4.5

Unlike other resorts, it’s clear from the moment you arrive at Reynolds Plantation that it’s all about the golf here. In total, there are 34,767 yards of championship play in this pristine lakeside setting that’s only 75 minutes east of Atlanta. The newest course, the Oconee, has quickly become the resort’s signature course. Marked by its long drives and fairways that gently slope toward the center, the Oconee is challenging yet pleasantly playable. Its designer, Rees Jones, placed no fewer than five tee boxes at each hole. Each time you play from a different tee box, it’s an entirely new experience, giving the course remarkable flexibility and freshness. When we played the Oconee, we were struck by the immaculate condition of the greens. In fact, the smoothness of the putting greens proved its own challenge, as we more than once missed the hole by underestimating the ease of our ball’s roll. Beyond the fairways and roughs, the property surrounding the course is kept clean and clear so that the stray ball is easily found and shot back onto the greens. Perhaps some of the most striking features of the course take place behind the scenes—or should we say under the ground. With an underground infrastructure already wired for televised competitions, the Oconee is ready for its close-up. Plus, if you look closely, you might notice a certain evenness in the movement of the water features. That’s because a computer regulates the flow of the course’s streams and falls.