Two Vaunted Fazio Courses to Test State’s Best Professionals, Amateurs
(LECANTO, Fla.) – Black Diamond Ranch – Florida’s No. 1 golf community and home to Tom Fazio’s Quarry and Ranch courses – will host the Florida State Golf Association’s 2011 Florida Open July 15-17.
The state’s best professional and amateur golfers will duel it out, playing 18 holes on each course before the field is cut to the low 60 players, plus ties. The stroke-play event’s final round will be held on The Quarry Course, which is hewn through the steep cliffs and lakes of two retired limestone quarries, creating one of the most dramatic venues for golf in the U.S.
“The Florida Open is a prestigious event and both courses at Black Diamond Ranch will provide a challenging yet fair test of golf,” says David McDonald, president of Escalante Golf, owner and operator of Black Diamond Ranch. “Holes 13 – 17 on The Quarry Course should make for one of the most intense finishing stretches in the event’s history.”
Notable players in this year’s field include defending champion Ben Vertz (Coral Springs); North Florida PGA 2010 PNC Champion and 2010 North Florida PGA Player of the Year Rod Perry (Daytona Beach); and North Florida PGA 2010 Section Champion Jeff Freeman (Windermere).
“The Florida State Golf Association is excited to bring one of our premier championships to Black Diamond Ranch, a club that is among the best in the entire country,” says Peter Dachisen, FSGA tournament director.
Escalante Golf purchased Black Diamond Ranch in March 2011 from visionary founder Stan Olsen, who created the golf and country club in 1987.
For more information on Black Diamond: www.blackdiamondranch.com, (407) 739-8729.
About Black Diamond Ranch
Featuring three Tom Fazio-designed courses – The Quarry, The Ranch and The Highlands – Black Diamond Ranch has established itself as Florida’s No. 1 residential golf community since 1987.
The Quarry Course, set amongst limestone cliffs, live oak trees, dogwoods, myrtles and magnolias, has been ranked one of “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” by Golf Digest and among the “Top 100 Courses in the U.S.” by GOLF Magazine. Black Diamond Ranch has earned a place on LINKS Magazine’s list of “America’s 100 Premier Properties,” and is perennially “Top 10” on Golfweek’s “Best U.S. Residential Golf Courses” list.
Completed in 1997, The Ranch Course was carefully crafted to gently blend into its natural surroundings. Reminiscent of Pine Valley, The Ranch Course sports rolling fairways and dramatic elevation changes of over 100 feet. With stunning hilltop views of up to 25 miles, the nine-hole Highlands Course (also completed in 1997), is a magnificent mix of lush, rippling fairways, stands of oak and pine, pristine water features and mesmerizing natural beauty.
About Escalante Golf
Established in 1991, Escalante Golf is a boutique owner and operator of luxury golf properties nationwide, including California, Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Indiana. Operating partners David McDonald, Elcio Silva, Robert Silva and David Matheson direct the Escalante team with offices in Fort Worth, Texas.
For more information: www.escalantegolf.com, (407) 739-8729.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
Jonathan Williamson
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3346
jwilliamson@buffalocommunications.com
