The Crystal River area in Florida has been a vacation lover’s paradise for many years, and for a variety of reasons. Water lovers have their pick: scalloping, scuba diving, fishing kayaking, or taking a refreshing swim with the oh-so-adorable manatees. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from activities such as hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding. If you prefer to stay indoors, there are several art galleries, museums, as well as the performing Arts Center of Citrus County. So much to do.A popular outdoor sport that seems to be underrated in this part of the state is golf. That’s very surprising because the area offers several private, semi-private, and daily fee facilities with distances ranging from executive length to PGA TOUR length. There is something here for all levels of golfer.The Villages of Citrus Hill is home to around 8,000 residents who enjoy 54 holes of golf, 20 tennis and pickleball courts, a 50,000 square foot fitness/wellness center, and a full-service spa. There are several dining venues as well, all serving incredible food as well as a full-service spa. Golf seems to be the main attraction here. There are three 18-hole golf courses; the Oaks and Meadows courses play a little shorter than Skyview at Terra Vista which is the community’s flagship course. These two shorter tracks are by no means pushovers; The Meadows is a par 70 that plays 5,885 yards with a course rating of 68.3 and a slope of 117, while the Oaks is also a par 70, measuring 5,863 yards (68.7/117). Head down the road and you can air it out. Skyview measures a whopping 7,090 yards from the Gold Tees. I found that the Blue/White Tees from 6,245 yards provided plenty of challenge yet allowed me to leave with a little bit of dignity still intact. While you can certainly get a good meal at any one of these courses, Crystal River has a restaurant that can’t be missed, especially if you’re a seafood lover. The Seafood Seller is owned by Jimmie Stoltz and his wife, Sue Gerzel. Jimmy hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has brought a little bit of that Cajun flair to the area. Sue is from Baltimore, MD, so she knows a little something about seafood too! You can order all types of seafood, everything from Louisiana crawfish to oysters, littleneck clams, and a variety of fresh fish. I went with the steamed king crab legs with Cajun seasoning, just the right amount of spice. If it swims in the water and you can eat it, the Seafood Seller has it. They also have a full liquor bar with several local and imported beers on tap.This is just a small snippet of some of the golf available in the Crystal River area. For a more comprehensive list of the golf courses in the area, visit their website
