Crystal Springs Golf Club
About
Crystal Springs Golf Club in Hamburg touts a reputation of being not only the most challenging golf course in New Jersey, but also one of the most challenging layouts east of the Mississippi. The site filled with water after its use as a limestone quarry in 1929, which formed the natural springs on the 10th hole that the course is named after. The layout is definitely a shot-maker's course. Carefully sculpted mounding that frames the fairways and greens defines each hole. There is also tall and gnarly rough treacherously guarding the tight fairways. The golf course sits just a few miles from New Jersey's highest point, sprawling across an undulating terrain that makes it difficult to find an even lie. One of the most notably difficult, and subsequently the most talked about, holes is the 11th. The hole is perched atop a cliff overlooking the Windsor Quarry.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Black | 72 | 6816 yards | 73.5 | 139 |
Blue | 72 | 6395 yards | 71.4 | 132 |
White | 72 | 5862 yards | 69.1 | 123 |
White (W) | 72 | 5862 yards | 75.0 | 130 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5073 yards | 70.1 | 126 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 73.2/148 | 563 | 420 | 433 | 485 | 153 | 406 | 419 | 553 | 153 | 3585 | 413 | 186 | 541 | 165 | 564 | 140 | 416 | 410 | 396 | 3231 | 6816 |
Blue M: 71.3/144 | 536 | 393 | 406 | 455 | 133 | 376 | 399 | 526 | 140 | 3364 | 380 | 186 | 508 | 145 | 552 | 125 | 389 | 383 | 363 | 3031 | 6395 |
White M: 69.0/135 W: 74.9/138 | 503 | 356 | 383 | 403 | 113 | 343 | 366 | 493 | 130 | 3090 | 347 | 160 | 475 | 125 | 524 | 105 | 356 | 350 | 330 | 2772 | 5862 |
Red M: 67.2/131 W: 70.1/127 | 453 | 313 | 323 | 375 | 100 | 303 | 332 | 443 | 106 | 2748 | 297 | 85 | 425 | 100 | 465 | 85 | 306 | 300 | 280 | 2343 | 5091 |
Handicap | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 12 | |||
Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 7 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage CartsLodging
Lodging AvailableAvailable Facilities
Showers, LockersAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in New Jersey (2015 #8)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by mstein81 on 08/23/2023
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Photo submitted by mstein81 on 08/23/2023
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Photo submitted by tkochester on 10/28/2022
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Photo submitted by tkochester on 10/28/2022
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Photo submitted by Joel3054231 on 07/29/2021
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#11 Photo submitted by DrOldSchool on 05/15/2014
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Photo submitted by matrixgroupusa on 05/15/2014
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Photo submitted by matrixgroupusa on 05/15/2014
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by ccsing on 10/10/2013
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Photo submitted by u000001831352 on 06/26/2013
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Photo submitted by u000001831352 on 06/26/2013
Beautiful and extremely challenging
Truly beautiful course that lives up to its ranking as a top 50 most challenging course in the country.
Course was in excellent condition (aside from bunkers that were rather rocky) and the natural rocks populating the course are a sight to behold.
Every single fairway has extreme undulations that make a flat lie impossible and more than half the tees shots leave very little room for error. The greens were extremely difficult as well but rolled very true.
Good...
Working staff average. Carpet only. Green was good.
Hate the layout and deplorable condition
This was such a disappointment . More driving the golf cart than actual playing . The course could be decent but the condition is dreadful , fairways were punched , Tee boxes are not flat , and awful condition ., holes are spread so far apart that could not get a flow . You will be driving on sidewalks and cross at least 2 streets to get to the following hole. 3/ 10 in my opinion
Not what it used to be
I've always enjoyed the layout at Crystal (except for a couple holes (#8 & #14 come to mind). The conditions are good outside of the awful tee boxes, but the experience isn't what it used to be.
The company/people who run the place have clearly emphasized the "resort" aspect of it, yet it doesn't provide any amenities you'd expect for the elevated prices and the way they market it. Everything about Crystal Springs Resort screams money grab these days. It wasn't always like that. Just look at the absurd prices over at Ballyowen or Wild Turkey, but I digress...
No range balls available - the ball dispenser was empty and nobody was working to fill it. Attendants at check in did the absolute bare minimum. Empty water coolers on the course. No beverage cart. Tee boxes that looked like the surface of the moon. Carts that sound terrible and drive slow. Course set up was inconsistent - some holes were tipped out, most were not and the tee markers were lined up in succession about 10-15 yards apart on a few par 3's. Very lazy course setup and it looks like they are de-emphasizing the black tees (scorecard was 6,500 yards, not 6,800 + like it used to be). Then you have the pace of play, which was horrendous. Waiting on every single shot and no ranger anywhere. We didn't see a single employee after the starter.
My advice: play the course if you really want to, but don't expect much and make sure you get a good deal. It's not worth more than $65 in my opinion. It's a unique and very challenging layout, but nothing more than that. Management should go back to making it all about the golf and less about the resort nonsense, as it was years ago. It's a good golf course for better players. If you're a beginner, a 10+ handicap or you expect first class amenities, this isn't the course for you.
Sad state of affairs
Crystal has always been my favorite course. It’s challenging, but scorable for good players. Unfortunately, ownership has shifted all attention to catering to the “resort” crowd and therefore ignored the normal needs of your weekend golfer. Rates are extraordinarily high, pace of play was 5 hours, tee boxes were all ripped up, staff was focused on guests of the resort, not the golf course. There were no range ball available before the range, the machine was just empty and no staff seemed to care. What a horrible experience.. We stood around and waited on every shot we hit.
Updated review
Played 7.30 am on Monday morning.
Greens were excellent as usual and the fairways were soft despite the drought
Perhaps some places are a little extreme
Hit a 7 iron on first at pin and came up 20 ft short and lost ball in heavy rough just off the green
No need to make it that tough and slows down play as spent minutes looking for ball
Rough walking off with double
Set of par 3 are excellent.. 5th, 9th and 11th are world class
Although can not remember the last time i saw the dam on 9th full of water
Great Challenge for good golfers
Toughest public courses lived up to its ranking. Notwithstanding very scenic holes, wide variety of hole layouts, it’s still possible to shoot close to your handicap with smart play. Greens are in excellent condition and fast!
Great Deal
Played the course for $70 with cart and small range bucket. Narrow fairways and blind shots means you have to think. Would be nice if there was a map of the hole on the tee box.
Add 10+ score here
Course is beautiful and well maintained. Accuracy is the key here fairway is so tight even your tee shot hit the fairway, your next shot could be on anywhere. Great course but you wouldn't come back if you ever played on Wild turkey or Ballyowen.
Outing removes Rangers
Rangers had to be busy regulating an outing, no reason a Tuesday afternoon round should take 5:25 to play