Crystal Highlands Golf Club

I used to play Crystal Highlands quite a bit in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s. Then the course was sold to the Union Pacific Railroad in 2003. Then I learned that Gary Surdyke (a local resident and owner of Surdyke Motorsports) purchased the course in July and opened the course back to the public in early August. I was very excited to hear this news and went down to play it on August 21.

The first thing you notice when you stand on the hill by the clubhouse and overlook the golf course – it looks beautiful. The starter could not have been any nicer. When you play the course, you will notice a few changes have been made.

CHANGES MADE TO COURSE:
The 1st green has been elevated a bit and the trees removed. It looks great. The 2nd green has been moved to the right and elevated quite a bit. The 3rd green looks even more severe than I remember it. Before 2003, 12 of the 18 greens were 2-tiered or more. Now, there is only 7 tiered greens. The 18th green used to be a 4-tiered green, which now has no tiers.

COURSE CONDITIONS:
You will not find better greens than what Crystal Highlands has. These greens are just as good as any top-notch country club. They are scary fast when putting downhill. Many of the greens are large and you will have several 3-putts. All the tees are zoysia and are in great shape. However, the fairways are just ok. The front nine seems to be more of the wiry Bermuda grass and the back nine a mixture of zoysia/Bermuda. You will occasionally find sections which are thin/bare and contain crabgrass. The rough can be difficult because it is a mixture of fescue/Bermuda. Your ball will sink to the bottom and the wiry Bermuda makes it hard to get your club through it. The bunkers are in great shape.

BLIND SHOTS:
Because the course is hilly, there are plenty of blind shots where you need to be cognizant of this, as to not hit into the group in front of you. These are holes 1, 6, 8, 10, 15. There are several shorter par 4’s you need to wait until the green is clear before going for the green. These are holes 2, 12, 14. The tee box of hole 11, is just to the right of the 10th green, which is reachable in two. The course has a consistent presence of rangers but these course characteristics slows down play some.

IMPROVEMENTS:
All the sprinkler heads have yardage on them and some of the cart paths have white and red painted squares (some need to be repainted). It would be nice to have some type of blue, white and red poles just to the side of the fairways. In front of the beautiful par 3, 9th hole, is a large ornamental plant. It blocks the view of the hole and ruins the look of the hole. The trees on the left side of the par 3, 11th hole are starting to block the view of the hole. May need to make the tee box a little larger on the right side.

Everyone needs to travel the 30 miles south of the 270 loop in St. Louis, to play this gem. Haven't been able to play this course for 18 years and you won't be disappointed.