Crystal Springs Golf Resort, Sussex County, New Jersey

By: Jim Weaver

I truly never knew New Jersey had mountains. While there are miles of beaches and scores of casinos to be seen and enjoyed, you need to know where to look to find the mountains. In the very northwestern corner of the state just east of the Delaware Water Gap in Sussex County are the Kittatinny Mountains, and best of all they’re only an hour from Manhattan and Liberty International (Newark) Airport. While these mountains are not the Alps or even the Rockies, they are nevertheless quite beautiful and offer a variety of great recreational opportunities year round.

Located in a pristine mountain valley just outside Hamburg, NJ, Crystal Springs Golf Resort offers outstanding vacation and weekend getaway opportunities for couples, families,
and golfers looking for a variety of world class courses. Crystal Spring boasts seven championship golf courses, unmatched by any other New Jersey resort including Ballyowen, Black Bear, the new Cascades, Crystal Springs, Great Gorge, Minerals and Wild Turkey all located within a 5-mile radius and open to resort guest and the general public.

Ballyowen Golf Club was just named as one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the U.S. by Conde Nast's GolfWorld Magazine. More than 21,000 individual golf courses were evaluated based on thirteen different performance criteria, including quality and condition of the course, reputation/prestige, food/dining, and service.

Boasting a 6,673-yard layout co-designed by famed developer Jack Kurlander and PGA “Golf Instructor of the Year” David Glenz, the nearby Black Bear course offers players an inviting diversity of terrain, scenery, and shot selections.

Cascades is the newest golf course at Crystal Springs Resort. Nationally renowned golf course architect Roger Rulewich, of The Golf Group was responsible for the course’s design -- his third at Crystal Springs Resort. Measuring just 3,627 yards, the course’s design stresses playability.

Crystal Springs Golf Club is recognized as one of the finest golf facilities in the northeastern United States. When it opened in 1992, it was rated among the top 25 new golf courses in America by Golf Digest Magazine. Year after year, Crystal Springs ranks among Golf Digest’s top 10 list for public golf courses in New Jersey.

Crystal Springs is also considered the most challenging layout in New Jersey. Despite measuring just over 6,800 yards from the championship tees, the distinct character of the club can be attributed to designer Robert von Hagge of Houston, Texas, one of the leading golf course architects in the United States.

Great Gorge Country Club is a golfer’s paradise. The George Fazio designed, 27 hole complex was given four stars by Golf Digest. It offers a truly exceptional challenge for golfers of all skill levels. Great Gorge is composed of three separate and distinct nine-hole courses:

The Minerals Golf Club is designed for great family fun. Known locally as the best 9-hole golf course in the region, its Robert Trent Jones-designed layout is perfect for every member of the family. Advanced players can be challenged on a spectacular mountainside layout measuring over 2,305 yards, while younger players have their own tees way ahead of mom and dad.

Wild Turkey is the Crystal Spring Resort’s second Roger Rulewich design, following Ballyowen. Located next to Crystal Springs Golf Club, Wild Turkey’s features two distinct terrain types combine the sheer expansiveness of Ballyowen with the rugged, multileveled nature of Crystal Springs.

The resort features two luxury hotels -- the Minerals Resort & Spa featuring 175 spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms, as well as condominiums, and the Grand Cascades Lodge
offering 250 outstanding 4-star Adirondack style accommodations and world-class amenities.

After a rewarding day of golf, resort guests can head to the spa. Crystal Springs features two award-winning spas - Reflections Spa and Elements Spa. They were recently ranked among the top 20 Spas in America featuring mineral-based treatments and therapies.

Crystal Spring has twelve different restaurants, cafes, and bistros, serving a variety of delicious food. Restaurant Latour, at the Grand Cascades Lodge, is the resorts premiere restaurant. It is known for its fine cuisine, outstanding selection of wines, and impeccable service. Its 64,000 bottle wine cellar (one of the world’s largest), winner of Wine Spectator's Grand Award, is available for tours and group tastings. Latour offers a truly memorable dining experience in every respect. You can even watch a colorful sunset beyond the distant mountain tops while you enjoy your superb dinner.

To learn more view http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/.













James C. Weaver

Travel Editor New York Trend, Metropolitan NYC
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Woods Roars back into Contention at the 2009 Buick Open

Woods roared back into contention in the 2nd Round at the 2009 Buick Invitational with a blazing round of 63. After a lackluster 1-under 71 in the first round Tiger Woods made a classic charge up the leaderboard leaving him at 10 under par heading into the weekend.

Cink Claims 2009 Open Championship as Watson Falters

Tom Watson’s bid to win the 2009 Open Championship came up a bit short. Watson reached the 72nd hole Sunday needing a par to win his 9 major championship and secure the Claret Jug. However, it wasn’t meant to be. After his 2nd shot in the 18th green ran through the back of the green, Watson found himself facing a difficult up and down. He pushed his 3rd shot about 9 feet past the cup and left himself with a testy putt coming back.

Watson stepped up to his ball and made a very tentative stroke missing the cup to the right. The bogey meant that Watson was now in a 4-hole playoff with clubhouse leader Stewart Cink. Watson bogeyed the first playoff hole and never recovered from it. He went on to lose the playoff by six shots. Stewart Cink emerged as the 2009 Open Champion and claimed his first major championship.

This week was filled with compelling storylines and Tom Watson’s gallant effort tops them all. He played like a champion and he deserves the utmost credit and respect.

Congratulations to the 2009 Open Championship Stewart Cink.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Edward S. Wanambwa

www.thegolfwriter.com

'keep it in the short grass"

3rd Round 2009 Open Championship Wrap Up

Tom Watson finds himself holding the 54 hole lead at the 2009 Open Championship. Sunday is shaping up to be a very exciting final round at Turnberry. At the start of this tournament all the buzz was about Tiger Woods and his bid for a 15th major championship. But after Woods failed to make the halfway cut, all eyes turned to Hall of famer Tom Watson and his amazing run at his 9th Major.

At 59 years old he could become the oldest player to win a major since World War II. Defending champion Padrig Harrington all but ensured that he would not repeat after shooting a 3rd round 6-over 76.

Will Watson continue his stellar play and earn a miracle win? Or will someone else step up and claim this 9th major championship?

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Edward S. Wanambwa
www.thegolfwriter.com
'keep it in the short grass"

2nd Round wrap Up 2009 Open Championship

Friday was a surprising day at the 2009 Open championship at Turnberry. Tom Watson recovers from a shaky start to his 2nd round and rebounds for an even par round of 70. It looked like the magic Tom Watson showed yesterday was all but gone but he found a way to regroup and regain a share of the lead with fellow American Steve Marino. Truly an amazing accomplishment on a day that featured high winds and high scores to match. Only time will tell is the golf gods will smile on Watson and grant him a 6th Claret Jug on the same course he won one on 32 years ago.

The real story was Tiger Woods missing the cut after shooting a 4-over 74. If the cut line doesn’t move to 5-over, he is likely miss the cut in this years Open Championship marking only the second time in his career that he missed a cut in the major championship. The only other time Woods missed the cut was at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot shortly after his fathers’ death.

Despite making a bit of a rally by making birdie in the 16th and 17th holes, Wood’s chip from the back of the green on 18 came up short and the disappointing par left him one shot above the cut line.

This years Championship is shaping up to be a very memorable one, sadly the world’s number one player will have to watch it from home. I am sure that fans and televison networks are very disappointed.





Images Courtesy of Getty Images

Edward S. Wanambwa
www.thegolfwriter.com
"Keep it in the short grass"

2009 British Open: First Round Notes

As usual all the talk before the start of the 2009 U.S. British Open was about Tiger Woods and his quest for a 15th major Championship. Things didn't get off to a good start for Tiger today. Tiger got off to rocky start to this championship shooting a 1 over 71. Woods struggled with his driving and failed to get up and down on a few key holes that lead to over par score.

But the story wasn’t about what Tiger did on the course. The story that prevailed today concerning Tiger was his reluctance to talk the media after his round. The made a few brief comments and then disappeared presumably to the range to tune up his swing. He turned down a request from Jim Huber of TNTbroadcasting to sit down and speak about his round.

This begs the question, are Tiger’s actions wrong? Is he being unfair and unreasonable because he won’t talk to the press after a bad round? Or is he just being a competitor that who wants to win more than anything? Please add your thoughts.

Tom Watson proved today the experience can take you along way in championship golf. Watson carded an impressive 5-under 65 to take the lead for most of the day. It wasn’t until Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez rolled in a long putt on the 18th hole to record a 6-under 64 that Watson relinquished the lead. However, his play brought smiles and cheers form the galleries who cheered on a great champion and he showed signs that he still had the game that won him the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry. Good Luck Tom!

I have to mention Ian Poulter ! WOW what a fashion statement today. If the union Jack Shirt wasn’t enough, Ian broke out the plaid pants that were so loud they could heard all over Europe. My only concern is that Ian Poulter and John Daly get grouped together! Can you imagine the colors you will see between them?

But hey that’s why I love this game.

More later !

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

Ed Wanambwa www.thegolfwriter.com
‘Keep it in the short grass”