Ohio Golf Journal October 2019

Reynolds Lake Oconee Reopens the Great Waters Course After Nicklaus Renovation G olfers looking for an up-scale and first-class resort experience can find that and more at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia. The region is simply gorgeous, serene, picturesque and peaceful – and from personal experience we can say the golf is incredible with six courses, a top-notch teaching and training facility and the comforts of The Ritz- Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee on the water’s edge. Perhaps the most dramatic layout at Reynolds Lake Oconee is the Great Waters Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus. It first opened for play in 1992 to wide-spread accolades and has hosted many high- profile events. One of the leading collegiate golf tournaments, the Linger Longer Invitational, is held at Great Waters annually and U-M has competed there a few times. By Fred Altvater and Tom Lang After some redesign changes by Nicklaus, the course is now reopening in October, after its most recent renovation by the Golden Bear. The lake affects play on several holes and makes the Great Waters Course one of the most dramatic layouts in the Southeast. It has been consistently ranked among the Top 100 courses in the nation. “Although the golf course looked pretty good, it was a little tired,” Nicklaus said. “After so many years, all golf courses need sprucing up and some improvements.” Nicklaus wanted the overall look and feel of the course to be retained, but revamp it so that it’s a little more user friendly with additional bail-out areas added for comfort off the tees. Ohio Golf Journal