Aerial view from Crystal Springs Golf Club.
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4.2
312 Reviews (312)
5 Stars
128
4 Stars
123
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
6
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.2
88.4%
Recommend this course
265 out of 312 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
36 Reviews (36)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.4
88.9%
Recommend this course
32 out of 36 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
54 Reviews (54)
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
21
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.2
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.5
88.9%
Recommend this course
48 out of 54 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private/Resort
Par 72
Length 6816 yards
Slope 139
Rating 73.5

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.

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Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Bentgrass
Greens Bentgrass
Golf Season Open: 3/15 Closed: 12/12
Architect Robert von Hagge (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Showers, Lockers

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in New Jersey (2015 #8)

Reviews

4.2
312 Reviews (312)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 22
Dinner 15
19th Hole Scenic Views 10
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 38
Bunkers 37
Undulating Greens 36
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 32
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 28
A Weekend Splurge 18
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 36
Worth the Drive 35
In the 'Burbs 12

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Did not finish round

Will not play again if this is the norm .tee time 1145 all good we were only on #16 at 5 o'clock could not take it .when we drove back to clubhouse a group on 17 fairway just teed off no one on green and not a sole anywhere to be found on 18 this 4 some backed up course for hours . Group ahead of us tried playing thru to no avail

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always challenging

Love this place, but haven't played it in years. I was surprised how much it's changed over the years, a lot of housing has been built around it.

Same, spectacular holes though, same maddening mounds, tight holes and tricky greens. Quarry par 3 is still breathtaking and fun. The course plays a lot longer than it seems, many uphill greens require a forced carry..

The course is in great shape, but the cart paths are really beat up.

Pace of play was good, a lot of travel between holes keep groups spaced.

Not much for food after the round though, the one restaurant was booked and bar was full..

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Toughest Best Course in NJ

Extremely challenging course which was very scenic and some of the holes were incredible views over water. Plenty of blind shots and hard to score on this course but so much fun. Never played a place like this even though I ve played the other courses at the resort. Got out at 7am on a beautiful sunny, chilly morning. Hitting down into the quarry was incredible experience.
I ll be back soon. Staff was knowledgeable and extremely professional. Greens were quick and well maintained. Great day of golf

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens needle tined smaller version of aeration

Oh, I absolutely love Crystal Springs. All of the golf courses are phenomenal even Ballyowen even blackbear Ballyowen too overrated too expensive for what it is but playing crystal Springs the other day amazing layout as usual but the greens boys and girls you guys slight air if Acacian obviously, you do it every year at this time but the price charged does not deem, said conditions on top of we need to be explaining to other guests that Piece of clay needs to be adhere to. I don’t drive all the way to Crystal Springs to watch for Asian ladies pack up the golf course and then lose things drive all the way back trying to find things and your 2 1/2 hours in after 10 holes no good but that can be worked on. You guys need to start explaining to people that if there is not their private golf course, this is a public golf course that piece of fleet needs to be adhere to and again if we are aerating greens, you can’t be banging people out full price because the course conditions do not deem such exorbitant prices, but I will be back. I love the golf course and when conditions are right, the place is banging . Thanks again

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Sanded green

All greens were sanded. Putted good but need to know without.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
1Q
Played On
Reviews 162
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The resort owners need to completely redo the cart paths. They are tired and in disrepair. Additionally they should make the transitions into and off of the cart paths smoother. You have to cross roads many times as well as throughout the many private residential communities in the resort.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Very nice course, was wet so cart path only was not pleasant. Totally understand, but was hot & unpleasant. We will be back 100%

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very Tough Course

Very tough but excellent condition. More staff needed as a society had been in and it was chaos getting a cart. Also more drinks carts needed. Long round too 4hr 40mins with a cart so give yourself time

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Awesome

The course was I great shape from tee to greens. Had a great experience. Will definitely play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Gorgeous and incredibly challenging

When people said this course was one of the most difficult in the nation, I didn't take it seriously. I should have. This is the hardest course I have ever played. Very narrow fairways, hilly rolling terrain, plenty of thick forest to eat your ball, and it felt like every other shot was blind. Great course, but very very hard.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Beautiful course with many different hole layouts. Only issue was that bunkers were hard as a rock and didn’t even look playable on some holes. For the $ we spend playing this course, that should be fixed.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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