GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.5
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.9
Value
2.9
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
3.6
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.7
69.3%
Recommend this course
11 out of 13 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
1.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.0
Value
1.0
Layout
4.0
Pace
2.0
Amenities
1.0
StaffFriendliness
1.0
0%
Recommend this course
1 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Private/Resort
Par 72
Length 7436 yards
Slope 143
Rating 75.7

Great Waters, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is the dramatic signature layout that helped place Reynolds Lake Oconee on the map when it opened in 1992. True to its name, Great Waters intertwines with Lake Oconee more than any of the other five courses at Reynolds. The first eight holes begin with a parkland-style layout through rolling hills and thick forests. The beautiful ninth hole introduces the golfer’s first glimpse of the lake, only preparing them for the final eight holes of panoramic views and challenging shots along Lake Oconee. Great Waters is a “must play” for anyone visiting Reynolds Lake Oconee.

Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Tif Way 419 Bermudagrass
Greens MiniVerde Bermudagrass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jack Nicklaus (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire. Collared shirts only for men. No bathing suits, tank tops, jeans, cut-offs.

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Accolades

Reviews

3.5
13 Reviews (13)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Way overpriced

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.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 310
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Birmingham Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Almost every hole is a signature hole

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 146
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 100 Contributor
Missouri Advisor
First Time Playing

Makes the most of the property!

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE SEEN TO DATE

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!

Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A true masterpiece

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

The best of Lake Oconee

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
5.0
Previously Played

Jack Nicklaus Redesign

This course was wonderful prior to the redesign but is even better nice. Just opened so greens are hard and cart path only. A great course for every level player and the scenery on the back can’t be beat

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 335
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
Perfect weather
Used cart

Solid Nicklaus fare in a special setting

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.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 98
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Tennessee Advisor
Top 50 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Worthy of all the accolades

Great Waters makes its name on almost ever list of places to play. The course (and the resort) is worthy of all the accolades. This is a Jack Nicklaus design and it is typical of his work.

To me, it seems that Nicklaus always allows the player an option to "bail out" of difficulty. That long par 4 where you can lay up short and not be in the water or the par 3 where short right won't put you in a deep bunker. I played this course during a scramble tournament so I did not get the full pleasure of my normally errant shots but the wonder of the course was nonetheless evident.

I have played 3 courses at Reynolds (and a few other non-Reynolds courses in the area like Cuscowilla) and this, by far, is the most pristine and challenging one.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fabulous lakefront Nicklaus setting

Like my colleague Jason Deegan alludes to in his 2014, review, I think what makes Great Waters so excellent is that the design blends wonderfully into the rolling land and lakefront property. The front nine begins with anticipation: "When, exactly, am I going to see the lake?"

The front nine meanders through rolling, densely forested terrain, and once you tackle the long, par-3 8th hole, the lake reveals itself in a big way on the elevated tee of the 9th. The routing really never leaves it after that, if only for brief moments. It's a very wet, drama-laden finish that I compare a bit to Edgewood Tahoe.

Reynolds is planning a big renovation with Nicklaus design in the spring of 2018. I didn't see a whole lot that needed to be tweaked besides some pesky overhanging trees. I'll be curious to hear details when it's announced.

We played the course just a few weeks after overseed, so the grass was really wet, but the greens were some of the smoothest I'd seen in a long while. A real joy.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good Golf Course, Very Scenic, Bad Value

This was a very good golf course, in a beautiful place. Almost the whole back nine is on the lake.

The conditioning was also a 10.

That said, it is not a great golf course in my opinion that warrants a $260 USD green fee.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
d184b637-9e39-516d-b298-c2dcbdea3c79
Commented on 11/17/2017

Reynolds definitely has a price structure that encourages stay and plays over a la carte public play. With a big membership, that makes sense. There's a package right now that is $330 that gets you two days of unlimited golf and a night's stay. Definitely brings down the $260 cost. https://www.golfadvisor.com/golf-packages/18744-top-100-unlimited-golf-at-reynolds-lake-oconee/

Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Take on Lake Oconee at Great Waters

Great Waters is the undisputed star of Reynolds Plantation. Jack Nicklaus brings the lake into play one shot after another on the back nine. The views are just a byproduct. The front nine doesn't introduce the water until the ninth hole, but it's got plenty of fine holes as well. There are streams and ponds and tree-lined adventures. The best attribute of Great Waters is probably what's not there. Nicklaus wisely stepped aside and let the setting run the show. He never got overzealous with adding bunkers or mounding or extra design elements that weren't necessary. That ultimately keeps it playable and enjoyable for all, something Nicklaus didn't always deliver in that era.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Request A Vacation Quote From Reynolds Lake Oconee
Please provide your information below and a staff member at Reynolds Lake Oconee will be in contact to help you start planning your travel.
Nearby Courses
Eatonton, Georgia
Private
4.6667
3
Greensboro, Georgia
Private
3.2222166667
4
Greensboro, Georgia
Private
4.8571428571
3
Greensboro, Georgia
Private
4.8571428571
3
Greensboro, Georgia
Private
4.8571428571
3
Greensboro, Georgia
Public
4.3464
11
Greensboro, Georgia
Private
4.0
2
Greensboro, Georgia
Resort
4.3333
3
Greensboro, Georgia
Semi-Private
4.3441470588
208
Eatonton, Georgia
Public
4.0
2
Milledgeville, Georgia
Semi-Private
4.125
88
Golf Packages

Château Élan Stay & Play Golf Package

FROM $267 (USD)
BRASELTON, GA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at Château Élan Winery & Resort (Inn at Château or Villas at Château) and 3 rounds of golf at Château Élan Golf Club - Château, Woodlands, & Executive Courses.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail – Grand National Stay & Play Package

FROM $217 (USD)
OPELIKA, AL | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National and 3 rounds of golf at Grand National Golf Club - Lakes, Links, & Short Courses.

Experience Maggie Valley Package

FROM $227 (USD)
ASHEVILLE, NC | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations and 1 round of golf at Maggie Valley Club & Resort.

Sea Pines Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $217 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations at the Sea Pines Resort and up to 5 rounds of golf at your choice of Harbour Town Golf Links, Atlantic Dunes Golf Course, and Heron Point Course.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

FROM $207 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Oyster Reef Golf Course, Robber’s Row Course, Barony Course, and The Shipyard Golf Course.
Now Reading