Benjamin Harris, Resort Executive Chef, The Sea Pines Resort
The Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, S.C., debuted a burger designed by 2023 RBC Heritage winner Matt Fitzpatrick: the ‘Defending Champion Burger.
The burger features a custom blend of char-grilled short rib, brisket and chuck, plus Emmental Swiss cheese, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, housemade roasted garlic aioli and a house seasoning blend, atop a toasted sesame seed bun.
“We put together a selection sheet [for Fitzpatrick] featuring dozen kinds of cheese, a few different buns and all kinds of accoutrements to garnish the burger with,” says Resort Executive Chef Benjamin Harris. “[Fitzpatrick] went a little more on the simple side, but with really high-end cheese, a house-made aioli. People are going crazy for it.”
The burger’s success lies in its execution, Harris says. The team did a lot of research and development during the off season to find the best blend of meat and the highest-quality ingredients in order to elevate its burgers.
“We have a very unique grind of beef—a custom blend of short rib, chuck and brisket—and we execute it well,” he says. “Training is a big thing with us—making sure whoever’s responsible for those burgers that day is trained and understands exactly what the mission is.”
Of course, diners also love that they can connect with Fitzpatrick through his food preferences. Because this feature was so successful, the team at Sea Pines has others in the works.
“Now that we have a new champion in Scottie Scheffler, we have the selection sheet into his PR team,” Harris says. “Once we hear back from him, we’ll switch the menu to his selection.”
