Ocala Golf Club

Ocala Golf Club is a semi-private facility in north-central Florida designed by Lloyd Clifton, a regional architect active in the mid-twentieth century who worked primarily in the Southeast. The course reflects the straightforward design principles common to Florida layouts of its era, with routing that takes advantage of the area's natural terrain while accommodating year-round play in the state's subtropical climate. The property sits within Marion County's horse country, where rolling pastures and oak canopies distinguish the landscape from the flatter coastal regions to the east and west. The layout features tree-lined fairways with modest elevation changes by Florida standards, and greens that incorporate the gentle contours typical of Clifton's work. Water hazards appear throughout the routing, both as strategic elements and for drainage purposes common to courses built in this climate. The design emphasizes playability for a range of skill levels while maintaining enough length and challenge to serve the club's regular membership and local competitive events. Ocala Golf Club functions as a community course serving both members and daily-fee players, reflecting the semi-private model that became widespread in smaller Florida cities during the latter half of the twentieth century. The facility provides a traditional golf experience in a region better known nationally for its equestrian industry than for destination golf, offering a straightforward test of the game without the resort amenities or championship pedigree found at Florida's more prominent venues.