Black Bear GC
A view from Black Bear Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.2
529 Reviews (529)
5 Stars
186
4 Stars
191
3 Stars
72
2 Stars
38
1 Stars
42
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.1
88.6%
Recommend this course
433 out of 529 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
6 Reviews (6)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.2
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
100.0%
Recommend this course
6 out of 6 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
45 Reviews (45)
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
91.1%
Recommend this course
41 out of 45 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 6673 yards
Slope 129
Rating 72.4

Black Bear Golf Club is part of the Crystal Springs Resort, which offers six other courses, though, it's hard to remember they're connected since they each offer a distinct character and look. Unlike Ballyowen and Crystal springs, two of the resort's most well known courses, Black Bear has more of a parkland layout. The course tumbles across rolling hills covered with trees, which come into play along the undulating fairways and greens. Water only comes into play on three holes but there are a whopping 65 bunkers coming into play. It's challenging but not frustrating. Both low and high handicappers will enjoy not only the golf course but also the beautiful scenery. Black Bear is one of the best values in the area and has garnered a strong local following.

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Course Details

Year Built 1996
Fairways Ryegrass
Greens Bentgrass
Golf Season Open: 3/15 Closed: 12/31
Architect Jack Kurlander (1996) David Glenz (1996)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "David Leadbetter Golf Academy"
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Showers, Lockers

Accolades

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Reviews

4.2
529 Reviews (529)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 24
Dinner 11
Patio Dining 11
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 35
Bunkers 30
Narrow Fairways 22
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 33
Advanced Golfers 21
Locals 20
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 26
In the 'Burbs 21
At a Resort 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

in beautiful hilly country, this is an ugly course

Don't get me wrong. The course is reasonably well maintained. Tees, fairways and greens were all in at least average shape or better. But there is something lacking in the aesthetics of this course. The signature hole (7) a par 3 over water. Well the water is this murky shade of grey probably left over from some mining activity and the backdrop are all these high voltage electric lines that run straight thru the heart of the course. And the design seems very forced. Many times you can't park your cart near the green and sometimes you have to double back over the same cart path to get to the next hole. It is not hilly really since you are going along the valley but the sides of every hole seem to be hilly. And the course always seems to be parched in the areas that the sprinklers don't reach since i guess all the water runs down to the valley. I guess i would play here again if it were the only option but, for a resort course, it gives you the feeling you are on a muni.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout

Great course a challenge for every level of player

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Ok but..

First - I like the course design and the facility. Very scenic.

But I was annoyed with the pace of play and the requirement this day for cart path only as the course was dry and "cart path only" very much degrades the pace of play.

Good value for the money. Some par 4s are short which gives thought to something but the drive which is good.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

If your in the area you should play here some challenging holes

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Black Bear Review

Good course; fair value. This is the least expensive course in the Crystal Spring group.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Perfect day !

Great round, perfect day, greens just aerated only issue , otherwise beautiful course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

The only issue I had was that the greens had just been aerated and were in pretty rough shape. However, The price for the day was heavily discounted for this reason. Might be worth avoiding when they're going their work.

This is a beautiful course with challenges from changing elevations and narrow fairways. On a busy day, the pace was pretty good.

The only other complaint is that the bunkers were in terrible shape. More rocks and dirt than sand. Some were like hitting off concrete.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

BEAUTIFUL COURSE !

One of the NICEST courses around the North Jersey area FOR SURE !! Course was in almost PRISTINE CONDITION - fairways, greens, tee boxes were all in FANTASTIC shape. The only SLIGHT complaint is the BUNKERS ! Not much sand at all in them so you were basically hitting off of HARD PACKED DIRT ! I've seen this A LOT playing here AND in Pennsylvania so I guess making sure there's sand in the bunkers must be a lot more EXPENSIVE then you think !

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Golf

Pace of play was really great played in 4hours. All player assistance employees were very helpful when needed.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

HORRIBLE tee sheet management

11:57 tee time -- tee'd off at 12:20 thanks to an outing going on that they tried to put 4somes out in between gaps...we pulled into the clubhouse after 18 holes at 5:15. completely unacceptable.

we should've been given a free drink at least to ease the pain.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Where is the sand?

Great course but another year that the crystal springs resorts has forgotten that sand goes in the traps!!! Nothing but dirt and rocks...horrible. Might as well make them grass traps. Guess if we keep giving them money they don't care what material it is

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Excellent Conditions

Great conditions-excellent shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course

The course is a very narrow and not a lot of room to work with. Specially since most holes are driving. Other than that the course was beautiful

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This is challenging.

Beware of the Par 5's and bring your Driver because you're gonna need it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Black Bear, Vernon, NJ

Played Black Bear on Friday, June 4th with 2 friends. Course was in great shape. Staff were very helpful. Enjoyed having a free bucket of balls before play. I highly recommend this challenging course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Black Bear

The course and staff were great, slow play killed the day, but the Minerals Spa deal with the round is AWESOME.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

good day

good day for golf only drawback was the aerating on some fairways I know it has to b done just annoying

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Excellent late season northeast golf

Given the time of year...12/27... course was plush and well groomed. Greens were in good shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Day

Even after the heavy rains the night before the course was in very good shape. We had great weather and an all around great round of golf.

Due to late season the price couldn't be beat. Will definetly play again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

healthy

the elevated greens & tees with the narrow fairways & dog legs say you better pay attention . Play it longer then it says ,its all carry.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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