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Reynolds Lake Oconee is one of the top spots in the South for a golf trip. Even though it's somewhat off on its own, a little over an hour east of Atlanta, it is also comprehensive enough to easily rate as a golf destination unto itself. With six golf courses (five of them open to visitors), it offers so much golf that visiting couples or buddy groups have little reason to leave the property. Perhaps that's why more than 2,000 families call the residential community home.
(Tip: As a GolfPass member, you receive $100 off your golf package through GolfPass Perks. Be sure to mention it at the time of booking.)
19th-hole debates rage about golfers' personal rankings of the six courses. I've recently finished playing all of them, so here's my ranking. Share your agreement or dissent in the comments.
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The Oconee Course
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The Oconee's 17th looks out on the eponymous lake. Brian Oar First up is probably the choice that will cause the most disagreement. A lot of golfers place The Oconee near the top of their Reynolds ranking. For me, it's a nevertheless strong 6th. While there are several Rees Jones courses I enjoy, once the well-traveled golfer has seen a few of his designs, the general shaping of the bunkers and tendency toward forced aerial approaches tends to become increasingly familiar. The Oconee wins points for proximity to both the Linger Longer Steakhouse and the on-property Ritz-Carlton hotel, as well as a beautiful lakeside final quartet of holes, but the difficulty of the golf course and the at times overwhelming shaping solidifies its placement on this list.
