mayday:
Follow the advice of Mr. Doyle.
Crystal Springs is a Von Hagge design and when it opened in 1991 (?) it featured an abundance (overkill I might add) of moguls that made the course look more like a ski ramp than a golf course. They have been softened over the course of time and the playability aspect of the course has become a bit more relaxed although if one is spraying the ball just a tad you will encounter a number of "interesting" lies.
The course is roughly 6,800 yards from the tips and the slope is quite high as it should be for the uneven terrain you face.
The best holes?
There are a few ...
The drop-shot par-3 10th at about 180 yards is really quite good and one of the best of its kind that I have played. You tee off a ledge that swings around a quarry and the green is located below. The putting surface swings like a serpent in all kinds of directions. Generally, the club places the pin in the front half because it affords a more easier approach. When the pin is placed in the left rear or center rear the demands increase dramatically.
The par-5 11th is also quite good although the drive zone is a tight fit. The hole plays 550 yards and you just HAVE to find the fairway as it falls off on both sides. The green is nicely located with a water filled quarry protecting the left two-thirds of the target.
I also like the par-4 15th at 415 yards. Here the hole reminds you moe of a TPC holes than something in the Jersey outer suburbs. The tee shot calls for a slight fade and then you have an approach over a bulkheaded green. When the pin is placed in the far dead right the demands go up many times. Anything short is deader than Elvis and anything long requires a calculator to figure out your score. Yet, the hole is very fair provided you understand your limits.
One other hole of note is the 425-430 9th. The hole is an uphill dog-leg right to a green that has to be seen to be believed. The hole has water on the left (there used to be more trees on that side but they've since been cut down for houses) and the fairway does bob and weave a bit. The green has three unique sections and if the pin is placed in the lower left area you have to be sure not to fly too deep onto the green because it's a sure three-putt at minimum.
Overall -- Crystal Springs accentuates demands because of the tight configuration of the property and the amount of wetlands that encircles that layout. There is also an issue with carts paths because on a number of times they will insist you stay on them and this can be a hassle when you hit the ball on the far side of the path.
When playing the course you will find a number of compromises regarding the final holes. I have always believed the layout needed one less par-3 and par-5 in order to up the ante in terms of overall shotmaking. Von Hagge opted to go another direction and I think the course suffers because of it.
In terms of quality you will be best served in playing Ballyowen -- one of the 3-4 best public courses you can play in NJ. The course is on a better piece of land the Rulewich design maxes out the qualities in a more comprehensive and fairer fashion. Just realize that Ballyowen will be about $30-$40 more to play. If you want to play something that costs about what you're charged at Crystal Springs you can also play Wild Turkey -- also a Rulewich design that's connected to the facility -- it's a bit better in terms of its design although it's best holes aren't of the quality you find at Crystal but it's an overall better designed layout -- check out the par-3 7th if you do!
P.S. The original 18th hole at Crystal Springs will now serve as the 1st hole as the ownership intends to have a new clubhouse serving that course and the upcoming 6th new course, which will also be designed by Roger Rulewich and likely to open in 2 years. Hope this helps ...
