Lake Oconee Golf Courses - Plantation Course at Reynolds

Lake Oconee, a Golfer's Paradise

This is the second in the Play the Lake Oconee Golf Courses series featuring all of the courses in the order in which they were completed and opened for play.  The  golf course featured here is the Plantation Course at Reynolds Plantation. 

The Plantation Course at Reynolds

The Plantation Course at Reynolds Plantation was the second golf course completed and opened on Lake Oconee, and the first golf course of Reynolds Plantation.  It opened in 1988 just two years after Port Armor (now The Landing at Reynolds Plantation), the first Lake Oconee Golf Course.  The Plantation Course was designed by Bob Cupp, also the architect for The Landing.    PGA Tour Players Fuzzy Zoeller and Hubert Green also consulted on the design.  Fuzzy continues to visit the area from time to time, particularly for his love of the Lake Oconee fishing.  The Plantation Course is the first Lake Oconee golf course I ever played.  When we were still living in Atlanta, a friend of mine purchased a lake house on Horseshoe Drive in Reynolds Plantation and I played the Plantation Course with him in the spring of 1989, and many times thereafter.  This was several months before I had any idea my family would be moving into the area and a return home for me.

To me, the Plantation Course has always gotten a bad rap.  Many players have said that it is too easy with the slopes on each side of the fairways tending to always bring a tee shot back into the fairway. My answer to that  is that for the mid-low handicappers, get back on the blue or gold tees and it’s all the golf course you’ll ever want, regardless of banked fairways.  I guess I just like Cupp designs because The Landing and Plantation have been, and continue to be,  favorites of mine.

Anyone, regardless of level of play, will enjoy the Plantation Course. There are several holes that are very scenic and favorites of mine, but I especially like the 12th hole, a par 4.  It is not real long, maybe 350 yards or so from the blue tees, but has a big slope on the right – if you miss the fairway there you’ll have an awful side hill lie.  The narrow green has water on the left so your second shot has to be precise.

If you are choosing one of the  Lake Oconee Golf Courses, try the original Reynolds Plantation Course – I know you’ll like it.  Also, while you’re there, don’t miss The Plantation Clubhouse Grill – great food!  If you only have a sandwich at the turn, try the chicken salad – its homemade,  always fresh and tasty.

Next in this series about Lake Oconee Golf Courses in order of their opening, we’ll look at the Harbor Club, opened in 1991.

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