18th hole / 481 Yards / Par-4
Greensboro, Georgia, USA
Architect: Rees Jones (2002)

Finishing holes are meant to be summary statements. Providing golfers with a conclusion that will forever remain seared into one's memory banks.

Located halfway between Atlanta and Augusta is Reynolds Lake Oconee. The six-course facility is among the most golf focused facilities in all of the United States. The facility feature the handiwork of such distinguished designers as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Bob Cupp and Jim Engh.

The Oconee Course by Rees Jones provides a quality mixture of holes that tumble through the Georgia landscape and conclude with a scintillating finisher that brings one to the edge of the lake.

The first thing you notice about the 18^th is the majestic beauty of the hole. The primary teeing areas are on the far side near to where one walks off the 17^th green. Golfers playing from that position must play a tee shot that crosses a sliver of the lake immediately near them. The angle of the tee shot is most pronounced from the rear teeing areas.

"You see water left, bunkers right, and a tee shot that requires accuracy," said Wesley J. Forester, Director of Golf at Reynold Lake Oconee. 

Fairway bunkers -- both left and right at different intervals -- must be avoided. The longer the tee shot the more demanding the available landing area becomes. Golfers desiring a more aggressive line of play must shape the tee shot on a right-to-left flight. 

"After an excellent tee shot down the right side, you will need a precise second shot to avoid the two bunkers short right and left of the green," said Forester.

Those opting to land the ball short of the narrow fairway landing area can do so but are then left with a far longer approach shot to the green.

Players missing too far left will be blocked by trees and those too far right encounter two penalizing fairway bunkers.

Two bunkers are nearest to the green -- the one situated on the left side is present to keep shots hit in that direction from finding the nearby lake. There is a smaller bunker on the right side and its placement is far more impactful.

There is room to run an approach shot into the green but the opening must be skillfully negotiated.

The green provides an array of vexing internal movements. The most captivating pin position is  located in the deepest part. The area is rather narrow and any shot deviating even the slightest amount -- left or right -- will encounter either the lake or a steep drop-off to the right. Tread smartly or pay the price.

The 18^th on The Oconee Course weaves brilliantly together the intersection of the beauty of the Georgia landscape and the strategic calculus of a golf hole that yields only to the finest of plays.

"The hole is arguably the toughest finishing hole at Reynolds Lake Oconee," said Forester.

Once played it is forever remembered. 

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