the island’ council and boards of other developments. Sea Pines and Fraser’s visions have served as the template for the planning of Hilton Head Island, as well as other resort communities, including Amelia and Kiawah islands. “Through all of the ups and downs offered – walking, biking, tennis, golf, playgrounds and swings – a full family package. “There literally was nothing here,” said Mary Fraser. “We celebrated when a grocery store came here, a doctor, a laundry service. “There was a man who came from Orangeburg once a week to deliver milk and eggs,” she added. “He never knocked or spoke for that matter. He’d just come in and rearrange my refrigerator. But then, we never used to lock our doors back in the early days.” Mary Fraser is credited with making Sea Pines “family friendly.” Although she never drew a paycheck after she and Charles were married, she played an instrumental, behind-thescenes role in the success of Sea Pines. For instance, when Mary heard about an innovative playground located in the heart of Harlem in New York City, she went there (without Charles’ knowledge) and shot roll after roll of film. She then modeled the original playground in Harbour Town after that playground, designing it so each piece of equipment worked a different muscle group. At one point, Mary pushed for mopeds so the children could “buzz around the community.” They have since been outlawed within Sea Pines. Charles Fraser wanted to bring in professional sports, which at the time were just starting to resemble what they are today. He was convinced a Professional Golfers Association Arnold Palmer’s 1969 victory at Heritage which launched Sea Pines into the limelight. The Harbour Town Lighthouse, which was still under construction at the time, can be seen in the background. 12 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
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