Black Diamond Ranch (Ranch) - Florida - USA
2600 W Black Diamond Cir,
Lecanto,
Florida (FL) 34461,
USA
+1 352 746 3446
50 miles N of Tampa
Members and their guests only
Lynn Janson/Mike Moore
David Court
Fans of Tom Fazio may want to take heed when the architect discusses his design at the Ranch Course at the Black Diamond Ranch: The final trio of holes "represent the three best finishing holes I've ever designed." That’s high self-praise...we’re not going to weigh in on that argument, but it’s certainly possible the trio are among his most difficult closing holes.
The par five at No. 16 doglegs several times across its 588 yards. No. 17 does not dogleg at all, but as a 250-yard par three, it doesn’t really need to. Finally, at just 415 yards, the closing hole doesn’t seem like much on paper, but it’s a long walk up to the clubhouse.
Whatever you think Fazio’s best trio of closing holes is, it’s worth noting that this trio came at the Ranch course, while many golfers have seen the property’s other course — The Quarry — more prominently on rankings. Like many other properties that differentiate between their most acclaimed course and a “little brother,” Ranch is allegedly the preferred 18 for day-to-day play among members.
Reviews for Black Diamond Ranch (Ranch)
Doug Roberts
Black Diamond Ranch course. Normally when one visits Black Diamond they go to play the Quarry. The Ranch is however a good day out and holds it's own quite well. The conditioning is excellent and the green contours are very good. The course delivers maybe Tom Fazio's best finish.
1 is a par 4dogleg right with a large bunker protecting the corner
2 is a par 4dogleg left with a slightly elevated green
3 is a short par 5 basically straight with a large deep bunker to the left of green so stay right
4 is a challenging par 4 requiring a precise drive into a bunker waste area right and a deep bunker left, slightly elevated green well bunkered
5 is a shortish par 3 with a waste area between the tee and green but predominantly not in play
6 is a short par 4 requiring your tee ball to avoid the waste area right and bunkers left
7 is a par 4 straight with bunkers to the right of landing area. The green is one of the deepest on the course
8 is a good length par 3 with almost all forced carry over water. The green has 3 tiers
9 a par 5 with bunkers the whole way down the left, stay right as greenside there is a large tree protecting the left side of the green
10 starts the back with another par 5 with bunkers left and right but prefer the right as greenside bunkers are left
11 is a short par 3 that requires you to just not hit into the difficult bunker on the short right
12 is a big par 4 with wide expanse with trees sitting toward the right side, the green is well bunkered
13 a short par 4 with bunkers right and water right
14 a par 4 with bunkers out left and right so to form a narrow area so best to lay up, green is well protected
15 starts the difficult finish a par 4 dogleg right to a tiered green
16 is a long par 5 which zig zags bunkers and is best approached from the left and the green slopes away
17 is a long par 3 with bunkers covering the entire way on the left and a massive tree near the green on the right
18 is a par 4 of average length but the many strategic bunkers in the landing area and a deep bunker on the right short side of green
The Ranch creates a great 2nd course to the Quarry. There is also another 9 called the Highlands. Historically Black Diamond has been a private community. They offer stay and play's now and I would highly recommend a visit to take everything in.
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