It was 20 years ago this July when Jack Nicklaus first approached the tee at Great Waters donning his white v-neck sweater, black slacks and classic white golf shoes. It certainly wasn’t the biggest shot of Jack’s life, but for sure one of the most pivotal moments in Reynolds Lake Oconee history. The shot signified the opening day for the “course that put Reynolds Lake Oconee on the map.”
The second golf course built at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Great Waters isJack Nicklaus at Great Waters Opening the only Nicklaus course on Lake Oconee –which, given the spotlight that has followed the legendary Golden Bear throughout his playing and designing careers, attracted a lot of attention to the design and development of the layout from its inception. Certainly no stranger to Georgia golf history as a six-time Masters champion, Nicklaus brought a solid reputation as a player, but also respect for his high-caliber course designs.
Nicklaus brought the same determination and execution to this beautifully-crafted golf course as he did when in between the tees at Augusta. The dramatic layout offers some of the most breathtaking golf scenery in the Southeast. With nine holes lining the shores of Lake Oconee, Great Waters has gained a reputation as “The Pebble Beach of the East.”
View a timeline covering the last 20 years at Great Waters
It would only take 3 years before golf’s elite had their shot at experiencing the course through tournament play. The Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf (now known as the Accenture Match Play Championship) held one of its stages on the course from 1995 to 1997. Competitors during those years included Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Davis Love III.
In 1998, the community surrounding the Nicklaus Signature design added a Marina and Clubhouse, giving Reynolds Lake Oconee members and their guests both more accessibility and amenities to enjoy on the 19th hole. This was followed by a number of accolades that include being named to “America’s Top Golf Courses,” by Zagat Survey and one of the “Best Courses You can Play” through Golfweek.
Jack Nicklaus at Great Waters RenovationJust two years ago, Nicklaus made his return to Reynolds Lake Oconee for a ceremony following a renovation to his original masterpiece. The project saw restoration of bunkers and greens to their original shapes and sizes with a turfchange from Penncross Bentgrass to Miniverde Bermudagrass, a unique variety that was not yet developed when Great Waters was built.
After a tour of the course’s new, yet familiar, look, Nicklaus would make a ceremonial putt on the new greens. That same putter hangs in the Waterview Room across from the Great Waters Clubhouse, along with a number of other historical pieces, as a subtle reminder to everyone of just how “great” this course has been for the community.
Thanks to Jack, it has without a doubt been 20 “Golden” years here at the Great Waters golf course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Here’s to another 20 more years of greatness!
