Located near the northern edge of the mysterious Okefenokee Swamp, this park is home to many fascinating creatures and plants. Walking along the lake shore and nature trail, visitors may see alligators, carnivorous pitcher plants, the shy gopher tortoise, numerous oak varieties, saw palmettos, yellow shafted flickers, warblers, owls and great blue herons. The park?s lake offers opportunities for boating, skiing and fishing. A championship 18-hole golf course, The Lakes, features a clubhouse, golf pro and junior/senior citizen discounts. This is one of the few state parks named after a woman, and its name is richly deserved. Laura Walker was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who was a great lover of trees and worked for their preservation.

The Lakes features a natural beauty rare in golf courses today. Steve Burns' golf design was able to preserve much of that beauty by using native sand for the many traps and waste areas. Greens are undulating rather than tiered. Each fairway and landing area is defined with gentle, links-style mounds that accent the courses three large lakes. So natural is the course - and so close to the Okefenokee Swamp - that it's not uncommon to see an alligator roaming the waterways. What better incentive to keep the ball in the fairway?

Full-Service Golf Shop: Features golf accessories, snack bar and group/individual lessons (with advance appointment).

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hours may vary according to season. Open daily except Christmas Day.

Tee Times: Reservations taken seven days a week - recommended on weekends and holidays.

Overnight Accommodations:44 campsites and local hotels

Course Layout: Holes: 18 Holes Yards: 6595 Rating: 71.9 Slope: 122 Par: 72