Recently Golf Aficionado had the opportunity to visit Reynolds Lake Oconee and play four of the six on-property golf courses. If you’re saying to yourself you’ve never heard of Reynolds Lake Oconee then you might know it better by its former name which was recently changed from Reynolds Plantation to Reynolds Lake Oconee. Prior to our trip, we didn’t know much about Reynolds Lake Oconee except that it was located in Central Georgia nestled somewhere between Atlanta and Augusta. Reynolds Lake Oconee is a luxury resort community that is the ultimate setting for a serious golfer. At Reynolds Lake Oconee you can spend your day on the lake or out on one of the premier 6 golf courses, somewhere in the middle the two always seem to meet as Lake Oconee seems to come into play in some form or fashion on every course.
Reynolds Lake Oconee is a luxury resort community but that doesn’t mean you have to own property in the community to visit. The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Lake Oconee is the premier destination for anyone wanting to visit Lake Oconee making available 99 holes of golf designed by some of the game’s best known architects; Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Bob Cupp. The Ritz-Carlton managed property recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation which featured upgrades to the meeting space, spa, and outdoor pool area. Ritz-Carlton is a brand synonymous with luxury and the Lodge at Lake Oconee is no exception. After spending a few nights at the lodge and experiencing everything Lake Oconee has to offer we didn’t want to leave. The spa facilities are top notch and the dining options are exquisite. I’m not sure how many other places exist where you can play 18 holes and then enjoy a lobster grilled cheese sandwich alongside a beautiful lake.
Great Waters
As we mentioned Reynolds Lake Oconee has 6 golf courses, if you’re staying at the Ritz Carlton Lodge you’ll be able to play five of them. The Creek Club at Reynolds Lake Oconee is exclusive to members only. During our visit we played; Great Waters, The National, The Oconee, and The Landing. We would have played The Plantation as well but it was closed for a major renovation. Each course is influenced by Lake Oconee but none more so than the Jack Nicklaus designed Great Waters. The funny thing is after the first 8 holes of Great Waters you’re asking yourself “Where is the water?” The good news is that after 8 holes amongst the oaks hole #9 gives you a proper introduction to Lake Oconee and is one of the most scenic holes on the whole property. You should know by now that Golf Aficionado has a fondness for water and any course featuring as much H2O as Great Waters is going to rate high on our list of favorites.
The National
Our 2nd day at Reynolds Lake Oconee we tee’ d it up at The National; a Tom Fazio designed course featuring 27 holes which recently underwent a major redesign in 2014. Golf Aficionado plays a Tom Fazio designed course at The Legacy Club every other week. So needless to say, we’re pretty familiar with Mr. Fazio. We’re happy to say Fazio’s work at Lake Oconee doesn’t disappoint! The National features the least shoreline of Lake Oconee out of all the courses but that doesn’t mean it falls short. On the holes where Lake Oconee is present Fazio did a great job of making the most of it. When you weren’t playing holes on Lake Oconee you were in the middle of a beautiful landscape featuring rolling hills, tall oaks, and steep elevation changes. All in all, our group loved The National and thought it was the best of the bunch we played during our trip.
The Oconee
On our 3rd day at Reynolds Lake Oconee we played The Oconee course. Defined by the Lake Oconee Shoreline this course design is another example of brilliance from the Legendary Rees Jones. The Oconee course recently underwent a significant renovation that was completed in the fall of 2013. The renovation kept the original Rees Jones Design intact but opened the fairways to make them more inviting. In addition to opening the fairways the course switched over from bent grass to Champion Bermudagrass which provides better durability. The Oconee features the hands down best finishing hole of all the courses at Lake Oconee. Number 18 is a true signature hole that is beautiful from the ground, air, and lake. We had the opportunity to take a cruise on Lake Oconee and the highlight of the cruise was making our way around the eighteenth hole.
The Landing
The Landing is the one that started it all at Lake Oconee, the first course to open at Reynolds Lake Oconee back in 1986 it set the foundation for what has truly become a golfer’s paradise. The Landing designed by Bob Cupp who also directed the recent renovation that opened in the spring of 2013. The Landing is an excellent mix of rolling hills, oak trees, and Lake Oconee shoreline. The layout of The Landing is a perfect mix of the natural Central Georgia landscape and Lake Oconee. More than any course we played during the trip the layout seemed to provide the best combination of both the shoreline and rolling hills. The holes along the shoreline featured stunning views and your time amongst the wooded landscape was as enjoyable as it was peaceful.
We aren’t exaggerating when we call Reynolds Lake Oconee a golfer’s paradise, we really mean it. At Reynolds Lake Oconee they have made a major financial commitment which is evident by all the major course renovations completed over the past few years. You’ll be hard pressed to find better accommodations combined with golf anywhere in the world. Factor in the natural beauty of Lake Oconee and all the on-water activities and good luck finding a better place to call home.
Reynolds Lake Oconee offers several different levels of golf membership from the entry level which grants you access to two courses all the way up to an elite level that grants you access to all six courses including the exclusive members only The Creek Club. If you’re in love with golf and looking for a place to call home then visit Reynolds Lake Oconee, you won’t want to call anywhere else home.
Not ready to move, don’t worry the Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Lake Oconee has you covered. If you’re looking for a luxury golf escape then look no further, from luxury accommodations to lake activities and 99 holes of championship golf what else would you want.