In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I lived in a stunning development in Orange County, California—Coto de Caza. Spanning 4,000 acres with 1,500 planned homes, it was the pinnacle of luxury living. At its heart was a brand-new Robert Trent Jones Jr./Johnny Miller-designed golf course, but golf was just the beginning. The community featured over 50 miles of riding trails, a top-tier tennis academy, and even a gun club. At the time, it was arguably the finest residential community in America—perfectly positioned near Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, with easy access to San Diego and Los Angeles.
As a golf addict, I often flipped through golf magazines in search of inspiration. One day, a third-of-a-page ad in Golf Digest caught my eye. It showcased a breathtaking golf hole in a quarry surrounded by chalky white cliffs and a shimmering lake. Beneath it, a simple tag read: “Where to Live If You Live for Golf.” The image and headline immediately connected with me. I showed it to my wife and joked, “One day, we’ll buy a home there.” But for the moment, business was booming, and we were perfectly happy where we were.
A Dream Rekindled
A decade later, Coto de Caza had transformed—and not for the better. The original master plan had been revised multiple times, leading to rampant overdevelopment. The cow fields outside the gates were now home to a city of 20,000 people and growing like a weed. Traffic congestion skyrocketed, and what was once an enjoyable three-and-a-half-hour round of golf had become much longer. It was time for a change.
My wife and I flew to Florida that winter to explore new possibilities. We started in West Palm Beach, where we had previously lived, but found it overcrowded. We moved up the coast, checking out Stuart and then Vero Beach. Vero felt promising, and we were on the verge of buying a home when I suddenly remembered that ad from years earlier. On a whim, I suggested we check it out before making a final decision.
We drove out to Citrus County, which at the time felt like the middle of nowhere. We stayed in an old hotel called The Crown in Inverness, and the next day, we entered the gates of the community from that unforgettable ad.
The 15th hole on the Quarry Course is one of the most photographed in golf
One glance at the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes—with their magnificent quarry backdrop—and I felt an electric surge of excitement. I actually got goosebumps. That moment of awe never faded. I still feel the same as entering those gates almost three decades later. Within 24 hours, we bought a home.
Enjoying Citrus County Life
We spent the next 14 years loving life there. Our kids were young, and Citrus County—with its eight spring-fed rivers and laid-back old Florida vibe—was a fantastic, safe place for them to grow up. But let’s be honest—I was there for the golf. The then 36-hole layout was spectacular. The Ranch Course would have been the A-course almost anywhere else in the world had it not played second fiddle to the extraordinary Quarry Course.
Neither course was anything like the typical Florida golf, where flat terrain and water hazards dominate. Instead, The Ranch and The Quarry offered an experience more akin to some of the most celebrated courses in the country.
The Ranch course would be the “A” course anywhere else in Florida.
The Ranch Course had the rolling, sandy terrain of Pinehurst or the New Jersey Pine Barrens, with oak trees, pines, native grasses, and rugged waste areas, adding beauty and strategic complexity. Its firm fairways and natural undulations rewarded precision and creativity, demanding the kind of shot-making rarely required in Florida.
The 17th on the Quarry course is a magnificent par three unlike any in Florida.
Then, there was The Quarry Course—a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind layout ranked among the world’s top 100 for many years before those lists became so political.
The front nine felt like a classic Westchester County, New York course, featuring tree-lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes, and golden-age-style bunkering. It was pure, traditional golf—demanding strategy, placement, and shot control.
Then came the back nine, and everything changed. The final stretch was a five-hole gauntlet (13–17) carved into an abandoned limestone quarry, where sheer white cliffs, deep rock formations, and water-filled craters framed the holes with jaw-dropping visuals. Famed golf writer Dan Jenkins called them “The five best consecutive holes in golf.” Playing the Quarry Course wasn’t just golf—it was an adventure. Every shot tested strategy, nerve, and execution, while every hole delivered awe-inspiring scenery that made it feel like a fantasy course brought to life.
Somewhere along the way, they added the Highlands Nine, where the fourth tee, at 98 feet, is the highest in Florida. That brought the number to 45 holes of spectacular Tom Fazio-designed golf plus the Diamond Dunes par-three layout.
The membership was full of successful people, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and CEOs. However, unlike many elite clubs, there was no pretentiousness; all were just regular guys looking for a good game. I bought a four-bedroom home behind the second green and upgraded seven years later to a larger house overlooking The Ranch’s sixth hole. In all, we enjoyed fourteen incredible years in the community. Then, eventually, life changed again.
Our kids grew up and moved out. We purchased a neighboring seven-acre ranch in Pine Ridge, next door, intending to flip it. But as my wife renovated the property, she fell in love with it. She moved her horse from the stables to our new land, and suddenly, she didn’t want to leave. Meanwhile, my travel schedule kept me in Europe and Asia for months, and what began as a quick real estate project turned into another decade in Pine Ridge.
Not All Who Wander are Lost
Twelve years later, life shifted yet again. My wife moved her horses to train with Linda Parelli, the world’s #1 horse instructor in Ocala, and bought a luxury RV to stay on-site. I, on the other hand, was ready to explore. We sold the ranch, and I spent the next three years traveling the world, playing golf, writing books, and making new friends. My wife joined me here and there, but for the most part, it was a solo journey of discovery. I teed it up at some of the game’s most famous venues —Pine Valley, Merion, National Golf Links, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Turnberry, Carnoustie, Ballybunion, Bandon Dunes, Princes, and Florida’s finest, including Ibis, Old Collier, Breakers West, The Medalist, and MacArthur. After hundreds of thousands of miles, it was time to settle down and find a home again.
A year ago, I started seriously looking. I explored Naples, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Stuart, Palm Harbor, and Vero Beach again. While I found appealing options, the fees were staggering. Housing and membership costs were comparable, but the initiation and HOA fees were astronomical. So, after searching 80 countries and countless golf destinations in Florida, Arizona, California, and the Carolinas’, I ended up right where I started.
The par 3, 13th hole is the first of five holes that get you clicking your phone.
The fact was, there was simply nowhere better than Black Diamond Ranch.
The golf remains unparalleled. Membership fees and home prices are far more reasonable than those in South Florida. HOA fees are just over $200 a month. Three hospitals sit within a 20-minute drive—something I never considered important my first time around but now appreciate. Dining and shopping options have expanded significantly in recent years. With the new direct toll road, Tampa is just over an hour away, offering easy access to the best airport in the U.S. Along with the Buccaneers, Lightning, and Rays. Tampa also boasts a thriving arts scene and world-class shopping and is a tour stop for every major.
Most importantly, the club has retained its laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. Getting a game is easy, and the practice facilities are top-notch, perfect for a range rat like me.
The par 4 16th hole on the Quarry course is the best par four I have ever played.
Escalante Golf, the course’s new owner, has invested millions in improvements, including a six-million-dollar renovation of The Ranch Course last year. This renovation included new greens, bunkers, tees, and layout improvements. The quality of the upgrades is unsurpassed. The greens are superb.
I write in the mornings, work out in the gym or pool around noon, and then head to the range around 2 or 3. My practice is followed by a quick 9 or 18 before dusk. While a beer on the clubhouse patio overlooking the course makes for a perfect ending to the day. Ultimately, after a lifetime of searching for the perfect golf community, I realized I found it long ago.
Now, I’m back. Come to join me; there is simply nowhere better!
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