Chrystal Springs Golf Resort?

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Has anyone played here?

Was wondering about the Chrystal Springs golf resort in Northern NJ. Has anyone played any of the courses? Are they all in one location???

[kenan]

Wild Turkey, Crystal Springs and Balleyown are close together..the others you will need to drive. Have played all many times, while the layouts are good, the condition of the courses and pace of play are awful.

[Johnny_Fairway]

Any recent thoughts on Crystal Springs? We're considering a long weekend family getaway, which would include young kids. Golf is important, but any feedback on the accommodations and non-golf activities would also be appreciated.

[Sh00terMcgavin]

I love playing up there. Ballyowen is just about top public course in NJ. great layout. I always find Wild turkey to be the most fun. Ive always had good conditions. Cascades is great if you are playing with a whole family. Not very difficult but fun for everyone to play. I have never stayed there but I have eaten at the restaraunts there and the food has been great. I think I have only had problems with pace of play on Wild turkey once. Never seem to have an issue. Beautiful resort area and some great views.

[ani5009]

Any recent thoughts on Crystal Springs? We're considering a long weekend family getaway, which would include young kids. Golf is important, but any feedback on the accommodations and non-golf activities would also be appreciated.

 

I've only stayed there once, but I have played the golf courses many many times. The room was decent, nothing fancy but it was fairly expensive for just one night with it being kind of plain. The restaurants are all very good, and they have a really nice bar/lounge area as well. There's also a really big pool area that I would assume is open to guests of the resort that gets really crowded during the summer (IIRC it's like right behind Wild Turkey's #1 tee box which can be a little annoying).

[SouthShoreLIgolfer]

Any recent thoughts on Crystal Springs? We're considering a long weekend family getaway, which would include young kids. Golf is important, but any feedback on the accommodations and non-golf activities would also be appreciated.

I have stayed here on a few occasions and played most of the courses. There are 2 hotels owned by Crystal Springs, Minerals and Grand Cascades, the latter being nicer and more expensive. Check the packages as they seem to always have discounts on stays and golf and activities including free tix to Mountain creek water park. Family golf on the 9 hole minerals course is nice b/c its fairly cheap and they have 4 person carts. Cascades is a great 9 hole layout that also has 10 inch cups. Ballyowen is the best of the bunch and most $ and a 5-10 min drive away. Wild Turkey and Crystal Springs are next to Grand Cascades lodge. Crystal Springs is a difficult track with narrow fairways, moguls, and great par 3's. They also reopened the Great Gorge golf course formerly owned by Playboy and that course is closer to the Minerals hotel. Hope this helps.

[MaitriMike]

Crystal springs is a gimmicky course. I played there twice, at first it was cool, but second time around, just wasn't worth the $ and time to get there. Wild Turkey and Ballyowen are much better and well worth it.

[nsxguy]

At Crystal Springs, if the rough is UP, you'd better stay on the fairways or you'll have a miserable day.

 

If the rough is cut it's a difficult track but playable,

[HiSpeed48]

For Crystal Springs you need to be comfortable hitting from uneven lies to play well. The course is a mogul field. I enjoy the challenge but it does get a bit frustrating when you're bombing your drives but getting awkward lies. It's a great layout though and makes for an interesting round of golf.

[Sh00terMcgavin]

Crystal springs is a gimmicky course. I played there twice, at first it was cool, but second time around, just wasn't worth the $ and time to get there. Wild Turkey and Ballyowen are much better and well worth it.

 

Completely agree. Living 30 minutes away from it, it is a cool track to play ONCE in your life. I still believe it is in the top 50 hardest courses in the U.S. Great layout. Honestly, if they could ditch the fairway moguls, I think it would take the course to the next level. The fairway moguls are just so bad, sometimes asking for a broken wrist that it makes me not want to play it anymore. I agree that Ballyowen an Wild Turkey are much better tracks

[Johnny_Fairway]

I ended up booking Seaview after looking at Cyrstal Springs. Seaview is a nice two course property with plenty of other courses nearby.