The National delivers polished, strategic Fazio golf in a gorgeous lake setting. Big elevations, slick new Bermuda greens, and smart risk/reward holes make this a worthwhile centerpiece for any Reynolds Lake Oconee getaway.
The National at Reynolds Lake Oconee is peak Fazio — a bold blend of dramatic elevations, sculpted greens, and risk/reward shot values, all seamlessly woven into pine forest and lakeside topography. The post-2025 renovation amplified Fazio’s strategic intent, restoring crisp bunker edges and converting every green to the speed and texture of Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass. The course’s identity as 'The Natural' lives in its pulsing landforms, its mix of generous and narrow corridors, and the thoughtful way each hole unfolds in rhythm with the terrain. No two holes feel the same, and the true resort test is now matched by some of the best-conditioned playing surfaces in the region.
Fazio’s design maximizes the site's bold topography, prioritizing playable variety over punishing length. After the 2025 overhaul, the course is truer to his vision than ever before.
The first par 5 on The National is a sweeping, bunker-laced adventure with elevation changes setting up both heroics and hazards. Long hitters eye eagle but face big trouble if bold plays come up short or leak offline.
A well-shaped drive rewards a go at the green in two, but precision trumps muscle with water and sand looming at every angle.
Missing left courts a forced layup; going right brings deep bunkers and a narrow approach.
Conditioning is top-tier after the 2025 renovation, with fast Champion Bermuda greens and crisp, manicured fairways.
Typical for a high-end resort: 4.5 to 5 hours on peak days, quicker midweek or late afternoons.
Polished, friendly resort energy with serious golf credentials but a welcoming atmosphere. Slightly upscale, never stuffy.
Collared shirts and appropriate golf attire required; traditional resort standards apply.
Uphill and downhill approaches, and a mix of long par 3s, put a premium on controlling trajectory and spin.
The new Champion Bermuda surfaces are slick; confidence on fast, breaking putts will save strokes.
Range finders with slope reading are a plus — The National’s elevations can mislead club selection.
Greenside and fairway bunkers were rebuilt: practice sand escapes from varied depths and lips.
Original 18 holes (Ridge and Bluff) open, designed by Tom Fazio
Third nine (Cove) added to expand to 27 holes
Significant Fazio-led remodel refreshes layout and conditioning
Third nine reconfigured to create Richland; National returns to 18-hole Ridge/Cove setup
All 27 greens rebuilt to Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass; all bunkers upgraded; major foliage/tree removal
The course earned its moniker 'The Natural' for Fazio’s ability to blend shotmaking tests with the wooded, rolling landscape of Lake Oconee. The routing snakes along ridges and bluffs, providing both beauty and genuine challenge at every turn.
With every green and bunker rebuilt and fairway corridors opened up by strategic tree removal, the 2025 renovation isn’t just a facelift — it’s a playable leap forward. Expect firmer, truer Champion Bermuda greens and a course that feels dramatically refreshed from tee to green.
Unlike many resort courses, The National’s elevation changes aren’t just cosmetic — they shape shot selection and club choice on nearly every hole. Players must contend with dramatic uphills, plunging drops, and perched greens that test nerves and imagination.
In 2024, with part of the original National routing set aside for the new Richland course, The National now centers on the best of the Ridge and Cove nines. The move delivers a more coherent, Fazio-pure challenge — and plenty of variety in a tightly focused 18.
The course’s routing earned Fazio the nickname 'The Natural' for environmental blending.
Every green and bunker was rebuilt in 2025 with new Bermuda turf for speed and playability.
The National’s original three-nines setup was unique in the region for decades.
The finishing stretch is famed among resort guests for its beauty and challenge.
You can play four different Fazio-designed holes within one walking route on the National-Ridge/Cove routing.
Jack Nicklaus design right on the lake, signature back nine over water
Greens complexes and movement make it a must-play companion
Challenging, scenic, and rounds out the resort’s variety
Top-ranked Coore & Crenshaw design — access with stay
Local accessible option in Eatonton for a casual bonus round
Stay at Reynolds Lake Oconee Resort for access to the full golf lineup and on-property amenities.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Shell Landing Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: The Patriot Golf Club is a natural next stop after Reynolds Lake Oconee – the National: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Why it matches: If Reynolds Lake Oconee – the National is your kind of course, Loraloma Golf Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
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