







Overview
Cuscowilla was one among the first group of jobs Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw took on after the opening of Sand Hills, the number eight course on America's 100 Greatest Courses ranking and a design that vaulted the duo to the top of the profession. The site's couldn't be more different. Cuscowilla is located on the shore of Lake Oconee, a large manmade reservoir that's home to the five courses of Reynolds Lake Oconee. To give an example of how Coore and Crenshaw think differently than other archtiects, they recommended the developer of Cuscowilla use the majority of the shoreline for homesites. Most architects would fight for water holes, but they prefered the more rolling uplands for golf rather than the flatter land on the water. Nevertheless, two holes do play along the lake, the Cape-like 10th with a downhill drive across an inlet, and the miniature par 3 11th to an elevated green, but the other parts of the design are stronger. The first six holes comprise one of the most rhythmic and engaging opening runs of any course in their remarkable portfolio and includes the uphill drivable, split-fariway par-4 fifth that is now something close to a template hole. Late in the round the loop of 15, 16 and 17 is almost as strong. Cuscowilla was also shaper extraordinaire Jeff Bradley's coming out party, and early showcase of his distinctive style of grassy, gnawed-edge bunkers, replete with Georgia's red clay sand.
About
Awards


100 Greatest Public: Ranked for 16 years from 2003-'18. Highest ranking: No. 39, 2009-'10.
Best in State: Ranked 10th, 2013-'14. Ranked tied for 10th, 2011-'12. Ranked 11th, 2017-'20. Ranked 12th, 2015-'16. Ranked 14th, 2021-'22.
Current ranking: 16th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
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Reviews
Review
“Great variety between wide fairway and narrow doglegs around pine trees. Also, between short and long holes. The bunkering is bold and fun. The greens are on the more severe side with slopes. Ton of fun chipping areas that run off the sides of the greens."
Read More2018
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