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TheVillages of Citrus Hills Rich with amenities, this private golf community on the Nature Coast lives up to its exceptional surroundings, while making the dream of club living accessible to nearly everyone
L
ush, rolling hills. Incredible, long-
Even a short visit here quickly shows how much
range views. 100-foot elevation
the members love the place. Scenic, relaxed, and fun,
changes. Sound like one of your
the community is full of life. Fully 80–85 percent of
favorite Carolina courses? Now add
families choose to live here year round, a percentage
in coastal breezes that make for
that is the flip side of many other seasonal Florida
comfortable year-round golf, and a prized location just north of Tampa and minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.
communities. But there’s good reason. The good life is more accessible here than at almost
Incredibly, The Villages of Citrus Hills enjoys this
any other private golf community. Not only is there a
spectacular topography in central Florida. Rolling hills
wide range of home prices and plans, the club’s amaz-
are a rarity in the Sunshine State, and until you stand
ingly low monthly membership fee enables all of its
over a putt on the 7th green of their Skyview course
members to enjoy all of the amenities.
(260 feet above sea level) it is impossible to fully comprehend the magnificence of this setting. Though you won’t find it advertised, this is where baseball legend and avid angler Ted Williams chose to live when his playing days were over. That’s hardly surprising considering all this enviable location offers: beautiful views, temperate weather in every season, low humidity, and a wonderful small-town feel that still provides convenient access to Tampa, Orlando, and Ocala—not to mention the excellent fishing that Ted Williams moved here to enjoy. WINTER 2012
ABOVE: 433 yard-17th, Skyview at Terra Vista BELOW: The ninth fairway at Skyview
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also a world of outdoor activities beyond them. Along with great air quality and little traffic, you will find every form of water in this county—from the Gulf of Mexico to fresh-water lakes and pristine rivers. Citrus Hills is also bookended by two great towns: Inverness and Crystal River. Crystal River, recognized by Yahoo Travel and Coastal Living as one of the world’s most unique snorkeling sites, is also one of the few places where you can swim with manatees. Downtown Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville are just about an hour’s drive; Ocala only 25 minutes. ABOVE: BellaVita Spa & Fitness Center RIGHT: One of two tennis centers at Citrus Hills BELOW: 436-yard 11th, Skyview at Terra Vista
Here’s how it works: Every property owner auto-
For year-round golf, Citrus Hills is hard to top.
matically has a social membership and for the incred-
There are four separate golf experiences to enjoy. The
ible price of just $100 a month in social dues, mem-
Meadows is where members play free, the Oaks offers
bers receive free golf (with cart rental) at The
challenge in a beautiful setting, and 9-hole Brentwood
Meadows course until 2015, free tennis on all the asphalt courts, access to three restaurants, four pools, three gyms, 50 recreational clubs, and more than 200 planned clubs and activities a month. All of this is thanks to a substantial membership. The collective buying power of these members helps keep quality high and costs low. In fact, members enjoy more than $100 million in amenities and infrastructure—already in place and all debt free. The financial soundness of the community is yet another positive for prospective buyers. With everything imaginable inside the gates, there is
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Skyview seem to go on forever, and if it were not for the warm winter weather it would be difficult to believe this is Florida golf. Golf isn’t the only game in these hills. Two tennis centers, one with eight Har-Tru courts and the other with hard courts, serve an avid tennis group.
ABOVE: Rolling hills are a rarity at most Florida courses. LEFT: The BellaVita Spa & Fitness Center’s lap pool and fully equipped gym
Then, of course, there is the magnificent BellaVita Spa & Fitness Center. While other clubs were trying to find ways to cut back a few years ago, Citrus Hills built this exquisite, 45,000-square-foot members-only facility. With racquetball courts, steam rooms, a full-service spa, and an incredible indoor lap and swimming pool, this luxurious clubhouse measures up against the best anywhere. And, yes, it is included in the $100 monthly social membership. From five-acre equestrian parcels to maintenance-free golf villas, there are plenty of living choices, all of them fully customizable. In the Terra Vista neighborhood, homes run from the $300,000s to is the fun place everyone can enjoy. Free golf clinics
the $700,000s. In the Brentwood neigh-
(from beginner to advanced) are included with social
borhood, homes begin under $200,000.
membership, and more than 1,200 members have tak-
Currently there are 71 homes under con-
en advantage of these clinics.
struction throughout Citrus Hills.
But the flagship course is Skyview. With its dra-
If the rare Floridian rolling hills,
matic elevation changes, the highest green in Florida
affordable lifestyle, and free golf all sound
(members used this vantage point to watch space
too good to be true, we understand.
shuttle launches), and 400-foot corridors, the course
That is why Citrus Hills should be on
exceeds every expectation. A classic risk-reward
your list of must-see private golf commu-
design, it contains very few flat lies and greens that
nities. At Citrus Hills, seeing is most
average 5,500 square feet. The views from atop
definitely believing.
WINTER 2012
The Villages of Citrus Hills 2400 North Terra Vista Boulevard Hernando, Fla. 34442 800.511.0814 CitrusHills.com
THE MEADOWS PAR: 70 YARDAGE: 5,885 YEAR FOUNDED: 1985 ARCHITECT: Phil Friel
THE OAKS PAR: 70 YARDAGE: 6,323 YEAR FOUNDED: 1985 ARCHITECT: Mike Andrijiszyn
SKYVIEW AT TERRA VISTA PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 7,142 YEAR FOUNDED: 1999 ARCHITECT: Terry LaGree
BRENTWOOD PAR: 36 YARDAGE: 2,731 YEAR FOUNDED: 1994 ARCHITECT: Ken Creech
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Skyview’s 10th is a long downhill par five.
THE VILLAGES OF CITRUS HILLS 2400 North Terra Vista Blvd. Hernando, Fla. 34442 800.511.0814 CitrusHills.com