REVIEW PART TWO OF FIVE – WEEKEND GETAWAYS – CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT – 81 holes in 2 days  - BALLYOWEN – a great golf experience

ARTICLE

HUNTERDON COUNTY Multiple, well respected business and finance magazines have concluded that in the current state of the economy most American families are taking vacations for a shorter period of time and are taking that vacation much closer to home than usual. With this in mind THE HC NEWS review team took off to the Crystal Springs Resort to see if this location might be an ideal family/golf/weekend getaway for Hunterdon residents, and we are happy to report that it has a number of unique qualities that  make it an ideal place to rejuvenate a hard worked soul.

Right off the bat we must mention that our contact person, Natasha Wright – director of marketing - was an absolute joy to deal with. She set up a flawless schedule of golf, arranged for a wonderful suite, made sure we ate in comfort and was available 24/7 for any questions we had. Our interaction with her made the weekend that much more enjoyable than we would have imagined.

Crystal Springs Resort - http://www.crystalgolfresort.com  is located exactly 52.8 miles from the bridge on Main Street in Clinton. If you travel up route 206 to route 94 during non rush hours it will take you an hour and five minutes to arrive at the grand Cascade Lodge - http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/content/category.aspx?SID=13&CID=169 

From that location high upon the hill there are 7 golf courses under the crystal umbrella.

On Saturday afternoon we ventured out to Ballyowen golf links. The statement in life that you never get a second chance to make a firsts impression runs true here for this Scottish style course. Right from the start the staff was polite, upbeat, in a fantastic mood and they showed it to you in every manner they possibly could from the guys taking the clubs out of the car and cleaning them before we started, to the starter who instead of telling us to do this or that, asked us if we would play the ninety degree rule and fix our ball marks and divots, to the girl in the beverage cart who made it a point on a 95 plus degree day to loop around to us every third hole as requested to we could stay hydrated. We cannot say enough great things about how we were treated, bravo to all.

The course was in fantastic condition, the fairways gave you great lies, the greens ran true and the rough, though penal, was fair. The high rye grass was a killer but the fairways were wide enough that you had to be wayward to hit it in there, or greedy over some carries. The pictures below should speak for themselves. If you are going to play 36 holes here in a day there is no question that you should make the Big B one of your loops. This gets the highest HC NEWS rating.

Let's go to the course.

A very friendly ranger

Right to left tee ball starting out at the bunkers on the right is just fine, it's tight though. A good shot gives you an op to get there in two

Water, though visual, is not in play, bunkers, as usual, to be avoided at all costs. 

Its all in your mind, the water is in play only if you let it be. the green is very receptive but as you might imagine the back bunker gets a lot of action.

Wide open fairway - smack it and smile.

The second shot is straight uphill to this two tiered green, take another club, long better than short.

Another grip and rip, the fairway is wide and welcoming

Second shot is tricky, guarded both side by bunkers the landing strip is tight if you don't make a nice swipe, take an extra club for a deep green.

This is the view from behind

Down hill drive, hit it right to left if you can, if not play over the left side lip of the fairway.

Second shot straight down the pipe, beware the front bunker

visually intimidating, the water reaches out to the front. Hit it long and you have to play out of the bunkers  back toward the water, never a wonderful moment. Bailing out right and short is not uncommon.

You must bang hard on the tee. Its a long way up the hill.

Aim toward the let bunker, it gives you an opportunity to cream a fairway wood to the green.

This is the view just over the hill behind the bunker.

Up up and away to the clubhouse, hugging the right side makes it shorter, but it does put the long rough into play, be careful.  The green is straight uphill - you need at least one extra club.

  And as always a kind gesture as you leave the front gate.