Black Diamond Ranch, Lecanto, FL

The Crystal River area in Florida has been a vacation lover’s paradise for many years, and for a variety of reasons. Water lovers have their pick: scalloping, scuba diving, fishing kayaking, or taking a refreshing swim with the oh-so-adorable manatees. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from activities such as hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding. If you prefer to stay indoors, there are several art galleries, museums, as well as the performing Arts Center of Citrus County. So much to do.

A popular outdoor sport that seems to be underrated in this part of the state is golf. That’s very surprising because the area offers several private, semi-private, and daily fee facilities with distances ranging from executive length to PGA TOUR length. There is something here for all levels of golfer.

Black Diamond Ranch is the crème de la crème when it comes to golf in these parts and can rival just about any golf course in Florida for natural beauty. There are 45 holes of Tom Fazio-designed golf lying behind the guarded gates of BDR. Black Diamond Ranch used to be a “mandatory membership” community but in these ever-changing times in which we live, that has changed. While the Quarry Course may be the main attraction, the Highlands Course also has some stunning holes and will challenge any golfer. The Ranch Course takes advantage of the hilly terrain with less attention in manicured areas. The Quarry Course is not your typical Florida golf course. If you look around, it’s hard to tell you’re in Florida! The five holes on the back nine that play over, into, and around a natural limestone quarry are the main attraction and rival Pebble Beach as the country’s most beautiful golf holes. There are a couple of ways to get on the course. One is to become a member; the other is as part of a stay and play package which includes accommodations in a luxurious Black Diamond Ranch residence and one or two rounds of golf. The other is to befriend a member!

While you can certainly get a good meal at any one of these courses, Crystal River has a restaurant that can’t be missed, especially if you’re a seafood lover. The Seafood Seller is owned by Jimmie Stoltz and his wife, Sue Gerzel. Jimmy hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has brought a little bit of that Cajun flair to the area. Sue is from Baltimore, MD, so she knows a little something about seafood too! You can order all types of seafood, everything from Louisiana crawfish to oysters, littleneck clams, and a variety of fresh fish. I went with the steamed king crab legs with Cajun seasoning, just the right amount of spice. If it swims in the water and you can eat it, the Seafood Seller has it. They also have a full liquor bar with several local and imported beers on tap.

This is just a small snippet of some of the golf available in the Crystal River area. For a more comprehensive list of the golf courses in the area, visit their website