by Andy Reistetter

Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive "Play-Write" series with a trip to the premier golfing destination in the Southeast—the Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee. Perfectly situated within an hour of Atlanta and not far from the I-95 corridor this lakefront community is truly one of a kind. Play along with Reistetter as he brings you along on his recent visit after the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

 

Reynolds Plantation—it's a place you don't want to ever leave once you get there. After a challenging yet fair round of golf, a refreshing shower in impeccable accommodations, there you sit with your loved one having a refreshing drink at the open-air bar at Gabby's by the Lake.

The full moon rising over Lake Oconee sets the stage for the indulgences of the evening much like the rising sun this morning set the tone for a day's worth of pleasure playing golf, tennis, hiking or being on the water.

Truly it does not get any better than this.

Whether a long weekend of fun and relaxation or a year round home, Reynolds Plantation is just right for you.

I know it was just right for me after a long week of "work" at the PGA Championship. Hey we were on the air for 28 hours within a four day period.

I know what you are thinking… Can "play" at Reynolds Plantation be as much fun as "work" in golf broadcasting?

At Reynolds Plantation there is lots of activity or none at all, whatever you wish. It is a beautiful, peaceful and inspirational place to simply yourself with family and friends.

So the answer is "yes," being at Reynolds Plantation is living life the right way—fully and actively!

Bobby Jones passed closely by this area on his way back-and-forth from Atlanta to Augusta in the early 1930s as he and Cliff Roberts built Augusta National and organized the Masters golf tournament.

While Jones surely had his focus on the Fruitlands Plantation, he undoubtedly noted the beauty of this area as he crossed over the Oconee River.

Oconee is a Native American word meaning "great waters." Lake Oconee, the largest lake in the state of Georgia, came into existence in 1979 when Georgia Power completed a dam for hydroelectric power.

A native of Greene County, born like Jones near the turn of the 20th century, Mercer Reynolds Sr. would never forget nor be too far away from his favorite place on earth.

Though he moved to Tennessee in the 1920s his heart would never be far from home. Both he and his cousin James Madison Reynolds would acquire land in the Oconee River Valley and build a family hunting and fishing lodge. Mercer would dread leaving and always wanted to "linger longer" at the family retreat.

The rock house is now underwater, but the nearby Greensboro home where James Madison was born has been relocated to Reynolds Plantation.

Grandsons Mercer and Jamie have preserved and continued the legacy of their grandfathers with the Jackson House of Steamboat Gothic architecture sitting in splendor perched high above Linger Longer Road which brings visitors and residents into Reynolds Plantation.

“I’m most proud of the fact that, even in developing the land, we’re maintaining the look and feel of what we knew long ago,” stated Mercer Reynolds III, who served as a United States Ambassador under President George W. Bush.

Perhaps the Reynolds family has done more than simply maintain their heritage with the addition of six golf courses on the 10,000 acres of Reynolds Plantation. Many of the 117 holes (The National has 3 nines) play at the water's edge.

Where can you get Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Bob Cupp, Jim Eng and Rees Jones together?

Playing their golf courses at Reynolds Plantation.

Cupp has two designs and I played them both—The Plantation, designed with the help of Fuzzy Zoeller and Hubert Green, and The Landing, the first course built on Lake Oconee and acquired by Reynolds Plantation in 2005.

The Plantation course made me realize that Reynolds Plantation is "the land of many ponds and one big lake."

The ponds, some in play some not, with their signature willow trees, were a sight of beauty.

It made for a relaxing and refreshing round of golf.

The Landing has more generous fairways than the Plantation and I scored my best round there.

The combination of holes 3,4, and 5 is quite memorable—a short par-3 over a pond, a medium length par-4 that takes you out to lake Oconee and then a tricky short par-4 with the lake down the entire left side, with a hidden inlet just short of the green.

Though I enjoyed and relish the thrill of a par-3 on the long par-3 11th hole. The angled sliver of a green is perched high with deep bunkers short. Not really sure where the level horizon was I chip putted from 60 feet and somehow made the 10-footer coming back.

The third course I played in 28 hours was The National designed by Tom Fazio.

Reynolds Plantation is small enough that by happenchance I was paired with a gentleman named Bob for both The National one morning and then at the Plantation the following morning.

Playing the Cove-Ridge nines was fun and I snuck out on the Bluff nine as well and scenic par-3 4th hole along Lake Oconee.

I hope to return one day and play the other three courses—The Oconee by Rees Jones, the Great Waters by Jack Nicklaus and the private Creek Club by Jim Eng.

Back to that drink at Gabby's by the Lake…

Whether you stay at the Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton Lodge, in a modern Cottage or at a private residence, your visit to Reynolds Plantation will be a lifelong memory and hopefully a reoccurring one…

Don't we all want to linger longer?

Here's your opportunity to play golf at Reynolds Plantation and stay in a cottage or condominium at unbelievable rates through the end of the year:
www.reynoldsplantation.com/visit/vacation_packages

Where to Stay:
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at the Reynolds Plantation: subdued elegance highlighted by Southern hospitality. At first, this landmark hotel seems to be way out of its environment. Set deep in the heart of rural Georgia, such upscale elegance is unexpected, and unprecedented.

Situated along the banks of the vast, sparkling Oconee Lake amongst lush, rolling hills covered in towering pines, many of the 251 rooms at the resort offer stunning views of the lake. In addition to the views, the lake also provides some excellent fishing. The resort offers access to an astounding array of golf, designed by legendary names likes Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio, making it one of the most popular golf locales in Georgia.

The courses all play through mature oaks, magnolias, and flowering dogwood trees. The resort also features an indoor and outdoor pool, a full-service spa, and four on-site restaurants. Located in the heart of Georgia's beautiful Lake Country, there are plenty of museums and hiking trails in the area.

How to Get There:
The closest major airport to the Reynolds Plantation is Atlanta Hartsfield International. The airport is served by Delta, Continental, US Air, United and just about every other national and international airline you can name.

Contact Us:
The Reynolds Plantation, 100 Linger Longer Road, Greensboro, Georgia 30642;

phone 888-298-3119: Visit the Reynolds Plantation Website www.reynoldsplantation.com

Six Amazing Golf Courses

by Blair Howard, www.About.com Guide

There are now six amazing golf courses (with a Pete Dye-designed seventh on the way) at the Reynolds Plantation Golf in Greensboro, Georgia: six championship layouts designed by some of the greatest names in the business: Rees Jones, Bob Cupp (2), Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Jim Engh. Of the six, five are available for play the year-round which, together with the on-property Ritz Carlton Lodge, make the Reynolds Plantation one of the premier golf destinations in the world.

The Oconee Course:
Rees Jones designed the Oconee Course. It was completed in 2002 and has created quite a stir among the golfing community. The layout is a true resort course with little evidence of the surrounding real estate developments: the fairways are lined with tall pines and hardwoods that provide a quite and seemingly remote environment. The course plays some 7029 yards from the tips for a par of 72, a rating of 73.4 and a slope of 136. Six sets of tees (four for the men and two for the ladies) make the course friendly to players of all levels of skill. For three years, 2003 through 2005, GOLF FOR WOMEN Magazine listed the Oconee number five in their annual ranking of the "50 Best Courses For Women."

Great Waters Course
They say that no great golf resort would be quite complete without a Jack Nicklaus signature course. Reynolds Plantation boast the Great Waters Course which Jack completed in 1992. Ranked among the "Ten Best New Courses" by GOLF Magazine, the layout plays 7,073 yards from the back tees for a par of 72, a rating of 73.6 and a slope of 133. Eight sets of tees (for for men and four for women) offer an unusual, but decidedly player friendly, set of options for play.

The Reynolds Landing Course
Reynolds Landing is one of two Bob Cupp courses at Reynolds Plantation. More a real estate layout than a resort course, it does offer its own unique set of challenges, not the least of which are the seven holes where water is in play: two on the shore of lake Oconee itself. The course plays 7,048 yards from the longest tees for a par of 72, a course rating of 74.4 and a slope of 138. Cupp included six sets of tees (three for men, one for women and two mixed) to ensure a fair test for golfers of all skill levels.

"Reynolds Landing is the hidden gem of Lake Oconee. Bob Cupp's architectural genius was unveiled to the golfing world during the construction of Reynolds Landing. From the masterful green settings to the challenging shots played around beautiful Lake Oconee, Reynolds Landing is clearly one of Georgia's finest kept secrets." So says Bob Mauragas - Vice President of Golf Operations. I couldn't have said it better.

The Plantation Course:
The Plantation is the second course at Reynolds Plantation designed by Bob Cupp, Completed in 1988, the Plantation was the first golf course at the Reynolds Plantation, and it set the stage for what was to become the golfer's Mecca it is today. The course is ranked one of "Ten Best New Courses" by GOLF Magazine, and Zagat's 2007 America's Top Golf Courses. It plays 6,698 yards from the tips for a par of 72 incorporating six sets of tees.

The National Course
Tom Fazio is, in my opinion, the master of the game, and he took maximum advantage of all the opportunities offered by the site when he designed Reynolds National in 1997. The layout Fazio created is as dramatic as it is unique. Three nine-hole layouts make the National a unique course at Reynolds Plantation: the Ridge, the Cove and the Bluff can be played in any combination of two to make 18 holes. Water plays a big part in the challenge of the national. Fazio, as always, has made his contribution a force to be reckoned with, whatever the combination you might choose. Tight fairways with tall pines and hardwoods, punishing doglegs, slick undulating greens and water almost at every turn offer lots of risk/reward options that require accuracy and astute club selection.

The Creek Club
Jim Engh, 2007 Reynolds Plantation's first-ever private golf course opened for member play on June 1, 2007. Golf Digest 2003 "Architect of the Year" Jim Engh has created a contemporary, thrilling golf masterpiece complete with rolling bunkers, Zoysia grass fairways and striking water features.

The Richland Club
Pete Dye, Under Development Reynolds Plantation's 7th golf course is currently under development. Acclaimed architect Pete Dye will add his signature design to Reynolds' already impressive roster of architects. The Richland Course will be the community's second member-only course.