Citrus Springs Golf & Country Club was designed by Charles Almony back in 1973. It’s said that famed professional golfer Gene Sarazen attended the opening day festivities. The course was originally only a 9-hole layout. It was almost four years later that the course was expanded to it’s present 18-hole layout.
Citrus Springs Golf Course remains a “Florida unique” layout 50 years later due to it’s elevation changes and sweeping doglegs. Golfers quickly realize this as they step up to the first tee and look down at a fairway that drops dramatically to the bottom of a hill and then right back up just as high to the first green.
It’s just a short jaunt to the 2nd hole tee box which brings you to another elevated tee. Number two is a short Par-4 that has tightened up over the years due to tree growth. The green can’t been seen from the tee as the hole doglegs hard to the left and again presents golfers with a long elevated green and mostly blind second shot. Par is always a solid score. Other unique and memorable holes on the front nine include the 5th and 9th.
The 9th hole is a challenging par-4 that doglegs to the right and is uphill to a highly elevated green. Anything short on the approach shot will not find it’s way onto the putting surface. Once on the green, the challenge continues with a green slopping severely from back to front. Again, this is another hole where par is a good score anytime.
Then, off you go to the back nine and back up the hill on the 10th. There are some good holes on the back nine including the uphill 13th, short par-4 14th, 17th and 18th. The Par-5 finishing 18th hole is the best hole on the course as the tee shot is framed by tall trees and the hole steadily climbs back up to the green and clubhouse.
The course still maintains a lot of it’s hilly character and still has the undulating greens that made it unique when it was originally opened. However, overall conditioning these days just isn’t what is used to be back in the day. The undulating greens have lost a lot of their bite as green speeds are quite slow.
For me, the trip to Citrus Springs Golf Course was a trip down memory lane. As it’s where my Dad first introduced me to the game of golf back in the 1980’s. My Dad, and family would put together a group and make the long trek to Citrus Springs from Ocala many a weekend (at one point the trip was running 120 miles round trip). My Dad’s positive attitude toward the game and my family’s competitive spirit was contagious enough that even a teenager who thought he knew it all (and had no interest in golf) quickly came to enjoy the game.
After finishing the round and being somewhat melancholy, I decided to reflect back and really focus on the great memories had with my family many years ago and the fact I got to play the course once more with a group of life long friends.
I fondly remember Chuck in the clubhouse. He would let me walk for free every once in a while as he wanted to foster a junior golfer. I remember walking the course with my headphones and walkman (old school corded) listening to Florida Gator football games. Citrus Springs Golf Course was where I got my first set of new golf clubs.
I remember hitting the snack machine and coke machine to wash away any bad front nine scores and steel myself to finish any matches strong on the backside. What a way to spend a Saturday as a kid. A Hole-in-one, eagles, birdies, pars and plenty of others were had by the family in super competitive matches. Happily, lifelong family memories were made at Citrus Springs Golf Course.