For most seasoned travelers, the expression “Grand Resort” evokes images of majestic architecture, unforgettable golf courses, and a pervasive atmosphere of opulence. A few iconic examples such as the Greenbrier, Pinehurst, Broadmoor and Pebble Beach perpetually top any well-informed roster of America’s best.
Working to earn their way into the conversation are a few comparative newcomers that honor the Golden Age, while boldly reimagining the golf resort experience of tomorrow. Among those leading this movement is Reynolds Lake Oconee on Lake Oconee.
Located half way between Atlanta and Augusta, this 25-year-old resort community has all the elements you would expect at a world-class destination: 117 holes of golf designed by the giants of golf course architecture, watersports of every type imaginable, a luxurious spa, dining options galore and a seemingly limitless selection of amenities and activities. Accommodations include well-appointed cottages, condominiums and the property’s enchanting crown jewel, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee.
The property is also home to the TaylorMade Kingdom, which provides the world’s ultimate swing analysis and clubfitting experience, and the Reynolds Golf Academy, which offers top-caliber instruction led by one of GOLF Digest’s 50 Best Teachers, Charlie King. Pack all this into one location, and folks are bound to take notice. As you may expect, Reynolds Lake Oconee has repeatedly been recognized with awards and accolades by every major industry publication.
However this resort community is anything but an impersonal collection of facilities and an overstuffed trophy case. Reynolds Lake Oconee is the physical manifestation of the commitment to creating an ideal environment for Members and Guests to live-out their passions every day. This is achieved through an ideal location, a hunger for excellence, and an emphasis on innovation that infuses every pore of the property.
Just ask Derek Martin, vice president of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which holds its signature Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge at Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Reynolds Lake Oconee is an easy drive from Atlanta, but far enough to hold a private, exclusive event,” says Martin, whose event attracts head coaches and celebrity alumni from top NCAA colleges. “The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee golf courses and outstanding staff make everyone feel like a VIP.”
Mike Davino, treasurer of Mansfield Oil Co, concurs. “Mansfield Oil Co. prides itself on the highest quality of service and product in all that it does. This includes our tournament benefitting the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” says Davino, who chairs the annual event. “Reynolds Lake Oconee provides the highest quality of product and service as well as facilities that can accommodate our function – from the courses, to the housing, to the food, and especially the staff at Reynolds.”
Other noteworthy events include TaylorMade’s highly-publicized “15-inch cup” exhibition round in 2014, featuring Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia; Arizona Cardinals Coach Bruce Arian’s Annual Celebrity Golf Classic; the Linger Longer Invitational which has highlighted some of the brightest stars in Men’s collegiate golf for ten years, and most recently, Golf Channel’s nationally-televised Big Break Invitational tournament.
“Whether a major tournament, a corporate group, a buddies’ golf trip or a couples getaway, the first objective is to meet the level of expectation set by the great destinations who have come before us,” says Mark Lammi, vice president of golf. “The second part of that mission is to be innovative in all that we do, so that Reynolds Lake Oconee becomes a catalyst for the evolution of the resort experience for the next generation.”
For more information, visit ReynoldsLakeOconee.com or phone 800-800-5250.
