Real Estate News, Georgia

Food, Wine, Golf - Reynolds Plantation Upcoming Event Highlights

Reynolds Plantation Lake Oconee Living
Published on March 11, 2015

If you’re considering relocating to one of the best places to retire on a lake, put the weekend of March 20-22 on your “Places to Consider” list and head to Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro. This resort lifestyle town on Lake Oconee, renowned as one of the premier golf resorts near Atlanta, is hosting two great events that weekend. The Lake Oconee Food & Wine Festival returns for the sixth year to the fabulous Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation, and the 10th Annual Linger Longer Invitational collegiate golf tournament tees off from Reynold’s Great Waters course, the hosting course of last year’s Big Break Invitational. Both events promise a weekend of fun and camaraderie in the warm and traditional atmosphere of the Reynolds Plantation lake community.

The Georgia Bulldogs men’s team will defend their championship against 14 other teams including (arch rival) Alabama, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Clemson, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Mercer University, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Purdue, Texas, UNC Greensboro and Yale. This event is considered by many to be one of the best collegiate golf tournaments in the country for several reasons.

In addition to the ambiance surrounding Reynolds Plantation’s six 18-hole championship Lake Oconee golf courses and lakeside resort setting, the residents of Reynolds extend their exceptional hospitality to team members, opening their Lake Oconee homes to the collegiate golfers for the duration of the tournament. Golfers and host families make life-long friendships, which endure as many of the young golfers go on to win both collegiate and PGA Tour titles. A recent standout, former Alabama golfer Cory Whitsett took the Linger Longer individual title his freshman through junior years in 2011-2013 and is now in his PGA Tour rookie year. As with the many other fine young golfers hosted by Reynolds Plantation families, high hopes prevail that he may one day return to play as a pro golfer, or perhaps even to live in one of the beautiful, amenity-rich Reynolds Plantation neighborhoods.

The golfers return again this year to the award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Great Waters course, but the Linger Longer has also been played on the Oconee and The Landing courses in the past. All of the six Lake Oconee golf courses at Reynolds Plantation are Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. They were designed by golfing legends such as Bob Cupp, Jim Engh, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jack Nicklaus, ensuring challenging and scenic play overlooking emerald forests and shimmering Lake Oconee, brimming with largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish. Snuggled up against the Oconee golf course, the elegant Ritz-Carlton Lodge overlooks the lake and offers a year-round resort experience complete with fishing, boating, golfing, and fine dining.

It is here at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge that local residents as well as food and wine lovers from around the Southeast will gather for the 6th Annual Lake Oconee Food & Wine Festival on March 20-21. Delectable dishes prepared by the chefs from each of the Lodge restaurants and local celebrity chefs will delight. Edward Leonard, the new executive chef and director of culinary operations at Reynolds Plantation and author of seven cookbooks, is part of the festival lineup. Enjoy wine from regional, national and international vintners in the rustic yet elegant Lodge setting at one of the finest golf resorts near Atlanta. Additionally, on Friday evening Festival attendees can bid on an array of silent auction prizes online to benefit Lake Oconee area children’s charities. The Grand Tasting festival finale features small plates and samples from highly respected local restaurants and cafes as well as the Ritz Carlton chefs. To buy tickets for this extraordinary Reynolds Plantation food and wine event, visit oconeefoodandwine.dotcom

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