Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield

Rankings: 

 

The Takeaway:  Non-typical of Florida golf, the Quarry course at Black Diamond Ranch features large elevation changes and is highlighted by five holes that are routed through a former rock quarry. In addition to offering some stellar photo ops, the course is much more fun than the standard residential Florida track.  Grade B+

Quick Facts

Designer:  Tom Fazio 1997

Cost:  Private

Phone Number:  352-746-3440

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - 3125 W. Black Diamond Circle, Lecanto, Florida  34461 – UNITED STATES

Photos:  See additional photos of Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry)

What to Expect:  When you play golf in Florida, you don't expect a lot of elevation changes or movement in the terrain. So teeing it up on the Quarry course at Black Diamond Ranch is a treat as it is rare to find a flat hole. Holes 13-17 are clearly the highlight of the course as they are routed through a former rock quarry and feature dramatic hole designs and landscape, however the holes leading up to them are great as well and would get more acclaim if the quarry holes weren't so stunning. The variety of the par fours is particularly outstanding while the greens throughout the course aren't terribly compelling compared to most Fazio courses and could benefit from a renovation to the putting surfaces. The opening tee shot of the day sets the tone right off the bat with a dramatic 45 foot drop down to the fairway and then facing a slightly uphill approach shot. While some of the holes play through a residential neighborhood, they don't feel on top of you as much as they do at the Ranch course due to the distance the homes sit off the fairway and how the heavier tree lines that frame the fairways help deliver some isolation. The par threes are certainly a highlight, particularly in the Quarry, but the course's weakest feature is the routing that necessitates riding in a cart to cover the lack of continuity through portions of the course. Overall, the Quarry course at Black Diamond Ranch is a very good track to enjoy with plenty of movement in the terrain, but it is the quarry holes that make it what it is.

By the Numbers

Tees	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Black	72	7155	75.9	146
Dark Gray	72	6563	73.0	139
Light Gray	72	6120	71.4	133
White	72	5351	67.1	124
White (Women)	72	5351	73.2	130
Silver (Women)	72	4822	69.3	125

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  15th Hole – 371 Yard Par 4 – One of the most recognizable holes in all of Florida, the 15th at Black Diamond Ranch's Quarry course is stunning to behold. This relatively short par four features water up the entire left side with bunkering meandering its way along the fairway and all the way to the green. The elevated tee is exciting to hit from but also can cause some trepidation since the fairway gets thinner the further towards the green it gets. There is a small second fairway on the right that can be laid up to if avoiding the water becomes the primary concern, but a drive down the center of the main fairway will set up a great birdie opportunity. The green moves to the left away from players with the water become a greater concern on the approach shot and will require some guts to go after the day's flag.

Best Par 3:  13th Hole – 183 Yards – The beginning of the quarry holes is found here at the one-shot 13th. An impressive golf hole, the tee shot plays over a former digging area to a green perched on the high ground on the opposite side. A half dozen bunkers surround the green with the largest portion of the putting surface accounting for the near side of the green while the pin position in the smaller rear shelf of the green will take serious skill to hit. It is an exciting tee shot and great way to start the Quarry's stunning set of upcoming holes.

Best Par 4:  16th Hole – 435 Yards – A challenging two-shotter that runs along the northern end of the former quarry site, the 16th plays uphill to a fairway that is difficult to see but bunkers on the inside of the hole do stand out as a visual to work from. The ideal tee shot carries the boulders ahead and stays left of the bunker on the right. The further left you go, the greater the award for the approach, but missing too far left will often result in a lost ball. The approach shot will need to carry a chasm to a bunkerless greensite with a small bulb upfront and much more room in the rear half of the green. The slope in the green can be utilized to come up the right side and work the ball back towards the center of the putting surface.

Best Par 5:  5th Hole – 577 Yards – The only non-quarry hole featured in the review, the par five 5th is a solid hole for being found on the less engaging portion of the property. The tee shot plays to a fairway that slopes from left to right which is why the fairway bunker is found on the right side. An oak tree with Spanish moss on the left side of the fairway is a good target and will be more predominantly in view during the second shot. The fairway then runs straight ahead before the green bends to the right and is tucked behind a bunker. Getting home in two is a real challenge, so staying up the left side will provide the best angle to attack the green on the third shot.

Birdie Time:  14th Hole – 529 Yard Par 5 – Wrapping around the southern portion of the former quarry, the 14th is a risk/reward par five that presents a great opportunity to take a stroke back from Old Man Par. The fairway wraps from right to left and will temp players to challenge the left side knowing that a hook into the quarry will quickly result in a lost ball. But players who successfully challenge the left side will be in the go-zone for attacking the green in two. The green sits down quite a bit from the fairway and promotes players hitting the fairway right of the green and utilizing the slope in the terrain to tumble the ball onto the putting surface; though the longer grass can hold it up at times. This is an exciting hole and laying up doesn't guarantee a great look at the green due to its depressed site.

Bogey Beware:  17th Hole – 214 Yard Par 3 – Tom Fazio isn't going to let you out of the quarry without one last challenge, in fact, it is the course's biggest challenge. The lengthy one-shotter plays over a dig site to a smallish green with a strong tier across it. The tier creates a small front third and a much larger back two-thirds in the green and nowhere to miss that you'll be happy with. The rock wall on the left will give a multitude of different kicks while the gnarly grass bunkers on the right will have inconsistent lies that will be challenging to save par from. This hole stands as the most challenging green in regulation to hit on the course and pars here should be celebrated.