As published on GolfPass on October 23, 2024:

Hall-of-Famer Mickey Mantle spent his last years at the Harbor Club at Lake Oconee, a highly-rated and publicly-accessible Georgia gem.

You never know what sort of unexpected wonders a new golf course can help unlock.

I flew up to play some golf at the sprawling Reynolds Lake Oconee resort and community, but first, I planned a visit to play the Harbor Club on Lake Oconee, a semi-private golf course and residential community that helped establish the 19,000-acre lake and its shores as prime vacation territory about 80 minutes east of Atlanta.

By accident, my timing was impeccable.

Less than 72 hours after the New York Yankees had eliminated the Cleveland Guardians from the Major League Baseball playoffs and advanced to the 2024 World Series for another showdown with their rival Los Angeles Dodgers, I found myself at a place near and dear to one of the Bronx’s all-time bombers.

New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle bashed 536 home runs in his career in pinstripes, including a record 18 in his World Series career. After retiring in 1968, he took to golf. Although pitchers tend make the best golfers – see John Smoltz, Mark Mulder and more – it makes perfect sense that golf attracts gifted hitters as well. The sound of a flushed golf shot and the satisfying crack of the baseball bat are cousins, and the competitive possibilities in golf no doubt held considerable appeal to Mantle. He spent significant parts of his sunset years living in a lakeside villa at the Harbor Club, where he wowed fellow golfers with his naturaly hand-eye coordination. He could hit a ball just as hard left-handed as right-handed.

But it isn’t Mantle’s name you see on a street sign just around the bend from the clubhouse. It belongs to his son, Billy, who died of a heart attack at just 36 years old, days after his father had emerged from a life-changing stint in alcohol rehabilitation at California’s Betty Ford Clinic. This tragic turn led to one of the most frank and deeply personal athlete interviews ever televised: a 15-minute conversation between Mantle and broadcaster Bob Costas in March of 1994. Seventeen months later, Costas would give the eulogy at Mantle’s funeral.

Despite his considerable generosity – he once paid for repairs to the Harbor Club gatehouse after a workman accidentally damaged the building with his truck – Mantle was hard on himself, plagued by frustrations at not having gotten as much out of his prodigious baseball talent as he thought he should have. In the Costas interview, he admits, bluntly, that he also fell well short as a father.

Though the stakes are lower, lifelong golfers know the relentless frustrations borne out of high expectations. Why do I keep losing my tee shots to the right? Why did I just three-putt from 15 feet? Success, however one measures it, is perpetually elusive; it’s easy to be crushed by the weight of oversized expectations. A golfer moaning and complaining on a beautiful golf course on a gorgeous day is a pitiful sight.

Perhaps golf’s tribulations helped Mickey Mantle gain some perspective and give himself some grace. In his interview with Costas, conducted on camous at the Harbor Club, Mantle acknowledged that the flood of well-wishes he received while he was at the Betty Ford clinic for alcohol rehabilitation helped him realize – years late – the affection he engendered in baseball fans. Perhaps that gratitude, however delayed, helped him heal.

And perhaps that gratitude extended to his home golf course, a beautiful hidden gem of sorts, hiding at the northern tip of Lake Oconee. The 7,027-yard Harbor Club course opened in 1991, laid out by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish on splendidly hilly lakeside property that is part of a 1,000-acre development. The front nine starts with a friendly fastball down the middle in the form of a 390-yard, down-then-up straightaway par 4, followed by a nasty-curveball par-3 that stretches as long as 240 yards.

Weiskopf and Morrish change speeds relentlessly, aided by the terrain. The shortish but steadily uphill dogleg-right par-5 4th gives way to a long par 4 at the 5th hole, which snaps left around deep bunkers and dives downhill, offering the golfer’s first look at the lake. The back nine is more eclectic but of a similar feel, culminating in a terrific five-hole finish where the par 5 14th with a short-porch option is followed by a trademark Weiskopf drivable par 4: a blast and a bloop. The par-3 17th gives the best view down a finger of the lake, boats bobbing pleasantly away along both shores.

There’s a thread running through Mantle and one of the men who laid out the golf course he enjoyed. Despite winning the 1973 Open Championship, Weiskopf ultimately left his sport believing he had squandered his prodigious talent. As with Mantle, alcohol was the culprit. “Every bad mistake I made,” Weiskopf once told golf writer Jeff Rude, “related to alcohol.” Weiskopf rang in the 21st century by quitting drinking and remained sober the last 22 years of his life. It was a fertile period, full of noteworthy golf course designs including multiple PGA Tour stops.

One unusual aspect of the Harbor Club is that it is proudly semi-private, with no plans to stop offering public access despite a healthy and sizable membership. Ownership believes strongly in welcoming outside play while keeping the choicest times for members. Total rounds stay below 25,000 per year, largely because the club doesn’t promote itself heavily to non-members. It’s there for those who are willing to look for it. Peak rates climb past $200 in the high seasons and Masters Week is very busy. It is a welcoming place that lacks the golf-factory feel that several public and resort properties have started to exhibit post-pandemic. It’s charmingly quiet, unfussy and full of gratifying moments – a place to play worthy of its most famous former resident.

As the British Open returns to Royal Troon this week, it’s a fitting time to remember Tom Weiskopf’s remarkable triumph there in 1973. Weiskopf led all four rounds in ’73, tying the Open scoring record of 12-under par 276, matching the then-existing Open Championship record set by Arnold Palmer on the same course in 1962. Known for his precision and competitive spirit, Weiskopf’s victory at Royal Troon remains a highlight of his illustrious golfing career. This achievement adds to his legacy as the co-architect of Harbor Club’s esteemed golf course, designed alongside Jay Morrish.

Harbor Club’s golf course, nestled by Lake Oconee, reflects Weiskopf’s dedication to creating challenging yet enjoyable courses. Ranked among Georgia’s best, it stands as a testament to his skill both on and off the green. The layout combines natural beauty with strategic design, featuring risk-reward holes that mirror Weiskopf’s bold playing style.

To explore the course that embodies Tom Weiskopf’s design philosophy, visit Harbor Club golf’s page. Here, every round played pays homage to a legend who not only conquered Royal Troon but also crafted enduring golfing experiences.

To read more about Weiskopf’s wonderful win, visit The Open’s website here.

Golf enthusiasts, young and old, know that mastering the game of golf requires patience, skill, and the right equipment. Harbor Club hosted a memorable Junior Golf Camp this summer, where budding golfers learned, played, and grew in a supportive and fun environment. Whether the children picked up a club for the first time or refined their skills, our camp offered an exciting opportunity for young golfers to thrive.

A Week of Learning and Fun

The camp was structured to provide a comprehensive golfing experience over four days. Each day was packed with activities designed to teach golf fundamentals, improve technique, and instill a love for the game. Here’s a look back at what the young golfers experienced:

Getting Fitted by the Best

The week kicked off with US Kids Golf on-site for complimentary club fittings. Having clubs that are the right size and weight is crucial for young players, and our partnership with US Kids Golf ensured that each child got the best start possible. Proper fitting made a significant difference in their performance and comfort.

Key Areas of Focus

To help young golfers develop a well-rounded game, our camp emphasized three crucial areas of practice:

1. Putting

Putting is vital as it makes up a significant portion of the game. The campers worked on consistency and accuracy with short putts (3-6 feet) and practiced lag putting to improve distance control. Additionally, they learned how to read the slope and speed of the greens to enhance their putting accuracy.

2. Short Game (Chipping and Pitching)

The short game is essential for lowering scores and getting up and down from around the greens. Campers practiced chipping from various lies and distances to improve their ability to get the ball close to the hole. They also worked on different pitching shots with varying trajectories and spent time mastering bunker shots to gain confidence.

3. Full Swing (Driving and Iron Play)

Improving the full swing helps golfers hit more fairways and greens. Campers practiced driving to increase distance and accuracy off the tee and worked on hitting crisp iron shots with consistent contact and precision. Regular checks on swing fundamentals, such as grip, stance, and alignment, ensured a solid and repeatable swing.

An Unforgettable Experience

The camp was a fantastic week of golf, friendship, and unforgettable memories at Harbor Club. Whether the children dreamed of becoming the next golf champion like Tiger or Phil or wanted to enjoy a new sport, our camp was the perfect place to start.

“Our experienced instructors were passionate about teaching and committed to providing every camper a fun, safe, and enriching environment. We look forward to hosting more young golfers in the future and continuing to foster a love for the game,” said Doug Price, Harbor Club Golf Professional.

For more information on golf at Harbor Club, you can search for available tee times and read detailed information on each hole on the Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf designed course on our golf page.