Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters
The signature course of the Reynolds Lake Oconee resort, Great Waters is a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in 1992 and was rebuilt from the ground up in 2019. A par 72 famous for the nine holes that run along the shoreline of Lake Oconee, an hour and a half east of Atlanta.
Photo via Google, contributed by Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
The verdict
Reynolds Lake Oconee is one of the Southeast's great golf resorts, a sprawling lake community with five courses and a Ritz Carlton at its center, and Great Waters is the jewel. Jack Nicklaus built it in 1992 along the Lake Oconee shoreline, and in 2018 and 2019 the Nicklaus Design team returned for a complete rebuild, replacing the drainage, irrigation, bunkering and greens while keeping the original routing and the lake holes that made its name.
Our verdict: the back nine of Great Waters, with hole after hole pressed against the water, is among the most scenic and memorable stretches of resort golf in Georgia, and the 2019 rebuild gave it modern conditioning to match the views. It is the course to build a Reynolds trip around, a place where a group plays in the morning and is on the lake or at the spa by the afternoon. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in Georgia.
Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters at a glance
- Opened
- 1992
- Rebuilt
- Nicklaus Design 2019
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,073 yds
- Type
- Resort, lakeside
Designer, opening year, rebuild and par verified June 2026 from Reynolds Lake Oconee and Nicklaus Design records: a Jack Nicklaus Signature course opened in 1992, rebuilt by Nicklaus Design in 2018 and 2019, playing as a par 72 of about 7,073 yards with nine holes touching Lake Oconee. As a resort course, Great Waters is played by Reynolds guests and members; green fees are seasonal and bundled into resort and stay and play rates, so they are indicative for 2026 high season and you should always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining feature is the lake. Nine holes at Great Waters run along or over the shoreline of Lake Oconee, and the back nine in particular is a sustained run of water framed golf that gives the course its drama and its name. Nicklaus used the inlets and points of the lake to demand committed lines, with several holes asking the player to flirt with the water for the better angle or the shorter route.
The 2019 rebuild kept all of that and modernized everything underneath it. The Nicklaus Design team reworked the bunkering, rebuilt the greens and overhauled the drainage and irrigation, so a course that always looked spectacular now plays firm and true to match. Away from the water the holes wind through Georgia pine and hardwood, giving the round variety before the lakeside crescendo brings it home.
Great Waters is the headline of a multi course resort, so a Reynolds trip easily fills several days on its own, and a wider Georgia itinerary adds the historic Atlanta test at East Lake ninety minutes west and the coastal resort golf of Sea Island on the far side of the state.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, open to resort guests and members; the simplest route is to stay at The Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee and book through the resort |
| Green fee | Seasonal resort rate, typically bundled into stay and play packages; indicative for 2026 high season, always confirm directly before booking |
| Other courses | Reynolds has five courses in total, so groups often play several over a stay |
| Handicap and dress | No formal handicap requirement for resort play; standard country club dress code applies |
| Getting there | In Greensboro, about 90 minutes east of Atlanta off Interstate 20 |
| Best months | Spring and fall offer the best weather; summers are hot and humid |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from Reynolds Lake Oconee resort information. Resort green fees are seasonal and change with packages and demand; treat all figures as indicative for 2026 high season and always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base for Great Waters is the resort itself, anchored by The Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee on the water, with cottages and rental homes across the community as well. Staying on property is the cleanest way to secure tee times across the resort's five courses and to make the most of the lake, the spa and the dining.
Because Reynolds is a self contained resort, most groups simply stay and play on site, but the location off Interstate 20 makes it an easy add to an Atlanta trip that also takes in historic East Lake and the championship test at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Reynolds Lake Oconee and Greensboro.
Build a Georgia golf trip
Great Waters is the lakeside Nicklaus centerpiece we love to build a Reynolds Lake Oconee golf trip around, with the resort's other courses and a stay at The Ritz Carlton on the water. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters questions
Who designed Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee?
Great Waters is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course that opened in 1992 and was rebuilt from the ground up by Nicklaus Design in 2018 and 2019, keeping the original routing and the lake holes.
What is the par and length of Great Waters?
Great Waters plays as a par 72 of about 7,073 yards, with nine holes running along the shoreline of Lake Oconee.
Can the public play Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee?
Yes, in effect. It is a resort course open to Reynolds guests and members; the easiest route is a stay and play booking, often through The Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee.
What makes Great Waters special?
Its setting. Nine holes touch Lake Oconee, and the back nine in particular is a sustained run of water framed golf, modernized by a complete Nicklaus Design rebuild in 2019.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, rebuild and par verified June 2026; resort green fees are seasonal and bundled into packages, so confirm with the resort before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.