Crystal Falls Golf Course

Encountered the most atrocious pace of play I’ve ever experienced. Teed off at 10:50 and was on pace to maybe finish in 6 hours! Never once saw a marshal check on pace of play or speak with the groups in front. We ended up only playing 14 holes. The most disappointing part of this experience was the Volunteer marshal named Carol was on the course playing and contributing to the slow pace of play after previously reprimanding other groups for a slow pace of play.

This is a beautiful course with stunning views. I can hardly believe that this is a municipal course. Its nestled up in the hill country so there are wonderful elevation changes that lead to challenging shots that play 2-3 clubs different than the yardage reads and stunning views throughout. Make sure you take a look backwards from the greens as sometimes you get an entirely new beautiful view. Also the GPS carts are great! 10 out of 10 would recommend.

Had a group of 5 guys and 2 girls (who were just along for the ride). We booked 3 players for 12 and 2 players for 12:10. Our group of 3 guys tee'd off at 12. The starter informed us that the 11:50 tee time showed up late, so we let them play before our 12:10 tee time.

Around hole 5, the player's assistant drove up to us and told us that we can't have 5 players playing at a time. She thought 1 of the girls was playing because she was holding a club. We said she's just holding a club. Her boyfriend handed her his wedge while he was putting. After we explained that, she said "Well you need to tell her that she can't play." Again, I said she is not playing.

At hole 10, we showed up to the tee box at the same time as the 11:50 group because they stopped for a drink inside. We let them go ahead, so we had to wait for them to play 2 strokes before we could start hitting. Everything was fine until the player's assistant was basically harassing us for the rest of the day for not keeping up with pace of play. She would drive her cart and stop wherever we were hitting just to watch us. Never in my life have I had a staff member watch over me play. It made me very uncomfortable, and it got in my head. I always had my worst holes when she was watching. Very unenjoyable. Additionally, the group of 2 randoms who I was paired with had a couple. They were extremely nice by the way. I can not play ready golf when a woman is driving from the women's tees. Does the player's assistant want me in the middle of the fairway while the lady is driving?

At hole 18, she drove up to us and said "You are holding up the entire course. You need to play scramble if you can't keep up. Someone just quit because of how slow it is." That is incredibly disrespectful. I paid $70 to play this course. I am not going to be told by staff how I should play. We were barely behind pace of play. Maybe it's because they let someone show up late to their tee time. She did not care for that explanation. She said "you're not waiting on them." The 11:50 group only had 2 players, so of course a group of 4 is going to play a little bit slower than them.

At the end of the round, when I met back up with my 3 buddies who had the 12:00 tee time, they informed me that the staff member said the exact same thing to them. So which is it? Was it the 12:00 tee time holding up the course? Was it the 12:10 tee time holding up the course? Absolutely rididiculous.

Just to top it off, I did not see a beverage cart once the entire 18 holes. I saw 3 water jugs on the course. The 2nd of 3 was empty. Let me remind you. It was 100 degrees in Austin, Texas.

At the end of the round, the 5 guys, 2 girls, and the group of 2 who I was paired with all talked about the rude staff member. We didn't talk about how nice the course was or how we played. It was overshadowed. The 30min drive back to Austin from Leander, we all spoke about how rude the staff lady was.

It's fair to say that I don't anticipate returning to this course, which is unfortunate because it is a really nice course with beautiful views and elevation. A tough course for sure, but one that has a good balance of challenge and enjoyment.

several tee boxes are crap right now. Now grass just dirt. All the greens were exceptionally good.

Crystal Falls was in OK shape for the weather conditions we have been having lately. The greens were very good considering recent arification. With consistant 100 degree days and no rain the fairways were were as good as I have seen at central Texas courses in the past month. Great bar tender and stocked bar for after round libations. Will play again.

The pace of play in was the slowest it has been in my several times playing the course. Several of the tee boxes are not in good condition. Beverage cart never came around. Majority of the water jugs on the course were empty.

Best course with perfect greens every time for well under in price of what it really should be worth. Hole 2 and 11 are the funnest par 3’s you can play in the Austin area. Worth every penny every time.

Crystal Falls…I absolutely love this course. As a Leander resident I’ve been playing this course consistently for 2 years now. I love the layout of this course…thought it was a Norman design but I can’t find any literature on that. Fairways are looking great at the moment, a few weeds here and there but nothing that inhibits play. Some tee boxes could use some improvement and the greens are looking worse since I played a couple of weeks ago. It’s been very hot lately so no surprise there. The pro shop always has a great selection of apparel and balls/clubs/gloves and the employees are always helpful. I got there for my late afternoon tee time, checked in, and grabbed my cart. Teeing off late in the day I was playing fast, with it only being myself and my fiancée riding in the cart I was through 9 in an hour and 10 min as I had passed about 3 groups in front of me. Light still shining I continued on to 10 and averaged the same pace of play throughout the back. I approached a group expecting the same reaction of all the other groups behind me that let me quickly play through them and be on my way. Imagine my surprise to see the same person that checked me out in the pro shop to be in the group in front of me playing. Instead of letting me through quietly he haggled me about how he had only charged me for 9 holes. I have no problem playing for 18 holes which I what I thought I had paid for because nothing was communicated to me that I was only being charged for 9 holes nor did I take my receipt. He also gave me a hard time about my fiancée riding along with me, which I understand may be the policy but I’m playing a late afternoon round on an almost empty golf course on a Tuesday….just seems like a petty battle to pick. All in all, I love this course and this situation wouldn’t deter me from playing here again just wanted to share the experience I had this go around.

I golf here frequently. Best bang for the buck. Some greens were a little spotty but they’re upfront with you about that. They were flawless a few weeks ago, the heat is taking a toll on everything around.

Played here for years. Still trying to break 80 on this course.
Good challenge.

It’s a great tough course. I really liked the layout and how challenging it was for me. I would definitely play here again. To be honest, there are some issues with the greens but I’m sure they are working on them to get it right.