With about 24 hours notice, Ron at Reynold's Plantation was kind enough to quickly arrange for tee times for us on Wednesday and Thursday at two of the six courses (soon to be seven) and Thanksgiving brunch at one of the four club houses.
He also spent a couple of hours acquainting us with the the Reynold's community. It meets many of our requirements in a club including several courses to choose from and a reasonable cart plan. I love the southern charm homes and the idea of being back in a lake community with 374 miles of shoreline along Lake Oconee
With only two days to golf, our first day we chose the Jack Nicklaus Signature course, Great Waters, known for the one touching the lake the most. It also had hosted the PGA Professional National Championship in 2008 so we knew we'd be challenged. Were they pulling our leg about the water? You tell me...
Mike found the beach that Nicklaus' crew added to the lake.
I found my dream home...and dreams are where it will stay, sigh. On the course AND on the lake!
We were joined by Kelly who after his second hole was required to giddy up.
None of us shot to our handicaps this day. Kelly, sporting a 24 handicap shot a 40 on the front nine and ended up finishing well in the 80's. Mike and I found it to be a bit more challenging and shot nowhere near our handicaps either...the other way. The course and the greens were well cared for though the greens seemed a smidge on the slow side.
There may have been one or two holes that WEREN'T on the water, but its hard to remember.
It was a humbling but gorgeous day of golf for us. Afterward we took Ron's suggestion for dinner, a local hangout named Silver Moon. But don't look for a sign. You have to know roughly where it is and then look for the non descript place with a simple sign that says "Bar and Grill". The other dead giveaway is all of the cars in the parking lot. Ginger, one of the owners, was on shucking duty.
Gulf oysters are back folks, and pretty darn good. Ron clued us in to try their strawberry short cake. I had no idea it could taste this good. Truly out of this world tasty!
Silver Moon, or should I say, "Bar and Grill", was quite a find-- if you can find it!
Still a little full from dinner the night before, we were first in line for Thanksgiving Day brunch the next day at one of the club houses, The Landing.
It was yummy but we missed Adam's potato stuffing, Mom's corn casserole, my lemon meringue pie, and Uncle Kris' obnoxious noises.
After our non traditional Thanksgiving feast we raced over to the Oconee Course, a Rees Jones design known for its dramatic lay out, challenging holes, and for hosting the 2007 PGA Cup, among others.
Although I still wasn't on my game, I enjoyed the hilly terrain, the babbling brooks running through a few of the fairways from tee to green, a stunning cart path or two, and the lake which came into play here as well.
Love that folks were out boating at the end of November!
In honor of our FINAL ROUND of golf of the trip, I forced Mike to saddle up one last time for the camera. Plus I wanted him to show our playing partner, an unsuspecting bloke from England, what happens when one gets a birdie while playing with me.
Using a driver on a wickedly long par three, David carved the perfect tee shot and sunk the putt for his birdie. I love the different riding styles we've seen on this trip. Perhaps because he didn't grow up watching John Wayne movies, he rode Wilbur like he was a kangaroo--hopping his way into blog history as our final rider!
A good guy, we enjoyed playing Oconee with David.
After teeing off on the 18th hole, Mike paused a moment, realizing this was his last tee shot of the trip. The next drive would be the six hours home tomorrow. Can you see how broken up he is?
They gave us a tough finishing hole that didn't allow us to end on a high note, skill wise. That's OK, Reynolds Plantation was a perfect end to the golf part of our tour. Thank you again, Ron, for arranging this for us.
We made it home in time for yet another perfect "last moment", a magical sunset on the lake for cosmo time.
There was so much I liked about our accomodations, North Shore RV Park. Beyond the lake front setting, the private porches/decks, the recycled train cars turned into cabins...
the best part was that the trees blocked our satellite so our last three nights were cable news channel free! Instead our nights were spent enjoying those ideal sunsets and summer temperatures.
As I type this we are 41 miles from our driveway. Heads up, HOA: we are going to be breaking the rules again!
We will have cocktail company one last night in the rig, as friends Pete and Mechelle are in town from North Carolina and dying to taste my adult beverage concoctions. This is the first of many pay backs in store for all of the hospitality we enjoyed this year from so many friends and strangers who are now friends. Pete and Mechelle arranged for us to golf a couple of fantastic courses in Tucson with Pete's parents so many months ago.
Stay tuned for my final post in which I will attempt to capture the highs and lows, favorite courses, etc., of an unbelievable year that went on for 13 months and 21 days. Hey Les, who won the pool as to how long we'd stay on the road? Whoever had three weeks has no idea how close they were to being the big winner!
If you listen carefully you may hear the tap tap of my ruby slippers as I repeat, "there's no place like home..."
Have enjoyed keeping up with your travels since meeting y'all at the Winnie Factory! Oh Woe is Us, Right!
We toured Reynolds Plantation last Thanksgiving to meet friends who live at the new Del Webb community close by...would have hooked y'all up if we had known you were going to be there. They are RVers, also. We ate at the Silver Moon and loved it!
I know you are glad to be home and bet you are loving the extra space!
Keep Hitting Em Straight!
Pami
Posted by: Pami Pires | 11/28/2010 at 08:45 AM
I'm sure all three of you will be glad to finally arrive back at home sweet home but sigh...
I'm going to miss living vicariously through your adventure. I've really enjoyed following you around the States and meeting you and Mike in Michigan.
IF I won the lottery I'd do something similar. Been thinking about trying to play the best public access course in each state...
Anywho not much chance of me winning the lottery so...
All the best and thanks for a great 13 months.
Posted by: Andrew | 11/28/2010 at 09:50 AM