The course is closed to spectators on Monday, which makes it the right day to settle in. Pick up groceries, unpack, and take a slow walk on the beach before the island fills up. If you’re biking to Harbour Town this week, ride the route once today so you know the way. Tomorrow, Heritage week starts in earnest.

Tuesday is when the 59th annual RBC Heritage officially begins. At noon, the opening ceremony parade sets off from Liberty Oak at Harbour Town Yacht Basin and finishes on the 18th green. Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick marches alongside Heritage Classic Foundation board members, volunteers, and state dignitaries, all to the sound of the Citadel’s Regimental Pipe Band. It’s a kickoff rooted in the tournament’s Scottish heritage, and you won’t see another like it on the PGA TOUR. Pros play practice rounds all day at their own pace, so you can walk the course and watch them work through Harbour Town up close. Tournament shuttles from Honey Horn and Coligny start running at 6:30 a.m., and youth 15 and under get free grounds access with a ticketed adult. Come early, find a spot along the marina, and let the week start the way it’s meant to.

Wednesday belongs to the RBC Heritage Pro-Am. PGA TOUR pros tee off from the 1st and 10th tees between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., with a second wave from noon to 12:50 p.m. Each pro plays alongside amateur partners, which gives the day a relaxed, conversational feel you won’t find once scoring starts. It’s an easy day to get close to the action before the weekend crowds arrive. The RBC Heritage Golf Outing, with no pros in the field, follows from both tees between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Use the quieter pace to scout your favorite viewing spots, from the free bleachers on every hole to the Heritage Lawn along the 18th fairway. Young fans can collect autographs in the Autograph Zone by the driving range, the one spot on property where autographs are allowed.

The first round is underway, with every professional teeing off from the 1st tee starting around 7:30 a.m. Opening day is a good time to follow a favorite group down the first fairway, then settle in at the Heritage Lawn to watch the tournament broadcast on the large video boards. For lunch, Fraser’s at the Pavilion sits under the Clubhouse next to the 10th tee, and concession stands run by local civic and non-profit volunteers are spread around the course.

The second round starts from the 1st tee at approximately 7:30 a.m. It’s the last weekday round, so the leaderboard starts to take shape heading into the weekend. Spend the afternoon at the 1 & 9 Village, an open-air spot between holes 1 and 9 with its own video board, the Elijah Craig Speakeasy, and the Wicked Weed Beer Bar. Bike in if you can: complimentary bicycle parking sits by the Clubhouse lot and alongside the 13th green.

Saturday is Plaid Nation Day, so wear your plaid with pride. The third round starts at approximately 7:30 a.m., and the course turns into a sea of tartan from the first tee to the 18th green. From noon to 2:00 p.m., the Plaid Nation Games take over the Heritage Lawn, which makes it the place to be with kids in tow. The Family Care Suite on the lawn gives families a dedicated space to regroup, and youth 15 and under get free grounds access with a ticketed adult. Forgot to pack something plaid? Stop by the Peter Millar tent on the Heritage Lawn. It’s a festive day, and the one families tend to remember.

Sunday opens quietly with a Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. under Liberty Oak, with local ministers, music, and nondenominational prayer. No ticket is needed, and all are welcome. The final round begins at approximately 7:30 a.m. as the leaders chase the title around Harbour Town one last time. As the afternoon builds, find a spot near the 18th green, where the finishing hole runs toward the red-and-white lighthouse. The trophy presentation follows on the 18th green as soon as play wraps. That’s when this year’s champion pulls on the tartan plaid jacket. It’s the moment the whole week builds to.