The Georgia State Park System turned to Naples, Florida-based Coral Hospitality to manage both the golf course operations and hospitality aspects for their South Georgia locations and from all I could see, they have done a tremendous job. The Wallace Adams Golf Course at Little Ocmulgee State Lodge Park (www.littleocmulgeelodge.com) in Helena, GA is anything but municipal. Lush, rolling fairways, towering loblolly pines with lots of pine straw beneath them and firm, fast greens make this a course to remember. There’s a fair amount of elevation changes as well; I found myself on several occasions needing one more or less clubs on several holes. Case in point is Number 12, a short par 3 that plays incredibly less than the stated yardage of 130 yards from the White Tees. The green is small and the front left bunker sees a lot of play. At only 435 yards from the White Tees, the par 5, Number 14 provides a great opportunity to post a low score. What’s more, if you hit your tee shot over the tree line on the left, you can cut the dogleg and possibly leave only a hybrid or long iron to the green. The greens here are smaller than usual and the course provides all players a fitting test of golf.
The Georgia Veterans Memorial Golf Course at Lake Blackshear Resort (www.lakeblackshearresort.com) in Cordele, GA also offers some great golf and lodging opportunities. Rolling fairways with peripheral mounding, sparkling water hazards and plenty of sand bunkers await as you make your way down the fairways at Vets Memorial. There’s also plenty of elevation change as you will see on the 6th hole, which is arguably the toughest hole on the course. This 400-yard par 4 plays uphill and requires accuracy off the tee to avoid the bunkers and woods that line the fairway. The toughest hole on the back side is Number 13, a 435-yard (Blue Tees) par 4 that requires a perfect tee shot down a blind fairway. From there, you play an approach shot over a creek that crosses the fairway to a narrow green that cannot be seen from the fairway. Two blind shots that test your mettle; who knows, you may get lucky.
Over the last couple of years, the State of Georgia has done a complete remodel of the lodging quarters at Lake Blackshear Resort. Rooms are updated and modern, with new furniture, large, flat screen TVs and coffee makers. Cordelia’s Restaurant serves up all kinds of good food, from burgers to prime rib and the fully-stocked bar has all your favorite libations.
Meadow Links Golf Club at The George T. Bagby State Park Lodge (http://www.georgetbagbylodge.com/default.aspx?pg=golf) is another fine State Park golf facility. When the course first opened for play in 1998, Meadow Links was ranked as the nation’s “sixth best new affordable public course” by Golf Digest Magazine. This links style layout by Willard Byrd is creatively woven into the gently rolling contours of the countryside and features large greens with subtle breaks, lush, green fairways and long Bahia rough. No matter your skill level, Meadow Links will challenge you and the 10th green offers one of the finest views in the South.
The Lodge at George T. Bagby State Park offers some great stay and play packages and the 60-room lodge and five cabins offer enough space to house a golf outing. All room and cabins are air conditioned and the $5.00 resort fee per room includes a lot of amenities including unlimited use of their bicycles. There’s plenty to do if you’re not a golfer too; fishing, hiking, tennis and canoe rentals are at your disposal. You can always enjoy classic Southern cooking in the Pilot House Grille restaurant.