Cuscowilla resort an upscale lakefront timeout

It’s calming to sit by a lake. Maybe it’s having something so much bigger at your feet that puts the aggravations of day-to-day living — or the day’s round of golf — in perspective.

There is perspective aplenty at Cuscowilla, a 700-acre resort on the edge of Lake Oconee between Atlanta and Augusta. Many of the guest rooms sit on the edge of Lake Oconee, a 19,050-acre impoundment managed by Georgia Power.

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Cuscowilla Resort

Cuscowilla offers superb golf, comfortable villas by the lake and dining as fine as you would find in the big city.

Photos: See more of the Cuscowilla resort.

This area of Lake Oconee — rural and somewhat isolated before creation of the lake in 1979 — has become a popular second-home spot for the well-heeled. That means there are more than enough upscale shops, nice restaurants and golf courses to keep a visitor busy.

But not too busy. After all, you need time to sit by the lake.

Don’t miss

• Tee boxes and greens occupy a lot of real estate in this part of Georgia. The Cuscowilla course — a 6,847-yard par 70 course designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore — has been acclaimed by Golf Week and Golf Magazine. Other nearby courses include Harbor Club and Reynolds Landing.

A quicker round can be had at Gusto Golf (706-623-4165, www.gustominigolf.com), perhaps America’s most tasteful miniature golf course. You won’t find a single windmill or fiberglass dinosaur, but you will find water hazards on Hole No. 6 and Hole No. 13. When you get to 13, hit your ball in the faux creek. It’s counter-intuitive; but trust us, it’s the best path to par.

• Before heading south on Ga. 44 off I-20 to lake country, detour north to downtown Greensboro. If you have time for just one stop, make it Genuine Georgia (706-453-1440, www.genuinegeorgia.com), a small shop featuring the work of 150 or so artisans. You’ll find one-of-kind pottery, jewelry, blown glass and delightfully funky fish sculptures.

Time for a second stop? Stroll just down the block and around the corner to the Greene County Gaol, an imposing granite block jail built in 1807. The gaol (an old British spelling of jail) was used until 1895.

• While sitting on the shore is pleasurable enough, you’ve got options if you want to get out on the water. Rent a personal watercraft or pontoon boat at Typhoon Tommy’s (706-347-1177, www.typhoontommys.com) at South Bay Marina. Or leave the driving to someone else by renting a captained 25-foot pontoon boat at Oconee Charter Boats (706-817-0092, www.oconee charterboats.com). The captain will come pick you up at the dock closest to you.

Where to eat: The Waterside Restaurant (706-484-2044) at Cuscowilla offers fine dining and fine views of a quiet cove. The Golf House Bar and Grill is the resort’s spot for breakfast and lunch. Diners at Gaby’s by the Lake also look out at the water. Gaby’s is one of the eating spots at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation (706-467-0600, www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation), another not-too-shabby resort set on the lake.

Rest up: Cuscowilla at Lake Oconee (1-800-458-5351, www.cuscowilla.com) has golf cottages in the pines and lake villas just steps from the water’s edge. A lakeside suite with king bed has a bathroom with a tub and shower, each built for two. The fully equipped kitchen even has beer mugs ready in the freezer. The covered porch is the perfect place to read a book or chat over cocktails.

Getting there: Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee is about 80 miles southeast of Atlanta. Take I-20 east to Exit 130 and go south (right) on Ga. 44. Turn left at Old Phoenix Road, marked by the second traffic light you’ll come to from the interstate. The resort entrance is on the left.

More information

Greene County Chamber of Commerce, 706-453-7592, www.greenecoc.com.

Eatonton-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, 706-485-7701, www.eatonton.com.

Lake Welcome Center, 706-453-1630, www.lakewelcome.com.