Located between Atlanta and golf’s legendary grounds in Augusta, Reynolds Lake Oconee is an outdoor recreation paradise. It boasts the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds, an award-winning tennis center, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, a wellness campus, and full-service marinas for watersports. But above all, it is a treasure trove of golf.
Seven. That’s the number of golf courses gracing this premier destination.
Two courses are reserved exclusively for members, while the remaining five are available to guests staying at the on-site Ritz-Carlton. Each course showcases the work of renowned designers: Great Waters (Jack Nicklaus), The Oconee (Rees Jones), The National (Tom Fazio), Creek Club (Jim Engh), The Preserve and The Landing (Bob Cupp), and the newest addition, Richland, which recently opened for play.
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Richland is an 18-hole, par-72 layout stretching 7,090 yards from the tips. Designed by Tom Fazio, it seamlessly integrates nine holes from his existing National course with nine newly created holes. The redesigned Richland course incorporates the Bluff nine from the original National course—modified and reimagined—as holes 1 through 5 and 15 through 18. The brand-new holes, 6 through 14, traverse the peninsula of Reynolds, tumbling down to the Richland side of Lake Oconee. The result is a dynamic layout featuring fescue-lined fairways, numerous bunkers, and dramatic elevation changes.
“My goal is always to create distinctive, one-of-a-kind golf courses,” says Fazio. “There’s a lot of terrain variation—ups and downs, ins and outs, twists and turns—which is great for golf. That’s what makes this such a fine natural setting.”
True to Fazio’s signature style, Richland offers no hidden hazards. The course’s challenges are laid out in plain sight, making it more enjoyable for higher handicap players while providing a stimulating test for seasoned golfers.
Reynolds Lake Oconee
“Members will enjoy this golf course because it has character and will never play the same way twice,” Fazio adds. “This new course will provide a challenge while offering endless possibilities for a fun and captivating golf experience.”
Enhancements to the Bluff Nine included repositioning and removing certain bunkers, combining smaller ones into larger, strategically placed hazards, and reshaping some greens—often bringing the lake more into play. New fescue native areas and low-mow chipping zones were introduced to enhance playability and aesthetics.
Richland also boasts more than 100 feet of elevation change as it slopes gently down toward a cove of Lake Oconee. It is the only course at Reynolds Lake Oconee that traverses both sides of the peninsula and touches the lake from both Richland Creek and the Oconee River.
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Be sure to take a break and refuel at the new halfway house, The Turn, located between holes 9 and 10. This mobile food truck serves up burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and an array of beverages. (I highly recommend the classic hot dog.)
Speaking of an array, that’s precisely what awaits you during a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. This 257-room lakefront resort and spa offers an unparalleled retreat with dining available at eleven distinctive culinary venues. Activities abound, from boating and fishing to clay shooting, an off-roading course, and archery. After an action-packed day, unwind at the 27,000-square-foot spa, featuring innovative treatments along with new fitness and wellness programs.
Whether you’re drawn to championship golf, world-class amenities, or serene lakeside relaxation, Reynolds Lake Oconee delivers an experience that is nothing short of extraordinary.
