COURSE REVIEW

Subtle charms at Reynolds Plantation's National golf course make it a favorite of many

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

GREENSBORO, Ga. - Those who play the five golf courses at the Reynolds Plantation resort usually remember, first, Great Waters for its beauty and, second, the Creek course for its interesting combination of foreboding looks and playability.

Reynolds Plantation, home to superb golf, lives up to reputation Course review: Grand finale elevates Oconee golf course at Reynolds Plantation Course review: The Great Waters course a great-looking round of golf Course review: Reynolds' first golf course, the 'Plantation', still holds its own Course review: Don't fire at the pins at Reynolds Plantation's Creek Club

But, ask those who play the golf courses regularly, and you might find a majority of them will say the National is their favorite.

"The National happens to be one of my personal favorite golf courses," said Bob Mauragas, director of golf at Reynolds Plantation. "I think Tom Fazio did Reynolds Plantation great justice. He used the lay of the land to create one of the more artistic golf courses I've ever seen."

The National's charms are more subtle and graceful, though there are more bunkers here - 115 - than on any of the plantation's other courses, this being a Fazio design.

The National is the plantation's only 27-hole facility; the Ridge and Bluffs nines opened in 1997, and the Cove nine was added in 2000.

The course is physically similar to the others, winding up, down and around hilly, rolling terrain. It's surrounded by hardwood forests and views of the Oconee River Valley, and has up to 60 feet of elevation change.

It also has a lot of water; streams, ponds and the lake are all in play at various times. For example, Lake Oconee flows along the right side of the par-3 fourth hole at the Bluffs, and wraps around behind the green. On No. 8, a creek crosses the fairway three-quarters of the way down the hole, only to run to the right and front of the green.

The National's fairways are lined with Georgia pines and thousands of local azaleas, and the large, undulating greens are bentgrass, probably the best putting surface known to man and golfer.

The greens aren't as wild as the Creek course, but there are more subtle breaks here; the greens at the Creek course may be radically undulating, but at least you know where they're going to break for the most part.

The National course at Reynolds Plantation: The verdict

National course, Reynolds Plantation Tee times: (888) 501-0954 Click here for information on a Georgia golf package.

The National has many trees, softly undulating fairways and greens, and the pine straw rough never becomes overly penal. Many of the fairways, though, drop off to woods.

Golfweek magazine ranked the National one of America's top real estate courses, and the houses that appear sporadically are well-hidden by the hills and trees.

"Even the mansions are tucked in and low-key," said low-handicapper Pat Ayers.

November 15, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.