Ballyowen Golf Club at Crystal Springs - 7th
Crystal Springs Golf Resort's Ballyowen Golf Club cracked New Jersey's Top 10.
1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, New Jersey 07419, US
(973) 862-4351
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About Crystal Springs Resort

Crystal Springs Resort is a 4,000-acre playground located only an hour across the New Jersey state line from New York City. It is one of the country’s largest golf resorts with six courses - Ballyowen, Black Bear, Cascades, Crystal Springs, Minerals and Wild Turkey – and three driving ranges. The Grand Cascades Lodge houses 220 guest rooms with an inspired welcome: An outdoor putting course leading to an indoor lobby with high ceilings, wood beams and a stone fireplace. Both it and the 175-room Minerals Hotel feature their own spas and pools. Children will love the Biosphere, an indoor pool complex with an aquarium, vortex pool and caves, 140-foot waterslide and café, all in a tropical theme. Twelve restaurants are spread out among the course clubhouses and hotels, delivering a variety of menus and price points. Between the Mineral Sports Club and Adventure Center, there’s always a new activity or program to enjoy.

Facts

Price Range$$$$, $$$
Property Class★★★★
Acres4000
Year Opened1972
Number of Units300-500

Amenities

RestaurantsFine, Bar, Casual
Room TypesRoom, Suite
PoolIndoor
Short CourseYes
TennisYes
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Beach AccessYes
Golf School/AcademyYes
Banquet SpaceYes
SpaYes

Services

Room ServiceYes
ConciergeYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Crystal Springs Resort

Images from Crystal Springs Resort

Reviews

4.1
1620 Reviews (1620)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Payed more than quoted

They charged $3.00 more than the quoted price as a resort fee. I am wondering if such information can be indicated at the time of reservation.

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

Greens were ok

It's a hike but a good track

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Strait to the point

1. Green were horrible. Furry, slow and recently aerated

2. Fairways very ondulated...Which means that great drives will end up giving you and uneven lie.

3. Staff very friendly.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Good course....bad services and hidden fees

Got there and was told we had to pay an additional $3 for a resort fee...never heard of this. Started play on time and then realized that the greens had been recently aerated the greens and had topped them with sand...Could not get a straight line with our puts...we should have been told by somebody so we could make a decision to play or not..Starter asked for cell phone so he could text a barcode for a free beer in the restaurant. We did not receive a text and no one could tell us how we could get the beer we were promised. When leaving a new Land Rover parked in a handicapped zone . Saw the person get out..No stickers or handicapped plates he looked fine...we complained and were told that it was the owner of the place....I guess that makes it ok...I won't be going back

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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 29
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Nice but greens are rough

I played Wild Turkey today and for $40 you can't ask for more. The tees and fairways were in good shape (fairways air aerated) and the pace of play was great. 3:45 for 18 holes.

However, there was no starter so I just walked onto the first tee and paired up with a resident who was starting too. He didn't have many kind things to say about the way the courses have been managed. Can't say I blame him when there is no starter at the booth where 3 golf courses intersect.

The greens were aerated a month ago according to my partner and were in pretty rough shape. Late in the summer season it has to be done, but don't waste your money on a $100 tee time. Spent most of my round fixing ball marks. I saw another reviewer mention the sand on these greens and that is true. When you hit the green, first thing you see is a puff of sand.

Overall, the course is wonderful. Great holes that challenge your game in every way. When the greens are fast and true, this is a great golf course. I will be back.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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 142
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Hard but fun golf course

Lots of trees and blind shots with dog legs. Fun for all levels if you pick the right set of tees. The day i went (3PM) played from the back tees to give me more room on tee shots(first time playing).Course has lots of movement up and down hill and side to side like a ski run.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace 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 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Poor course

Waste money, staff not kind

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

Beautiful area to play golf

Loved this GC it was in great shape and no waiting!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great golf !!!

Excellent golf course in NJ.

Wish to play more often.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent

Good conditions scenic excellent staff

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Beautiful mountaintop golf course

First time at this course, but played other Crystal Springs courses before. By far the more difficult course there. Incredibly beautiful and in good condition. Pace of play a little slow as course was difficult in spots, but fun to play. I would return.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Fair weather
Used cart

Worst money ever spent

Let me start by saying this course did not even have hole number posts. After finding the 1st hole, it was soon than I had realized the course is a complete waste of money, par 3. DO NOT play here unless you are bringing your kids or a family out. Not for serious play.

Value Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Lots of picture taking opportunities

Dramatic views everywhere, staff was super friendly. The course itself is in great condition, except that the people that play it don't do a great job of fixing ball marks and stuff. There was no divot mix on the carts, which was frustrating because of how soft the fairways were.

But if you want to stand on every tee box and say "wow that's gorgeous", this is the perfect place for you.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Golf Board!!

I don't remember the course too much other than some holes were hard and some were easy. I was too busy having fun on the Golf Board! If you're able to you MUST pay the extra $ and go with the board. It's a single rider. And with the ups and downs cart paths of the course it's a thrill itself. Personally I think all golf carts should be single riders, it would speed up play even more.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Mountain Delight

Played w/ a seasoned golfer from Orlando who loved the course. Unfortunately we could not finish because of heavy rain.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 161
Handicap Don't know
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 100 Contributor
New York Advisor
Previously Played

Extremely challenging track, not for the weak minded

One of the hardest tracks I ever played. Course especially from the tips plays very long. A number of the holes have force carry over water and other hazardeous areas. Most greens not only have elevation changes but have surrounded bunkers as well. Fairways are not only extremely narrow, they mostly contain moguls as well. Hitting good tee shots in the fairway ending up with a 2nd shot with the ball close to your knees or way below seems like unfair punishment for hitting good shots. Be prepared to use all the clubs in your bag. Low handicap players will definitely enjoy the challenge this track has to offer. Mid to high handicappers should know what they are getting themselves into and bring extra sleeves of balls.

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