Reynolds Lake Oconee

The last ten holes all touch the lake and they are beautiful and interesting, but the first 8 holes are also very good. Nice variety of distances, some good drop par 3s, and good use of a holes running along a creek on the front. The course blends well into the pretty surroundings and the greens have cool tiers, swales and slopes. Not walkable due to long green to tee distances. The course has good strategy, variety, greens and scenery.

Very nice tree-lined course that steps up from the 9th hole on. The first 8 holes are good but there is a feel of sameness as you go through them. The 9th plays beautifully along the lake and then you get good elevations and holes that play through a creek and on the lake that up the course to 4 stars. The greens are somewhat flattish and the bunkers seem a bit overdone for the very pretty setting. Not walkable due to the long green to tee distances. This is a very good resort course that is scenic and fun.

It was fun to return five years after the renovation of the premier resort course at Reynolds to see how nicely it has matured. Conditioning is flawless and the sense of an escalating journey – a mostly inland front nine that gives way to the shoreline-tickling inward half – continues to animate the round. The course is tough but playable from the right tees, with the only real forced carries coming on par 3s (14, 17) or shots that are likely to be played with wedges (9, 11).

Great Waters enjoys its own environment unto itself, away from the main Reynolds complex. This sense of isolation adds to its charm. As a result, it’s one of my favorite 1990s golf courses.

Opened in 2002, The Oconee has all the hallmarks of courses built in the hottest years of golf development: heavy shaping, huge bunkers, plenty of water and large, fast-running tiered greens. That was Rees Jones’ specialty through this period, and his course at Reynolds jumps out at you like a full magazine spread. Some holes are a bit one-dimensional but there are some memorable tests here, especially late in the round. The downhill par-3 13th with an enormous coral-shaped bunker is an over-the-top-fun set piece, and the finishing holes that touch the lake are beautiful, especially if you can time your round to coincide with the end of the day.

Perfect conditions, wonderful layout, greens were fabulous!! It was FUN, and the green complexes allowed for so much creativity and planning, both on approach shots as well as around and on the greens. I’ve been fortunate to play a decent number of different golf courses and this one may be the best one I’ve ever played.

This course has many restrooms so drink up there are

Many opportunities to recycle the beers . This course has water holes, sand traps, putting greens and uses flag stocks marking where the hole is on greens.

Play in the winter to avoid sunburns.

Nice setting but the overall value is not there. Played during Master’s week and they jack up the prices. At $500 per round, you could play Whistling Straits, Pinehurst #2 even Pebble Beach for that price. This place is absolutely none of those!

Low Lights:

- Grill/Food, not open in the morning.

- The starter was extremely rude!

- No beverage cart for the first 9 holes

- Tee boxes were in poor condition.

- The overall service was poor.

This place just wants your cash and then does not deliver the service.

This course plays terrifically in the fall/winter.

The 12th and 16th holes are standouts. Players must navigate a picturesque creek the length of both holes, making them truly memorable.

The par 3s are very strong as well. All vary a good bit in length.

Being a Rees Jones design, the Oconee course reminded me a great deal of his father’s RTJ Golf Trail in Alabama.

Be sure and end the day at The National Tavern. It’s a great spot.

I can see why Great Waters owns a spectacular reputation. The lake in involved with 9 of the last 10 holes setting up some postcard shot and scenic value.

Though mild temperatures in this part of the country make Reynolds Oconee an excellent fall getaway destination, my thought is that GW probably is much more enjoyable in the summer, when everything is lush and green. I enjoyed the Oconee course much more, as I feel it plays better in the fall and winter.

GW will test your long-iron game, as several of the par 4s are robust.

End your day at the National Tavern. It is a great hang.

We arrived with only 4 hours of sunlight left in the day and we finished with 20 minutes to spare. I took as many pictures as I did shots and none of them do the course justice. We played two other courses at Reynold's that week but this was the best. Not by much, but it was the best of the three.

This was a great course but probably our least favorite of the lake oconee courses we played. A couple members said this course was also by far the toughest but we felt great waters was tougher. The front nine suited my eye well with a lot of holes going left to right which is perfect for my ball flight. Greens rolled well and several pretty holes. Only downfall was the $300-$350 price due to it being masters week.

If you like beautiful lake views this is your course. The first 8 holes are nice but kind of ho hum before you get introduced to the last 10 holes with water everywhere. Greens rolled pure and course was nice for early spring. We felt this course was the hardest of the lake oconee courses. Almost every hole plays for a RH draw and goes to the left which does not fit my eye but was still fun. Only downfall was the $300-$350 cost due to it being masters week. Coming down the 16-18th holes at sunset are a treat.

Great Course Design and Layout with some beautiful water holes. Roughs were over seeded giving it a nice plush green look even in early spring. Course was in great condition and greens rolled pure. I believe this was my favorite of the lake oconee courses with great waters following closely behind. Played with a couple members who were very nice as well. Only downside was the $300-350 price tag (because of it being masters week).

Showed up to play with daughter (Fathers Day Gift). No one to meet us and help with bags. Gave us 2 hot water bottles (not cooled) and told us to go get in line at the tee. No starter, so teed off after waiting for one group and were met on the 2nd tee box by a bald employee in a golf cart accusing us of jumping in rotation. Tried to explain what we were told, however, he treated us like criminals with horrible/nasty attitude. Followed him back to the pro shop where the pro also was extremely rude/arrogant and continued to treat us like criminals. Pros name was Brody. Basically, they had no starters, got the tee times all screwed up and then blamed us as the customers. I have played golf all over the country at public and private courses and without a doubt will say this was THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER SEEN at a golf course. Very pricy and shouldn't get this kind of treatment anywhere let alone at this price!

What can be said that hasn't already been said? A little slow for the front nice (as far as scoring), but I think the back nine, I was so in awe of the views, that I wasn't even paying attention to golf. After I finished, I realized I shot a 79. With the exception of 10, ALL holes on the back nine have INCREDIBLE views of the lake, I'm talking full-on panoramic views. I will definitely be getting back there. I won't even hold against them, the fact that they aerated the greens just 2 weeks ago, yet were still in better than average shape.

The course conditions were great (positive), a few great views of the lake (positive), blind uphill approach shots (negative), not cart service (negative). Now a few things: we were first group out and done inside of 3:30 (threesome), so speed wasn't an issue; greens were aerated 3 weeks ago, but still in better than average shape. Will I go back, probably, but will try the other Lake Oconee courses first.

The back 9 is the best stretch of 9 holes of any course I’ve ever played. I could not recommend this course enough. Jack out did himself on this one.

Water plays a big role in the fame of certain golf courses. In most cases, it's a sea, ocean or Great Lake. At Reynolds Lake Oconee is the star, and while it's no Superior or Michigan, it is central to the identity of courses, especially Great Waters, where it is a factor on nine of the last ten holes.

After a year-plus renovation by Jack Nicklaus, Great Waters is ready for its next quarter-century anchoring a strong set of resort and member courses. You'll pay a premium to play it, but for your dollars you get an American inland course with unmatched access to a beautiful body of water, with the block-and-tackle design features you've come to expect from the Golden Bear: aerial game emphasis, stately holes and a measure of Augusta inspiration.

Many golf courses are over-bunkered. Rather than strategic hazards, bunkers often become crutches used by architects to add "character" or "eye candy" to a course. Which makes it refreshing to see a course with relatively few.

To be fair, flat courses often need bunkers to be interesting.

The Preserve has barely a dozen and a half bunkers, which is appropriate given the significant natural rise and fall of most of the hole corridors. Uphill shots abound, but due to light bunkering and plenty of gathering slopes, such shots are manageable. The front-nine holes by Lake Oconee offer only token looks, unfortunately, but overall The Preserve is an enjoyable layout for members and guests.

I loved the course however the greens were starting to go dormant and they were slick. The course superintendent put the pins in much to difficult of a spot for amateurs. Would like to play again when the greens were not so fast.