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 Yes, there is a bear story behind Black Bear Golf Club which is located northeast of Eustis in Lake County. Folks there vividly remember a decent sized black bear wandering by the clubhouse around Thanksgiving some years back, leaving a few paw print, and a few mouths gaping as he “played through” down the ninth hole and back toward the Ocala National Forest just north of the course.
Of course, the legend of the bear grows every season, a fitting analogy for the stature of this golf course that at one time might have been considered far removed from the other great Orlando-area courses, but is getting impressively closer, both in location and quality-of-play, with each passing season.
There's another story to be told here, a love story between the Carson family and their ranchland. They sold the land to home builders in the mid-90's, then watched the course take shape, carved out of an orange grove and pasture by Pete Dye's son P.B. A couple of course operators later, the Carson's decided they literally wanted to get back to their roots, so they bought Black Bear back in the fall of 2004 and as a family are committed to making the most of this diamond-in-the-not-so-rough.
 There's not really that much rough at Black Bear Golf Club, though some had to be put on the steep slopes that lead up to some of the elevated greens, just to keep shots from rolling too far "off the table" and slowing play. Dye's design elevates many of the tees and greens, playing through lower-lying areas that give this course its character. Add those dramatic elevation changes to enormous greens that are very undulating and combine all of that with the prevailing breezes across this range of Central Florida and you've got a course that can play very differently every time.
Dye's layout of Black Bear invites you to bring your big sticks out early and often. Elevated tees, no forced carries and generous landing areas give you the opportunity to "grip it and rip it" off the tee. It's the dynamic differences in elevation between the fairways and the severely undulated, extremely asymmetrical greens that can measure up to 60-yards from front to back that truly test golfers of all skill levels.
A sharp eye on the pin-sheet in every cart is essential to success at Black Bear with greens that average 41 yards deep. A perfect example is the par-3 15th that's 138-yards from the tips to the center of the green, but with strategic pin placements front and back and a hump in the middle of a green that's 61-yards deep, you can see where club choices can change dramatically. Same thing for the par-3 11th, with a tri-level green that's also 61-yards deep, a prime reason the hole is rated the fourth toughest on the course, a rarity for a par-3. Another favorite might be another par-3, the 147-197 yard fifth where both tee and green are elevated, and you do not want to miss the green in any direction because of its severe slope off the sides. If the pro says he's never sure what to hit at the fifth, how will any of the rest of us know for sure?
 Another signature of Black Bear is the size and number of the bunkers around the course. Dye took advantage of the course's location near an old sand quarry and put 120 natural-sand bunkers around the course, many of them enormous. One particularly large bunker greenside at #17 is actually two-stories below the green. Talk about elevating a sand wedge! Be careful playing with the locals at the 17th. Conventional wisdom says to play the slight dogleg-right to the left of one of the few trees on the links-style layout, especially with out-of-bounds on the right. But Black Bear veterans often play to the right of the tree, flirting with O-B, but knowing a good drive will catch a landing strip of fairway that will shorten the hole by a good 30 yards.
The signature of Black Bear might not come in any of the first 18 holes, but in having a fully-functional, 75-yard over-the-water-carry 19th hole to settle any wagers that need extra play. Interestingly for a Florida course, the 19th is one of only two holes with water truly in play, sharing a lake with the par-4 18th. Because of the lack of water, some players brag they can play Black Bear with one golf ball. How many times they hit, and especially putted, that ball should be your next question.
A much-appreciated feature of Black Bear is its exceptional practice facility featuring a driving range that can be used from either end, a 40,000 square-foot practice area with bunkers and greens, now the home of the Black Bear Golf Academy. A less-appreciated feature is what's underneath the well-manicured turf under the ball.
 All that sand means the course drains exceedingly well, meaning Black Bear was playable, and played often, the day after each of the hurricanes that swept through the area last summer. The hurricanes did re-arrange the cover to the back patio of the clubhouse, giving the Carsons good reason to remodel the patio that will now feature a wonderful outdoor fireplace as well as additional dining space. This will compliment the Bear's Den Grill which has been serving breakfast and lunch since its opening. Dinner will soon be offered on weekends.
Black Bear's not the easiest course in Florida to find, but our staff has become quite proficient at giving directions. Feel free to call (352) 357-4732 or 1-800-423-2718 for some help getting to this true "destination" course that will not disappoint. The Canadian Tour held its qualifying school here in late 2004. Black Bear played host to the Hooters Tour's ranking tournament and has also been a qualifying site for the U.S. Amateur.
The growth of the area around Black Bear Golf Club testifies that this is where Florida golf is going. Commitments have been made for over 400 new homes around Black Bear, most around the fringes of the links-land, but all close enough for the short drive, to Orlando, or the first tee, of a course you're going to want to play more than once.
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