It’s living and breathing. It’s a source of pride and frustration. “Caring for this course is like raising a child,” says Hoyt Ellspermann, superintendent at The Creek ClubThe Creek Club, the members-only course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. “It’s always changing, and that’s what makes it so exciting.” Hoyt leans out a cart to pick up two leaves. We’re on our way to the spots that excite him the most.
Fairway at #3
“If you stand outside the fairway pot bunkers (not in them), you have a dramatic view over the creek to the green. The undulations provide character — and a lot of work for my 18-person staff. Tip: Aim for the middle bunker off the tee and watch your ball fall to the left or right of it. We call it a ‘Creek Club-member bounce.”
Cart Ride along #11
The big patch of love grass makes the boomerang-shaped green look smaller than it really is. The entire hole is an example of how we value natural habitat over fertilizer. Tip: The green is more downhill than you realize, so don’t let the grass intimidate you. Enjoy the view. Then hit into it.
TEE AT #12
It’s unlike any hole I’ve ever seen. We have ten ornamental grasses working with the natural vegetation. Look how it all frames the fairway and green. Tip: Mentally disconnect yourself from the ornamentals, or you’ll wind up in them.
