Will stumbling economy trip up the Verizon Heritage?

If you can spare 100 cars for a week in mid-April, Steve Wilmot could use your help.

As tournament director for the Verizon Heritage, Wilmot is working long days to make sure Hilton Head Island's upcoming stop on the PGA Tour goes smoothly.

That job got tougher two weeks ago, when Wilmot learned General Motors would not provide courtesy cars to the Heritage and several other tournaments around the country.

That's only one example of the ways the recession is hurting Hilton Head's signature annual event, which will be held April 13 through 19.

In his 23rd year with the tournament, Wilmot said ticket sales and sponsorships are each down "a couple hundred thousand" dollars this year.

The preliminary pro-am tournaments, which normally sell out, have about 30 slots left at more than $5,000 each, he said.

Several sponsors have told Wilmot they would love to support the tournament but can't afford it or don't want to be involved with an upscale event during an economic downturn.

"Would we like to go out and sell a $250,000 sponsorship today?" Wilmot said. "Yeah, but it's not

going to happen."

General Motors' exit was particularly significant because the company had supported the tournament for more than 20 years.

In the past, Cadillac had provided 170 courtesy vehicles at no cost, and GMC chipped in another 65, Wilmot said.

Without them, Wilmot had to rent 65 vehicles needed to run the tournament and ask players who live within driving distance to rely on their own transportation. For the rest of the field, he spent Thursday and Friday trying to line up 100 more vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, BMW or area rental companies.

As a result of such difficulties, there probably won't be as much money as usual available for area charities after this year's tournament.

Tournament officials have distributed about $1.8 million each of the past two years and almost $19 million to charities since 1980. This year, Wilmot said, he's not sure what to tell the charity officials who have called to ask about the status of funding.

"It won't be close to $1.8 (million), that's for sure," Wilmot said. "That's our biggest concern right now."

For the most part, Wilmot hopes spectators and TV viewers in more than 240 countries won't notice anything amiss. He also hopes sponsors who couldn't pony up this year will return in the future or at least buy a ticket or two this time.

The most visible difference this year might be fewer skyboxes, Wilmot said.

Other changes will be more subtle.

Wilmot is reconsidering the need for flooring in some tents, for example, and area football and lacrosse players will help with parking and trash removal as a fundraiser.

To ensure attendees still have a good time, Wilmot has asked players to linger a little longer with sponsors and guests.

He intends to pay particular attention to the tournament's title sponsor, Verizon, whose contract is up after 2010. Tournament organizers plan to begin renewal talks this spring, so Wilmot said he wants to make sure Verizon officials enjoy this year's show.

"We'll certainly have a little nudge here or there," Wilmot said.

Even though some companies have cut ties with the tournament, CoastalStates Bank committed to become the Heritage's "official local sponsor" soon after last year's tournament ended.

Bank chairman and CEO Randy Dolyniuk said he understands some might criticize his decision to do so, but he said keeping the Heritage healthy is essential for the welfare of the community.

The tournament generated an economic impact of about $77 million in Beaufort County in 2005, according to a Clemson University study.

Dolyniuk and Wilmot both asked people who used sponsors' tickets in the past to buy their own this year.

"That would have a huge impact on the tournament," Dolyniuk said.