Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Steve Smyers designs new course for Reynolds Lake Oconee

Golf course architect Steve Smyers has designed a new course for the Reynolds Lake Oconee community, southeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

Fenmoor will become the community’s eighth course when it opens in autumn 2026, joining the Preserve, Great Waters, National, Oconee, Landing, Creek Club and Richland layouts.

Located in the northeast corner of the 12,000-acre community, the Fenmoor site features marshy land, native grasses and rolling hillsides. Smyers’ design features elevated tees, undulating fairways, multiple water crossings and several holes along the water’s edge.

“The land is absolutely ideal for golf,” said Smyers. “We’re very fortunate to have a piece of property this diverse, with the movement of the land – gentle rolls, swales, valleys, hummocks, mounds and ravines – combined with the presence of water running through it. This site allows us to create a course with a distinct look and feel unlike any other at Reynolds Lake Oconee.”

Water will be a defining feature of the course, with rivulets and streams branching from Richland Creek, and with Lake Oconee visible from much of the course. The lake will also influence play on numerous holes, including nine greens that will be built near the water’s edge.

Smyers plans to use native plant material throughout the property. “The native plants will connect the course to the marsh, the lake and the tree line,” said Smyers. “We want the golf course to feel as if it simply emerges from the landscape.”

The project also includes a putting course, several short-game and practice areas.

“Fenmoor Golf Club reflects our constant vision to thoughtfully grow Reynolds Lake Oconee while preserving the natural beauty and character that make this community so special,” said John Gunderson, CEO of Daniel Communities, the managing partner for Reynolds Lake Oconee. “It’s a one-of-a-kind setting, and with Steve Smyers leading the design we’re confident it will deliver our members an inspiring and immersive golf experience unlike anything else at Reynolds.”

Previous Article Trump Turnberry set to reopen Ailsa course following Ebert renovation
Next Article The Cliffs Kangaroo Island to open for preview play in 2026
Print
657 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Fenmoor Smyers Reynolds Lake Oconee
    Reynolds Lake Oconee

    Steve Smyers has designed a new course for Reynolds Lake Oconee

  • Fenmoor Smyers Reynolds Lake Oconee
    Reynolds Lake Oconee

    The Fenmoor site features streams, ravines, marshy land, native grasses and rolling hillsides

  • Fenmoor Smyers Reynolds Lake Oconee
    Reynolds Lake Oconee

    “This site allows us to create a course with a distinct look and feel unlike any other at Reynolds Lake Oconee,” says Smyers

ADd Image Credit here for home page
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x

Subscribe to the Golf Course Architecture newsletter


  • ©2025 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Architecture is published by Tudor Rose.