The Bluff's second, third and fourth holes tumble gorgeously down to the shore.
With its lovely, forested site (though not necessarily great for golf), views of Lake Oconee and the surrounding development’s deep pockets (at least at the time this course was built and for the decade that followed, though that’s no longer the case), you’d think The National’s 27 holes would comprise some of the most spectacular destination golf in the Southeast. In actuality, the National rates probably 4th or even 5th in the Reynolds Plantation lineup. That’s not the worst thing in the world because there’s some stiff competition on site and they can’t all be the best, but Fazio is used to setting the bar wherever he goes rather than chasing it, and I’m sure the initial expectations were for something more breathlessly praised.
In places like this the scenery can become a crutch, and even a handicap, if you’re letting it do all the work and not striving for holes with dynamic strategic interest. I don’t imagine Fazio was asked to do the latter, and therefore many of the National’s holes are there to basically showcase their pretty backdrops of tree-lined fairways and lakefront and soothing water features. They look and play like “Fazio” holes, with sculpted framing bunkers, destination eye features and tumbling views without standing apart from each other or from the other courses. Golfers and owners have always been willing to paying a premium for that, but as much as the Engh and Rees Jones courses here garner controversial reviews in some circles, they were at least serving more serious ambitions.
The best of the three courses is the Bluffs nine which includes holes like the par three 4th with an uncomfortably narrow green squeezed tightly against the steeply sloped shoreline, and the par four 8th, where a creek runs diagonally along the front of the green from left to right, increasing the risk the farther back and right the pin is cut, thus altering ideal angles of attack. The hazards there are real, and it’s nice to have your attention pulled toward the golf for a change instead of the all the landscape. (87)
Fazio had a perfect backdrop at Reynolds Plantation for his balanced, framing architecture.
The National at Reynolds Plantation
Greensboro/Lake Oconee
Architect: Tom Fazio
Year: Bluff and Cove Nines, 1997; Ridge Nine, 2000
