Black Bear Golf Club
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6673 yards | 72.4 | 129 |
| Blue | 72 | 6334 yards | 70.7 | 126 |
| White | 72 | 5883 yards | 68.6 | 123 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5883 yards | 74.3 | 132 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4785 yards | 67.8 | 120 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 71.3/132 | 384 | 506 | 445 | 406 | 195 | 566 | 204 | 343 | 441 | 3490 | 382 | 148 | 385 | 555 | 164 | 275 | 496 | 389 | 389 | 3183 | 6673 |
| Blue M: 69.7/130 W: 75.3/141 | 369 | 484 | 422 | 396 | 185 | 535 | 193 | 311 | 420 | 3315 | 360 | 143 | 370 | 528 | 154 | 255 | 480 | 357 | 372 | 3019 | 6334 |
| White M: 67.9/123 W: 72.9/135 | 349 | 451 | 394 | 386 | 158 | 500 | 142 | 295 | 400 | 3075 | 335 | 123 | 350 | 496 | 137 | 234 | 455 | 340 | 342 | 2812 | 5887 |
| Gold M: 63.8/118 | 320 | 386 | 371 | 315 | 133 | 441 | 135 | 256 | 307 | 2664 | 281 | 118 | 340 | 368 | 114 | 230 | 384 | 275 | 302 | 2412 | 5076 |
| Red W: 67.5/125 | 240 | 382 | 329 | 310 | 120 | 437 | 122 | 251 | 305 | 2496 | 266 | 103 | 335 | 366 | 111 | 164 | 380 | 267 | 297 | 2289 | 4785 |
| Handicap | 9 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 10 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 11 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
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Course Details
Rentals/Services
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Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage CartsAvailable Facilities
Showers, LockersReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by EQuiza34 on 05/28/2026
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Photo submitted by SoberDan97 on 04/10/2024
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Photo submitted by SoberDan97 on 10/31/2023
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Photo submitted by jul04 on 09/17/2023
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Photo submitted by fengbingolf on 06/03/2022
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Photo submitted by Keith2180142 on 05/27/2022
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#13 Photo submitted by DilonUnderPar on 08/17/2020
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#4 Photo submitted by DilonUnderPar on 08/17/2020
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Photo submitted by johnpmooney on 11/05/2014
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Photo submitted by u000006480491 on 07/19/2014
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Hole #7 Photo submitted by NiceBalls on 10/24/2013
Good Test for Intermediate Players
First time out at this course and was surprised at the height of the rough, four to six inches. The fairways were well maintain but soft from recent rains. Many greens are under repair at this time and should be in very good shape in two months. The course tested my patience, but, I'd definitely would go back - beautiful area of New Jersey
very nice, but a few greens in very bad condition
For the most part, this course's layout and diversity of holes is great. The staff is happy and kind. Conditions are very nice for the most part, but there are a handful of greens that are garbage. Many of them are being worked on, but when you spend this much on 18 holes, I would expect better.
Green Issues - you should be told!
I have played this course many times however it is not suffering from burnt out or diseased greens. You should be told before playing! About ten greens are a mess and putting is impossible. There is one temporary green - which they do tell you about before playing - many others force you to take two putts and move on. Disappointing!
greens in need of rescue
Excellent layout, usually in great condition. This year the greens need major rehabilatation. If you reach greens just take 2 puts and leave.
Don't even try
i played yesterday aug.23rd friday
most of greens are worst than fairway.
i don't even want to pay no more than $15.00 incl. cart
Little tight course
Love the drops playing on a tight mountain course. Greens were slow most of the holes. Greens were either burned out or has disease because there were alot of brown spots. Course would of receive better rating if starter or staff mention about the greens before I tee off.
Half of the Greens are gone. Like putting on the beach.
We left Black Bear golf course after only 3 holes. The green were very bad. It was like putting on the Jersey Shore beach. Nothing but sand. We went to Ballyowen and the course was in great shape there.
Greens were a mess
This course can seriously tinker with being a 4 or 5 star however greens were basically unacceptable. I am unsure if that was wy the golf deal was great, but I would have definitely asked for a refund if I paid the normal price.
average - greens are an issue
guys/ladies.....do not play this course untill next spring. As a former greens keeper this is a botched aeration. I dont see how this greens keep isn't fire by now. Im hosting an outing here in October and there is no way these greens will heal in time. Save yourself 75$ and play somewhere else. Major dissappointment and a shame.
1 positive...customer service was excellent. Also, they gave me 40$ off for any future round there...why not 40$ off for this round?!
Great Course, if you don't need to putt!
This course has a beautiful layout. The problem was that 10 out of the 18 greens were unplayable. Large patches of fine sand covered the small amount of grass that was still available and the machine used to aerate the surface made the greens impossible to putt. My complaints fell on deaf ears and no offer of a return greens fee or at least a discount was offered. I suggest you call first and ask about the course conditions before spending any hard earned cash at this course.
Greens unplayable
Black bear is a great course but unfortunately over half of the greens are totally unplayable with almost no grass on them. The course gave us a voucher for $40.00 off next round but they should tell people upfront about the greens. My advice is not to play there this year regardless of price. I hope they can fix their greens over the winter. When in good condition this is a course I highly recommend.
Is this the green or the bunker I'm putting on?
This course in the spring is nice. Come back in August and you will regret it. All the greens were absolutely terrible! 80% of every green was complete dirt and sand, ball marks, waste of time trying to putt on. Grass clippings all over the place, the fairway was more of a first cut and the rough was worse than a US Open course. How they can charge anything over $20 is beyond me. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND THE TRIP!
Greens
The course can be really nice but due to weather this year 8 or 10 greens are in terrible conditions. The discount rates make up for that but you can really putt on some of the greens
the coarse would be better if the putting green was mainained.
The coarse has nice views but the putting green was not maintained at all. There was no grass near the flag. The coarse should be definitely discounted.
This course is a disaster - stay away
I normally would not complain about a course that is a little out of shape, but Black Bears greens are so destroyed this course should be closed. The only warning we got was that the greens had been aerated. At least 1/2 of the greens were unplayable and have been destroyed. Literally dirt and sand with no grass. They offered a small discount because of the aeration. It was still a major rip-off as the course was unplayable. Black Bear was completely unprofessional on this one. Stay away from this course
6-7 of the greens are UNPLAYABLE !!!
STAY AWAY !!! 6-7 of the "greens" do not exist as a golf-able surface for any location on this planet including Siberia in winter. Hope Black Bear get this fixed because I have played there for the past 8 years and it's sad to see this happen.
This course is usually in pristine condition and very challenging. However, course had at least 15 burnt out greens.
Golf Now should have been notified and posted that approximately 15 greens are completely sand and burnt out.
Patrons should have been warned.
This course is very challenging and beautiful. However, the greens situation was very poor.
Greens were in very poor condition.
I did get a call after booking on Golfnow that the greens were aerated with the option to cancel. I chose to play, the greens were aerated, but about 7 of them had no grass on them at all.
condition is very bad
all the way very bad green is bad too should be close and need maintained the course
Greens Terrible
I like the course seems like a great layout. On 8/12/13 when I played the Course MOST of the greens were awful something killed most of the grass and greens covered with sand and bouncy I'm sure they are trying to repair the damage but will probably take awhile curiosly the ones visible from clubhouse in good shape