Featured Golf Course of the Month
Crystal Falls Golf Club Review

Texas Outside Rating: 9.1

Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Leander
Website · Locate This Course

Crystal Falls Golf Club Review

Review of Crystal Falls Golf Club in Leander

Wow, Crystal Falls Golf Club is a fantastic course - one of those that you say, "where have you been all my life?" and that you really regret finishing the 18th hole. The course opened in 1991 and is currently owned and operated by the City of Leander.

Crystall Falls Golf Club is a course that other courses should aspire to be when they grow up - it's fair but challenging, every hole (specifically on the front nine) is different from the others, some holes are stunning, it requires good course management and strategic play, and the rates are very reasonable. If only the conditions were a little better - but the terrain makes watering very challenging.

Part of what makes this course so fun to play is that the course designer carved the fairways out of some beautiful rolling hills just north of Austin. As such during your round you get to experience several dramatic elevation changes, rolling and contoured fairways, creeks and ponds, and greens that have settled in and use the natural terrain to provide slope, tiers, ridges, and contour.

The fairways are lined by trees and bluffs, 6 ponds, and a creek that lines and or crosses the fairways on 7 holes. You won't find any homes or barking dogs guarding the fairways but several big beautiful homes do dot the hillsides and overlook some of the holes, but they won't come into play. It's just you, some beautiful terrain, nature, and wildlife. However, you may hear balls ricocheting off the trees or some fellow golfers giving high fives or some wind whipping through the trees. What a beautiful property and unexpected for this area.

There are only three tee boxes with yardages ranging from 5194 to 6654 and you may think you're in for a walk in the park because it's so short. But the first time you play Crystal Falls Golf Club don't get overconfident. This layout throws a lot at you and the greens will cause trouble both on the approach shots as well as putts. This is a course where you need to manage the slope and elevation and tight fairways, play conservatively, and do whatever it takes to stay in the fairway. Club selection and course management are critical.

Don't let all of that scare you away - Crystal Falls is demanding but fair and it's a blast to play. Here are our reasons why Crystal Falls Golf Club is on Texas Outside's list of the Top Public Courses in Texas:

reasonable rates for such a fun course
lots of dramatic elevation changes and plenty of uphill and downhill shots along tight tree-lined fairways
challenging green complexes of all shapes and sizes that include false fronts, severe slope to trouble, mounds, and plenty of natural contour
course management and club selection are critical to score well and you need to manage the slope, blind shots, forced carries, tight fairways, and challenging approaches
it's peaceful and quiet and scenic
every hole is a little different and each hole has its own set of opportunities and challenges
no bunkers to contend with but there is still plenty of stuff that can impact your score
the staff is friendly and the GPS helps with front, middle, and back yardages to the green

The front nine of Crystal Falls is the most scenic and challenging, and it's a nine that you'll want to play again. Dramatic elevation changes (both up and down), water, wind, challenging greens, and sloping fairways can impact your score. Every hole on the front is different and will throw something at you to keep you on your game. Some of the holes we really loved include:

#1 sets the stage for the front nine and gives you a feel for what to expect - a 502-yard par 5 with a severely sloping left to right tight fairway, a second shot that's blind and uphill, and a tough approach to a challenging putting service
#2 is a short 164-yard par 3 but it's a big drop straight down to a green with water along the right and back side - club selection is critical to manage the big drop and the wind
#4 is a beautiful and intimidating hole - a 410-yard par 4 with a long carry over a lake to a sloping fairway that can carry your ball into the lake or under a huge sprawling tree in the fairway that can block your uphill approach shot to the green
#9 is a beauty (you'll need a beer after this one) - a 430-yard par 4 (#1 handicap) with a creek that cuts in front of the tee box and can come into play along the entire left side of the fairway, and then it cuts back across the fairway in front of the green and comes into play on the right side of the green

The back nine has some good elevation changes (#11 is a beautiful 192-yard par 3 with a dramatic downhill shot to a contoured green), blinds shots, challenging greens, a couple risk-reward opportunities, and some wide-open let-er-rip to tight fairways. Club selection, course management, and precision approach shots are critical on this nine - but it's easier than the front nine and it's your opportunity to turn in a low score.

The greens at Crystal Falls Golf Club were in good condition and ran at a good speed of around 9 or so. But they are very challenging - lots of significant slope, contour, and ridges; most are raised; and several are surrounded by trouble - mounding, swales, water, or trees. The slope makes it hard for the ball to hold the green and several times we watched in horror as what seemed to be a great shot rolled off the green and down the hill toward or into trouble. You need to come in high and soft and try to manage the green's slope and firmness. Bump and runs won't work because the greens are raised.

The fairways were in fair condition and all have some significant slope and lots of contour. They were firm and hard creating lots of extra roll. The rough was pretty rough and a mixture of dirt, rocks, and grass - but playable! Miss the rough and you're in the trees, thick native brush, or wet.

Bottom line - a demanding but fair 18 where every hole is a little different and requires some thought, course management, and good club selection - a very reasonable rate and a must play!

Course Slope & Ratings

Tee Box	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Blue	6,654	73.4	131
White	6,164	70.6	126
Red	5,194	71.0	124

Course Information

Greens Type:: Bermuda
Greens Condition: 8.0
Greens Difficulty: 8.8
Fairway Condition: 7.5
GPS:: Yes
Walkable:: Very hilly - hard
Scorecard
Course Map
Beware of water on 12 holes and the 0 sand traps.

Texas Outside Rating

Overall Rating:: 9.1 out of 10
Beauty:: 9.0
Difficulty:: 9.2
Variety:: 9.8
Fun to Play:: 10.0
Value:: 10.0
Condition:: 7.2
Front Nine Rating:: 9.2
Back Nine Rating:: 8.2

FEES & AMENITIES

Approximate Weekend
Rates: $40.00 to $55.00

Service is good and very friendly, the pro shop has the basics and the practice facilities are adequate. The grill has burgers, dogs, and sandwiches and beer. The pace of play can be a little slow as fellow golfers look for lost balls. When we played on a Saturday, there was no cart service and no marshall.

Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard Rating

The Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
Texas Outside rates courses on the following:

Beauty – tall trees, rolling hills, beautiful houses, waterfalls, and similar stuff would score high; a 1 would be flat, bushes or cactus instead of trees, and some grass but mostly weeds
Difficulty – a straight, 300 yard par 4 with no traps or hazards, no out of bounds or water would probably get a 1; if it is a 460 yard par 4 over two ravines, with water along one side, natural hazards on the other, strategically placed traps or that dreaded tree right in the middle of the fairway, we are talking a 10.
Variety – what would you give a course where all the holes looked and played exactly the same (“I thought we just played that hole!”); were side-by-side, which is good for finding or dodging other people’s balls, but not much fun; and you can see the flag from every tee box? That’s right, it gets a 1.
Fun Scale – a 10 is where you walk off the course and say “now that was fun” and you can’t wait to get back, or you immediately turn around and play another 18 holes
Value – a 5 is $50 to $60, a 10 is $20 to $30, and 1 is $200 or so – of course all of this is dependent upon how you liked the course. For example, if a run down, boring municipal course, with six players on each hole was only $10; it would still get a value rating of 1.
Condition – this one’s pretty easy – what condition are the fairways. A 10 commands very lush perfectly manicured fairways, compared to a 1, which has fire ants, weeds, and more dirt than grass!
Condition of Greens and Difficulty – very hard to read greens with lots of undulation and tough pin placement, rate very high on the difficulty scale. Condition is self-explanatory.

All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.

About Texas Outside

Texas Outside has been alive & well since 1996 - that's ancient by today's internet standards! Texas Outside was originally developed by Lone Star Internet which is an Austin based web development company with an excellent reputation & client base. In March of 2006, we purchased Texas Outside & made a commitment to add new, exciting, & informative content on Texas outdoor activities & fun things to see & do.