Reynolds Great Waters
Jack Nicklaus laid out Great Waters in 1992 along the shoreline of Lake Oconee in central Georgia, with around ten holes playing directly on the water. A par 72 of about 7,436 yards, restored to Nicklaus's original vision in 2019, it is the most celebrated of the courses at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
Photo: Reynolds Lake Oconee via Google.
The verdict
Great Waters is the headline course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, a sprawling private community and resort about 90 minutes east of Atlanta. Jack Nicklaus and his associate Jim Lipe routed it in 1992 so that the front nine moves through pines and the back nine hugs the shoreline of Lake Oconee, around ten holes in all flirting with the water.
A full restoration in 2019 rebuilt the greens, bunkers and tees and returned the course to the look Nicklaus first drew, only firmer and faster. Paired with The Ritz-Carlton on the lake and the other courses on the property, Great Waters anchors one of the strongest stay and play resorts in the American Southeast, the kind of place a group can settle into for several days.
Great Waters at a glance
- Opened
- 1992
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Resort lakeside
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,436 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Reynolds Lake Oconee and leading course databases. Great Waters was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1992, a par 72 of about 7,436 yards, with a full restoration completed in 2019. Reynolds Lake Oconee is a private community; play is generally for members and guests of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, with indicative resort rates in the few hundreds of dollars in 2026. Always confirm access and current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The front nine eases the golfer in through corridors of Georgia pine, wide enough off the tee but defended by Nicklaus's trademark green complexes that ask for a high, soft approach. It is on the back nine that Great Waters earns its name, the routing breaking out onto the shore of Lake Oconee for a run of holes framed by water.
The par 3s over the lake are the postcard holes, but it is the long par 4s along the bank that decide the round, the water tight to one side and bailout to the other. The 2019 restoration firmed the surfaces and restored the original shaping, so the ball runs and the angles matter again.
The closing holes return along the water with the lake glittering off to one side, a finish that rewards a committed swing and punishes the timid one. It is resort golf at its most photogenic, and a genuinely strong test from the back tees.
How to play
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private community course; play is generally for members and registered guests of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee |
| Green fee | Resort guest rates run into the few hundreds of dollars and vary by season and package (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book as part of a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds; a stay and play package opens the other courses on the property |
| On the day | Cart golf with forecaddies on a lakeside parkland layout; the course is kept in excellent condition |
| Getting there | Greensboro, Georgia, about 90 minutes east of Atlanta and its international airport |
| Best months | April to June and September to October for warm, settled Georgia weather |
Access and rates verified June 2026; resort policies and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers visiting Great Waters stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, which sits on the water and opens access to the courses on the property. Lake cottages and rental homes are also available across the community for larger groups.
With several courses, a marina, spa and restaurants on site, Reynolds Lake Oconee is built for a multi day golf trip without leaving the gates. It pairs well with Atlanta at the start or end of a wider Georgia and Southeast tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lake Oconee.
Build a Lake Oconee golf trip
We book Great Waters and the other Reynolds courses, arrange the lakeside lodging and shape the days around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Great Waters questions
Who designed Great Waters and when did it open?
Great Waters was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1992 at Reynolds Lake Oconee, with a full restoration to his original vision completed in 2019.
What is the par and length of Great Waters?
Great Waters is a par 72 of about 7,436 yards, with around ten holes playing along the shoreline of Lake Oconee.
Can visitors play Great Waters?
Reynolds Lake Oconee is a private community, but Great Waters is generally open to members and to guests of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, often as part of a stay and play package.
Where is Great Waters?
Great Waters is at Reynolds Lake Oconee near Greensboro, Georgia, about 90 minutes east of Atlanta.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.