Members and guests of Reynolds Lake Oconee enjoy a caliber of golf excellence that few golf destination resort communities can match.
The most sought-after names in golf course design have crafted seven courses.
With 126 holes draped across natural rolling hills that create subtleties to make each shot unique, there is an endless variety and a rewarding challenge awaiting at every fairway and green.
The Preserve Course, 18 holes
Golf Course Architect: Bob Cupp (1988)
Head Golf Professional: Eric Fedus
6,698 Yards/Par 72
Course Rating/Slope
Tees Rating/Slope
One 72.2/133
Two 70.4/127
Tournament 69.5/126
Three (men) 68.4/122
Three (women) 73.5/129
3/4 Combo (men) 68.4/122
3/4 Combo (women) 73.5/129
Four (men) 65.5/111
Four (women) 70.2/121
4/5 Combo (men) 64.4/109
4/5 Combo (women) 68.7/119
Five (men) 62.6/108
Five (women) 66.8/114
Designed by the late architect Bob Cupp, with U.S. Open Champions Fuzzy Zoeller and Hubert Green serving as contributing architects, the Preserve Course is characterized by a natural, rolling layout that possesses innumerable subtleties. The first course built at Reynolds, The Preserve Course features fairways that are wide and generally forgiving but also hilly and produce many uneven, tricky lies.
Great Waters Course, 18 holes
Golf Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus (1992)
Renovated by Nicklaus Design (2019)
Head Golf Professional: John Sitler
7,073 Yards/Par 72
Course Rating/Slope
Tees-Men Rating/Slope
Golden Bear 75.7/143
One 73.3/138
One/Two 72.0/135
Two 70.8/132
2/3 Combo 69.6/128
Three 68.1/125
3/4 Combo 66.5/121
Four 64.9/114
4/5 Combo 63.0/112
Five 62.1/107
Tees-Women Rating/Slope
One/Two 77.7/139
Two 76.5/134
2/3 Combo 75.2/131
Three 73.9/129
3/4 Combo 71.9/127
Four 70.0/121
4/5 Combo 67.6/117
Five 66.2/113
The Great Waters Course, regularly cited as one of Jack Nicklaus’ most pleasant and playable courses, offers some of the most dramatic golf scenery in the Southeast. With nine holes lining the shores of Lake Oconee, Great Waters offers exciting challenges and beautiful views and loaded with risk/reward choices. The course is ranked in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play (2024-25).
The front nine plays through forest but the expectation of the lake is always there until it first comes into play on the 9th hole. From there in, the lake is regularly in view and in play with six of the nine back holes finishing at the water, most of which run parallel to the line of play.
The National Course, 18 holes
Golf Course Architect: Tom Fazio (Ridge 1997; Cove 2000)
Renovated: 2014
Head Golf Professional: Ryan Frisch
7,034 yards
Ridge 3454 Yards/Par 36
Cove 3533 Yards/par36
National Course
Tees Rating/Slope
One 74.6/143
Two 72.5/141
Tournament 71.7/136
Three (men) 70.4/132
Three (women) 76.2/138
Four (men) 68.8/127
Four (women) 74.2/134
4/5 Combo (men) 67.3/125
4/5 Combo (women) 72.6/129
Five (men) 66.6/120
Five (women) 71.1/128
The National features impressive elevations, wonderful views and several holes skirting the shores of Lake Oconee. Dense forests of hardwoods, pines, flowering wild dogwoods and some of Lake Oconee’s most dramatic lakefront topography shape the character of the site. An extensive renovation converted the greens to Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass, as well as architect Tom Fazio overseeing the complete reshaping of new, smaller bunkers.
The Landing, 18 holes
Golf Course Architect: Bob Cupp (1986)
Renovated: 2006 and 2013
Head Golf Professional: Pamela Shelley
6,691 Yards/Par 72
Course Rating/ Slope
Tees Rating/Slope
One 74.5/138
Two 71.7/131
Tournament 70.6/129
Three (men) 69.9/127
Three (women) 75.5/140
3/4 Combo (men) 68.6/124
3/4 Combo (women) 73.8/136
Four (men) 67.3/121
Four (women) 72.5/134
4/5 Combo (men) 66.0/118
4/5 Combo (women) 70.8/129
Five (men) 64.6/114
Five (women) 68.9/125
Formerly known as Port Armor, The Landing was the first golf course built on Lake Oconee. Ranked as one of Georgia’s best golf courses at its debut – second only to Augusta National – The Landing features a variety of holes that wind through wooded areas and rolling hills to create a layout that is enjoyable and challenging for all levels of golfers. The Landing is a challenging course known for fast greens and demanding shots.
Cupp directed a major course renovation with new tee areas, new bunkers, the removal of a notorious pond and the introduction of ornamental grasses to revive the design’s original Scottish Highlands character.
The Oconee Course, 18 holes
Golf Course Architect: Rees Jones (2002)
Renovated: 2013
Head Golf Professional: Ian Milhouse
7,029 Yards/Par 72
Course Rating/Slope
Tees Rating/Slope
One 73.8/139
Two 72.8/136
Tournament 71.4/134
Three (men) 70.5/130
Three (women) 76.2/137
Three/Four (men) 68.8/126
Three/Four (women) 74.4/135
Four (men) 67.5/121
Four (women) 73.7/133
Four/Five (men) 65.9/118
Four/Five (women) 71.3/130
Five (men) 65.0/115
Five (women) 70.3/125
Named after the lake that serves as the centerpiece of Reynolds Lake Oconee, much of the Oconee layout plays around the water. Lake Oconee comes into play on nine holes, including the final three, which brings rounds to a dramatic close. Golfers are presented with numerous risk/reward options, as streams and various other features, such as tree-lined doglegs, incorporate challenges into the design. An idyllic sanctuary, the course provides a pure, undisturbed setting for an authentic golf experience.
All 18 greens were converted to Champion Hybrid Bermudagrass as part of a renovation, which included returning the outermost edges of the greens to their original design and shaping the tree canopies so fairways appear more inviting, while opening even more of the dramatic views throughout the course.
Richland Course, 18 holes (private, opened in 2024)
Golf Course Architect: Tom Fazio
Head Golf Professional: Ryan Frisch
7133 Yards/Par 72
Natural rolling terrain, highlighted by dramatic elevation changes and expansive views framed with native fescue are the hallmarks of the new Richland Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. The combination of the original Bluff nine by Fazio Design, has been melded into adjacent land distinguished by a creek, an existing pond, and subtle peeks of Lake Oconee. The golf course slopes gradually down toward a cove of Lake Oconee with more than 100 feet of elevation change. This is the only course at Reynolds Lake Oconee to traverse both sides of the peninsula and touch the lake from both Richland Creek and Oconee River.
The Creek Club, 18-hole course (private)
Golf Course Architect: Jim Engh (2007)
Head Golf Professional: Jose Lopez
7,079 Yards/Par 72
Tees Rating/Slope
One 72.1/131
One/Three 69.5/126
Three (men) 68.5/123
Three (women) 74.0/135
Three/Four (men) 66.5/117
Three/Four (women) 72.0/131
Four (men) 65.1/109
Four (women) 70.1/127
Four/Five (women) 68.4/122
Five (women) 66.8/112
The Creek Club was the first private club within the Reynolds community. Much like Richland Creek, which ambles throughout the property, the course flows with constantly changing features that are mild at some points, dramatic and bold at others. Distinctive bunkering complements the terrain and impacts shot values. Four sets of tees ensure a tough but fair challenge.
Architect Jim Engh—known for his expansive courses—was given lots of room and used it all, as The Creek Club layout is symbolized by wide, strongly canted fairways as well as big rolling bunkers and slivers of lake dividing and defining a handful of holes. But the width also offers forgiveness: Many greens are bowl-shaped and player-friendly, while the final hole actually has three different greens, the finish changing day to day.
Lessons, Group and Tournament Services
Caddies
Reynolds utilizes CSI (Caddie Services, Inc.), a national professional caddie service. Use of caddies is optional and available at all Reynolds courses.
Instruction at Reynolds
Sean Cain serves as Director of The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee and lead instructor. His aim is to provide each student the maximum opportunity to improve their golf game, centered on teaching golfers to practice better, so they in turn will play and enjoy the game more.
Club Fitting
The Kingdom at Reynolds offers an unmatched custom golf game improvement experience, with consolidated club fitting and instruction for all ages and skill levels. This state-of-the-art game improvement center is home to an expansive range, four enclosed, heated hitting bays, three open hitting bays, three-hole short game practice area, and classroom facilities that allow for private or group instruction, single or multiple days.
All drivers, fairway woods and irons are custom-made and delivered by a master club builder at one of the two on-site TaylorMade Tour Trailers.
Access
All courses at Reynolds, except for The Creek Club and Richland, are open to resort guests.
Reservation Contacts
For reservations at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee: 706/467-0600
For reservations in a cottage or condominium: Member Concierge: 706/467-1111
(hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern)
