Course 145: Crystal Lake GC

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Crystal Lake has undergone several changes in the last few years. A housing development forced the course to be rerouted, causing it to lose flow and any charm it might have had.

The opening stretch of holes is narrow, highlighted by a tight first tee shot and a long par-3 second. Hole Nos. 4 and 5 bring players to and along Crystal Lake for a peek at the water.

There is a bit more space to play golf after the fifth hole, and standing on the tenth tee felt like a breath of fresh air. Flipping the nines might even help with the pace of play as hole Nos. 10-12 are a touch more forgiving from tee to green so players can ease into the round without hunting for balls.

The greens had quite a bit of slope; our group watched plenty of putts rip across cups and tumble down slopes throughout the round. Downhill putts required quite a bit of attention, and missing greens on the proper side is paramount if a player wants to save par.

I hit various clubs off tees, but for the most part, it felt prescriptive. Center-line trees, hard dog legs, and cross hazards limit options. Not much space for risk and reward.

The standout holes were 7 and 17.

The 7th is a bit of a shooting gallery, as the dogleg left runs into the 8th hole if players push their tee shot. The second shot, into a wide, shallow green with a false front is a good one.

The 17th hole is a downhill par-4 dogleg left. It is one of the few holes that gives players a chance to let it rip. The mid-size green slopes from back to front.

The approach to the 4th hole is a blast, but the required tee shot makes it very tough to actually get into a good spot to enjoy it. It plays way downhill; players can use the slope to get their ball to roll onto the green. But a massive tree guards too much of the landing area.

Every course has a place in the grand scheme of the game. As we finished our round, the course was busy with an afternoon league.

While the price is affordable—$40 to walk on a weekday—it's not a course I could imagine wanting to play regularly. Or ever again.

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