Legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio likely could be as adept at writing as he is at creating some of the country’s more renowned courses. Case in point: Richland—the seventh golf course at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA., that officially opened this past October. Fazio created the new 18-hole layout by combining nine holes from his existing National course with nine all-new holes.
“I’m sure (writers) look back,’’ Fazio said. “And if you think you’re going to write (a story) again, you think, ‘Well, I think I would do this… I would do that… I should have done this… I should have done that. So golf design is a little bit that way. We do that kind of thing, especially the technology.’’
Richland gives Fazio two designs at Reynolds Lake Oconee (Richland and The National), along with courses from Jack Nicklaus (Great Waters), Rees Jones (The Oconee), Jim Engh (Creek Club), and two by Bob Cupp (The Preserve and The Landing).
The new Richland – the only course at Reynolds Lake Oconee to traverse each side of the peninsula and touch the lake from Richland Creek and the Oconee River – winds through the 500-acre Richland Pointe community, which opened three years ago. Its centerpiece is Richland Pointe Village, which features a globally inspired restaurant, a state-of-the-art wellness center with TechnoGym equipment, Reynolds’ first on-site, members-only spa, and lakefront pool facilities. The Turn, a food truck, is positioned between the ninth and 10th holes and serves burgers, sandwiches, wraps and a full array of beverages.
As with the Creek Club, the new Richland is available only to Platinum Reynolds Lake Oconee members, who comprise approximately half of the luxury community’s 3,500 members.
“It gives our (Platinum) members that ‘inclusive’ member club feel,’’ said Reynolds Lake Oconee Director of Golf Wes Forester. “You can play any of the seven, but if you’re looking for something more exclusive, you can play Creek Club or come over and play Richland.’’
The 13th hole at Richland (Bill Hornstein)
The new Richland (7,090 yards, par 72 from the tips) turns the Bluff nine from the original, Fazio-designed National – with some recent modifications – into holes 1 through 5 and 15 through 18. The new holes, 6 through 14, traverse the peninsula of Reynolds and tumbles down to the Richland side of Lake Oconee. The resulting layout provides plenty of challenge with fescue-lined fairways, numerous bunkers, and some dramatic elevation changes.
Like many classic Fazio designs, there are no real “secrets’’ in the course layout. Most of the challenges are directly within view, which makes for a better playing experience for higher handicap players.
“There are just a couple of holes that use the lake, but the thing that caught my eye when I played it for the first time, is that (Fazio) gives you avenues to get the ball on the green,’’ Forester said. “Whereas if you play The National, the bunkers sometimes pinch in, so it’s harder to run the ball into the greens.
“So, I think there are many ways to play Richand. If you want to it high, you can do that,or if you want to run it up, you can run it up, which is great because now it caters to everyone who is playing and who might no be able to hit a high ball.’’
Among the changes to the nine Bluff holes were removing – or repositioning – bunkers, adding new bunkers – and combining smaller bunkers to create larger ones. Some greens have been reshaped and/or moved, often bringing the lake more into play. New fescue native areas and low-mow chipping areas were also added on some holes, which is what Forester was referring to when he talked about running the ball onto greens.
“I can’t count how many times around the greens that I was putting,’’ he said.
All of this plays into Fazio’s goal of what he calls creating “ distinctive, one-of-a-kind golf courses.’’
“There’s a lot of terrain variation – lots of ups and downs, ins and outs, twists and turns, which is great for golf,’’ Fazio said. “That’s what makes this such a fine natural setting.
“Members will enjoy this golf course because it has character and will never play the same. This new course will provide a challenge and have endless possibilities for a fun and captivating golf experience. We have members of all calibers, from some low handicap, very low to high handicap players, to beginners. We also have guests that come here. When the ‘elite’ guests, as I call them, meaning the elite golfer – the guys who are plus three, four and five. They hit very far… extremely far.
“The goal is always to have a golf course that is as big as you are. It is incredible how far young people hit it. And you have to have a golf course that is compatible with all levels of players in order to be successful, in order to be recognized, in order to have a quality golf experience. So that’s always our goal.’’
Feature Photo: The fourth hole at Richland (Bill Hornstein)