MISTWOOD GOLF DOME-bring your clubs and your appetite. Opening day for outdoor golf is coming soon. So get ready with some indoor practice & award winning food and beverage in the dome. Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600 .
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and connect on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Rory Spears on the Jack Nicklaus designed Great Waters Golf Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro GA.
JACK IS BACK!
*** Editors note***
My first trip to Reynolds Lake Oconee was a few years ago. Former Medinah Country Club head golf professional Mike Scully was now the General Manager at Reynolds-Lake Oconee and encouraged me to visit.
When I arrived I found an outstanding golf and and community destination. I also found the Great Waters golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus under renovation, with dirt piles stacked up everywhere.
Great Waters 9th hole, was starting to hold water when I arrived that morning. Then things got worse when it started raining harder one February day in 2020. (Photo by Rory Spears).
Scully’s advice was to come back when Great Waters reopens. So I did the following year after the PGA Show. But only hours after returning, the skies opened up and the downpour started, and didn’t stop. Before I knew it streams of water were running down Great Waters fairways. Puddles were forming on the greens. Sadly I left for home without hitting a shot.
2021 wasn’t an option due to Covid and weather. But I didn’t give up and finally last month I returned to Reynolds.
Scully had left and is now at Streamsong in Florida, but my desire had not left to to play Great Waters. I interviewed Nicklaus at the U.S. Senior Open after he followed his son’s second round, and learned more about the Golden Bear’s new vision for Great Waters. Hearing that, the desire to tee it up on Great Waters increased.
I hoped to play the course on the way to the PGA Show in January, but weather delayed us again until the drive home. Finally accompanied by head professional Ryan MacNeill, all 18 holes of Great Waters were played last month and it was well worth the wait.
REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE-PART 1 GREAT WATERS
Welcome to Great Waters at Lake Oconee, designed by Jack Nicklaus.
REYNOLDS LAKE-OCONEE has six golf courses, incredible practice area’s and a lesson and fitting academy. There are not many options for both lessons and club fitting, that run as complete as what you find at Reynolds.
Once can make an argument on which of the six golf courses might be the best in the Reynolds community. But it’s hard to vote against Great Waters, when you play the course since the recent Nicklaus redesigning.
The opening tee shot. You’re on the first, at Great Waters.
Great Waters first opened for play in 1992. But now with the removal of a significant amount of trees, the views around the course are breathtaking.
The golf course plays a little longer too, especially if you want to play from the back tees or the bear tees that sit at 7,436 yards. The bear tees are the ones with the tee markers that are little Golden Bears.
Not a big hitter. No problem. Because there are five sets of tees, throw in a few combination routings and golfers have 11 different yardage options to pick from. Front tees measure out at just 4,485 yards.
The front nine closes with this 414 yard par 4, with an approach shot over water.
The front nine weaves it’s way through the rolling hills and tall Georgia pines, with water coming into play on the ninth hole.
But the back-nine is a different story.
After playing the tenth hole, golfers will see water on the remaining eight holes. Water may not come into play on all eight holes, but it’s never far away and the views make for a great day on the golf course.
The par 4, 11th hole at Great Waters is the beginning of an eight hole stretch where golfers get water views.
Reynolds has six golf courses, and 117 holes of golf. But the back nine on Great Waters has some of the best views you will see on the property.
Closing holes 16-17-18 make the golfer stay sharp through the end of the round.
Sixteen can play over 500 yards from the back tees, but it is still a par 4. There is water around the green, so water can be in play on the approach shot.
Seventeen is par three, it’s only 173 yards from the new back tees. But there is a water carry that can play longer that the view one gets from the tee. One must use enough club on 17, or be prepared to see your golf ball go for a swim.
The Par 5-18th hole. Your approach shot will need to carry the edge of water.
The closing hole, the eighteenth hole is a par 5, that plays only 543 yards from the back tees. With the next set of tees going forward, playing only 495 yards.
With yardage at under 500 yards, many big hitting golfers will think about going for the green in two shots.
But this fairway curls left around a water inlet that has been known to steal a few golf balls. So do you like risk-reward, because if so, this 18th hole can be a great way to a great score, or a great way to win or lose a match.
Great Waters was built and reimagined by the great one himself. When you visit Reynolds Lake Oconee, why not have a great day on a great golf course. it’s called Great Waters for a reason. The Great Waters pro shop can be reached at (706)-467-4020. Online visit ReynoldsLakeOconee.com.
PART 2- The Oconee Course and Reynolds Living. Play and stay today.