I hope this note finds you well and you are finding some time to enjoy our beautiful community and the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament. Last year is finally behind us and the number of people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations increases each day. Hopefully our nation -and our Sea Pines community – have turned the corner in this fight. In the coming month, CSA offices and facilities will move to more open operations, while continuing to keep the appropriate COVID-19 protocols in place.

While the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament is back to its normal spring date, it is still far from a normal year. Ticket sales are limited and COVID-19 protocols are in place for all tournament activities. In addition, security, traffic and parking measures are in place around the community and tournament hangtags are required to access certain areas during tournament play. To learn more about these measures, parking options, the Heritage Trolley service and helpful information for Sea Pines owners during the tournament, please visit our website at www.SeaPinesLiving.com/heritage.

Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, the tournament is sold out and has an exceptional field of competitors. This means The Heritage Classic Foundation will once again be in a position to support many wonderful charities and Harbour Town Golf Links will once again be the center of the golf world. Regardless of who wins the coveted plaid jacket this Sunday, the Sea Pines Community has already won as millions of golf fans around the world wish they were here.

Many of us consider the tournament as the start of the “busy season”. However, as many have already observed, the “busy season” came early this year. As a comparison, the total number of gate passes sold in the first quarter of 2019 was 69,863. The total number of gate passes sold in the first quarter of 2021 was 78,071, an increase of 11.8%. We believe current short term rental bookings are an indicator that this trend will continue through at least the second and third quarters of 2021.

With the rising number of visitors and guests, there is increased pressure on CSA to provide for the needs of the community. Because most of the services we provide are labor intensive (security, gate operations and maintenance), we have been working very hard to fill our open positions. We have also added additional positions in the areas of security and gate operations. Unfortunately, the labor market in our region is very tight so a number of these jobs remain open. We are not the only business or organization facing this challenge, many of our Sea Pines commercial partners are also looking for employees. So as summer approaches, if you know of someone who may be coming back from school or is otherwise in the job market, please point them to the Sea Pines Community first, because it takes great employees to make our community work.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as President of Sea Pines CSA and if we can be of assistance to you, please feel free to reach out to us by phone at 843.671.1343 or by email at info@csaseapines.com. Stay safe, have a great Heritage week and wonderful Spring.

Sam Bennett
Sea Pines CSA President