In previous years at the Kingdom Cup on Hilton Head Island, it was typically on the second night of the three-night event when you would hear talk of successful shots hit under pressure, good swings, bad breaks, and predictions of leaderboard climbs. Not so in 2025.

This year, the opening night was bolstered by an almost-hour-long presentation of on-course stories, as PGA Tour caddie Geno Bonnalie moderated a panel discussion with four of his fellow professional loopers. From memorable rounds played alongside Tiger Woods to moments of on-the-job learning early in their careers, the group regaled the crowd with anecdotes that provided an entertaining glimpse of life on the PGA Tour.

The next morning, most of those audience members were making their way around Heron Point at The Sea Pines Resort, where they soon met up with those caddies at different holes across the front nine. And, in some cases, the caddies were giving out more than just good course-management advice.

The second hole, for example, a short, drivable par 4, had many players seduced into pulling the big stick from their bags. When all four players in a particular group failed to keep their tee shots in play, Paul Tesori, a longtime caddie for Webb Simpson, offered an ultimatum. “I’m giving you guys a mulligan on me,” he declared, “but you can’t go hit an iron or a 3-wood like you want to.”

Better shots were subsequently hit, and their day of championship-caliber golf and delectable bites and sips (more on this later) continued. “That’s playing golf!” Tesori declared after one second attempt found the short grass.

Bonnalie was there on the eighth hole to provide even more guidance, not to mention a little extra help—or so he implied. When one player’s drive flew over the edge of trees on the right on the challenging, dogleg-right par 4, the hole’s resident caddie was ready with a dose of optimism and some levity. “There’s a chance,” he said, watching the player’s shot disappear from view. “If I get there first, I’ll kick it out for you.”

“Hey, bud, the good thing is . . . I got that one on video for you,” a player told his teammate, just after the golfer’s ball found the water flanking the right of the green.

“Did you get the splash?” Love asked facetiously.

Just as participants were routinely impressed by each tee shot Love hit that morning, the course’s co-designer was equally impressed by the gift bags that participants received at the event. In fact, he and Nantz commented on them the night before. “The swag bag is impressive,” Love declared. Nantz concurred: “It’s serious.”

Those welcome bags—a men’s duffel created by Holderness & Bourne and a ladies weekender by Dooney & Bourke—were packed with articles of clothing from A. Putnam, Antigua Apparel, Fairway & Greene, and BOEN, not to mention G/FORE shoes; grooming and beauty products from LAB Series and Sisley Paris; golf accessories from Penfold; leather accessories from Ettinger; and—as has become a Kingdom Cup tradition—plenty of Hubs peanuts.

Guests were even gifted Folds-of-Honor-branded Weatherman umbrellas (the event raised more than $30,000 for Folds of Honor). Fortunately, golfers didn’t need those umbrellas during their rounds; however, the sun-splashed days were warm enough that many participants made good use of the misting fans, provided by Big Ass Fans, which were stationed out on the course and poolside.

The welcome gifts might have been noteworthy, but the prizes for accomplishments on the course—closest-to-the-pin contests, long-drive competitions, and awards for the overall tournament winners were no less jaw-dropping. We’re talking all-inclusive trips to French Polynesia with Paul Gauguin Cruises; an Irish golf and cultural getaway arranged by Kensington Tours; and a variety of long-weekend jaunts to Sin City courtesy of Bellagio Las Vegas.

Participants didn’t have to outdrive the competition or throw a dart onto the green to still feel like winners all week. Delectable Lowcountry fare served on and off the course, along with special tastings of Dewar’s whiskies, E. Leon Jimenes rum, Caymus Vineyards wines, and La Aurora cigars, made the entire affair feel like a lavish victory party.

Speaking of parties, Love, who took part in the first Kingdom Cup on Hilton Head Island in 2022, remembered what the initial event was like. On the one hand, he acknowledged that the event has continued to evolve and is more refined and more elevated now; however, at its core, the Kingdom Cup hasn’t changed. “I remember walking into that first party that night [in 2022], and it wasn’t a stiff cocktail party,” he said. “Everybody’s having a blast and having fun and getting along. It’s golf camaraderie, golf fellowship. And I think that’s what attracts so many people to come back every year.”

Bonnalie made a similar observation. “There’s a lot of the same faces, even from year one,” he said. “So those people are all getting to know each other and they’re developing these friendships, which makes it all that much more fun.”

It’s no wonder that as participants arrived at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport earlier in the week and saw a sprawling Kingdom Cup display in the Savannah Square, they were even more excited for what was in store. Predictably, as those participants returned to the airport on Sunday at the conclusion of the event, many were already making plans to see each other on Hilton Head Island next year. While those conversations attested the event’s success, they also reiterated the messaging from the Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau (Kingdom Cup presenting sponsor), which has long declared that Hilton Head Island is America’s Favorite Island.

In that respect, the event’s location and the Kingdom Cup itself share plenty of traits—and it was Roger Steele who perhaps said it best: “It very much has a ‘come as you are’ energy. There’s nothing that’s intimidating about it. Everything is so elevated, but it’s approachable and so welcoming.”

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