Thompsonville, MI

Crystal Mountain

1.25(based on 10 reviews)
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9 0
zud00
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.3 years 204 played 47 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Ski Top 9 Holer 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

*Innova Discatcher baskets
*2 or 3 practice baskets at the base of the "mountain."
*Very nice resort
*Navigation was fairly easy with the use of a map (provided) and signs between holes
*Decent variety of hole length and lefty/righty holes
*Variety of holes with elevation changes
*Great views from the top of the slopes
*Ride the lift to the top to get started (see cons also)

Cons:

*Ski lift to start of course is only open weekends to my understanding. I played on a weekday without knowing this and had to hike up the black diamond slope to begin my round.
*Tees are natural marked by a 4x4 in the ground. Soil is soft and sandy and not flat.
*Only 9 holes, so much room for a full 18 holes
*Hole 7 fairway was a wide ski slope but only the middle 30' or so was mowed

Other Thoughts:

Overall I enjoyed this 9 holer. I took my 4 year old son with me on a 45 degree rainy day. We hiked up the black diamond slopes since the lift was not in operation on the Tuesday that we were there.

The course begins at the top of Loki/Thor ski runs, it is the chair lift that is just to the right as you enter the resort. The course begins play up and down along a few easier ski runs or they may have just been service roads. A few holes play on slight elevation or flat. When you get to basket 4 and basket 6, you can catch a good view of the surrounding areas.

Hole 7 would be the signature hole as it plays down a blue ski slope in the 800-900' range, it is reachable in two but your throws must be on point as the tee shot is a difficult left to right turn. The sides of this fairway are a little rough too, so keep a good eye on your shots.

I was really hoping to see the final hole play down the mountain from the top or near the top with a wide open well manicured ski slope, so I was a bit disappointed when I did not come across a hole such as this.

If you are in the area, I'd suggest stopping to play, but check to see if the lift is open, it is a demanding climb to the beginning of the course if it is not open. I don't think I would go out of my way to play this course again though.

I'm positive I'll be back to Crystal mountain, but next time will be more than likely to ski. We used to come here every year when I was in college and the few years after. I was really surprised at how nice everything seemed, it is a growing resort with many year-round activities!
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4 0
nemdisc7
Experience: 20.5 years 50 played 12 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Not worth the hike 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 4, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

The visuals are spectacular, especially from hole number 6. Some of the holes are a lot of fun and there is a good variation for a nine hole course.
Signs mark distance well and the signs marking where the next hole is are also helpful, as you could easily get lost at this place without them.

Cons:

I came on a day that the lift was not open. That led to a LONG walk up hill to the first tee. Not the courses fault, but that certainly effected my overall experience.
The tee pads are flat out not good. Not only are they dirt, but some are not level. On a couple holes not only are you throwing towards a basket that is uphill you are throwing off a teebox that is slanted uphill. That makes things very difficult.

Other Thoughts:

Why not have a hole or two on the way up the hill? At least that way you can throw while you walk up.
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5 3
tccrapsdealer
Experience: 7 played 7 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Crystal Mountain 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Multiple tees. Great long shots on the last 2 holes. Not very busy.

Cons:

"Next tees" not well marked. I was a little confused on which way to go on hole 2. Also, there was NO sign stating where the next tee was after #3. I shot for the only goal I saw, and it turned out to be #8. I totally missed holes #4-7 (including #6, which is supposed to be the crown jewel). Short course (only 9 holes).

Other Thoughts:

A playable course, but nothing too special. It's an hour away from me, so I'll likely only go back to find the holes I missed.
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9 0
Mark R
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.4 years 118 played 90 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 10, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Downhill holes 8 and 9 are similar in some ways to ski hill holes at Hickory Hills, but are longer and play like four regular length holes. Terrific Chainstar baskets. Holes are long and challenging. Very nice view of surrounding hills at Hole 6 basket. Hole 1 is an uphill 350 foot shot with a mowed fairway. Appears to have free admission.

Cons:

Slippery grass tees. Terrible low-budget signage. gold tees hard to find, blue/red less so. Holes 2 and 3 follow a path up the hill and are very questionable. Holes 4,5,6 are tightly wooded and depend on luck. Windy conditions prevail.

Other Thoughts:

A minimalistic course with odd degisgn features, but avoid unless you're in Crystal Mountain anyway.
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19 0
volklgirl
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.2 years 110 played 56 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Bring your longest drives! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 19, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Hole distances of 300 to over 1200 feet make this course a strong distance driver's dream. Even the distances from the shortest tees are longer than almost anything else in northern lower MI. Plenty of elevation change is inherent in this course as you go up Totem Park, loop around Nason's Trail, trudge up to the top of North Face, then slog down the bottom of Basin Street to the final basket under the Crystal Clipper. There are plenty of "Next Tee" signs and obvious tee markers making navigation pretty simple. The view from the top of the North Face (pin #6) is stunning at dusk.

While the distances on the red and blue tees are shorter, make no mistake; due to creative tee placement, the shorter tees have lost very little of the basic challenge of the hole. In some cases, they make the hole an almost totally different critter.

I only had difficulty finding one red tee marker, and that was for #6. Merely follow the path to the blue tee then veer right to the very edge of the drop off and you'll find it in the grass just to your left.

On #9, keep in mind that the prevailing winds will blow you disc to the left, directly into the steep slope under the chairlift.

The Mountain Adventure Center carries some plastic, including some Star discs, both with and without the custom Crystal Mountain stamp. We were pretty impressed with their selection of discs, considering.

Cons:

Besides the distances, very few holes have any real challenge. Don't bother to stop at the Mountain Adventure Center to ask for a map, scorecard, or directions, because they seem to know nothing other than where the first tee is.

The hole overview signs are laminated inkjet printed paper and a couple of sesons' use means the distances and pars for the blue and red tees have gotten wet or bleached out and are now mostly illegible. However, almost all tee markers have direction and distance printed on them.

Other Thoughts:

There's plenty of other stuff to do here for non-discers or after playing.....hit the alpine slide - it's mucho fun, hang out in the water park, work out or relax at the new Spa, check out the truly unique Michigan Legacy Art Park, or bring your mountain bike and hit the Crystal Mountain and Betsie River trails (maps available at the Lodge or Adventure Center). Lunch or dinner at The Thistle or pizza/subs from the Little Betsie Deli is a must-do. The gas station just south of the resort has killer 3-cheese bread, too!
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