Best golf courses near Crystal River, FL

Black Diamond Ranch is located in out-of-the-way hill country of central Florida, some 30 miles southwest of Ocala. Part of a residential development, this Tom Fazio fantasy-come-alive features a front nine that runs up and down 60-foot-high sand hills and alongside natural sand dunes. But it’s the back-nine stretch through an old rock quarries, holes 13 through 17, that’s the real draw. You start with a par 3 over a pit, then skirt along the rim of a bigger quarry, then descend 85 feet of steep limestone cliffs to the 15th green, positioned astride a bottomless pit of lake, then emerge for more shots along the edge, then shoot down into the smaller pit to the 17th green before finishing on a conventional 18th. Black Diamond has as many twists and turns as a hard-boiled detective novel. Traditionally a private club (there are a total of 45 holes on property), Black Diamond now offers on-site accommodations and stay and play packages.

Less than an hour south of the University of Florida, Juliette Falls was designed before the homes were laid out around the course, allowing designer John Sanford the freedom to route the holes as he wanted. The course has a rolling topography and great layout variety, with holes moving in both directions and a mix of uphill and downhill shots. There are a couple split fairways, at the fifth and 17th, which force players to be strategic about their tee shots. Those risk/reward decisions are present throughout Juliette Falls. The course has a great set of greens, with plenty of different shapes and contours.

Black Diamond Ranch: Ranch Course in Lecanto is one of the best golf courses in Florida. Discover our experts reviews and tee time information.