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Wild Turkey Golf Club

A hilly, dramatic layout with a par-3 that plays two clubs downhill.

Golf holes winding through rolling green hills at Wild Turkey Golf Club in Hamburg, New Jersey.

At a glance

  • Dramatic elevation changes and a genuinely varied, hilly routing
  • The par-3 7th, played over a natural quarry, is a standout hole
  • Often cited by regulars as more fun to play than the resort's flagship course

What Makes Wild Turkey Golf Club Worth the Drive

The par-3 seventh asks you to carry a golf ball the length of an old quarry, water the whole way, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Wild Turkey Golf Club in Hamburg NJ opened on July 7, 2001 as the last of the big 18-hole layouts to arrive at Crystal Springs Resort, and it landed with a bang. Architect Roger Rulewich routed it into the ridgelines above Sussex County, and it was named one of New Jersey’s top new public courses that same year. Two-plus decades on, it still plays like a course that wants to be remembered.

The Course: Basin, Ridge, and a Quarry Par 3

Rulewich leaned into the land instead of flattening it. The routing splits into two moods that regulars just call basin and ridge. Down in the basin, the fairways open wide and forgiving, room to swing away without much punishment. Up on the ridge, the holes tumble across real elevation change, tee shots that drop and approaches that climb back up. From the tips it stretches 7,202 yards to a par of 71, creeping bent grass tee to green.

Holes You Will Talk About After

The seventh is the one people photograph, a roughly 208-yard one-shotter over the quarry lake to a shallow green with a bunker waiting long. The par-3 14th earns its own pause, opening onto a wide view across the surrounding hollow. Neither hole is a trick. Both simply ask you to commit to the shot.

Beyond the Round: Clubhouse and Resort

Wild Turkey is one of six courses at Crystal Springs Resort, the sprawling golf-and-spa property that anchors this corner of the county. Warm up on the driving range, sort out your gear in the pro shop, and settle into the clubhouse restaurant and bar once you sign the card. Stay-and-play packages pair a round here with a room, and tee times stay open to the public through the season. When you map a weekend, it slots easily into a day of things to do in Hamburg, and it belongs on any short list of Sussex County golf courses. Book your tee time and check current rates before you head out.

FAQ

Is Wild Turkey Golf Club open to the public?

Yes, Wild Turkey Golf Club in Hamburg, NJ is open to the public. It is one of six courses at Crystal Springs Resort, and anyone can reserve a public tee time online. Rewards and Premier members book through their own separate portals.

How long is the Wild Turkey golf course?

Wild Turkey plays 7,202 yards from the back tees at a par of 71, with a course rating of 74.8. Roger Rulewich's design pairs wide fairways and moderately contoured greens with real elevation change, so most players take a cart rather than walking it.

What is the signature hole at Wild Turkey?

The par-3 seventh is the signature hole, a forced carry over a quarry lake to a well-guarded green. The par-3 14th is the other one people talk about, asking for a long iron across a view of the entire basin.

Do you need a tee time at Wild Turkey Golf Club?

Yes, tee times are required and are booked online through the Crystal Springs Resort public golf portal or by phone. Weekend mornings fill fastest in summer and through fall foliage season. Rates change by day and time of year, so check the resort site before booking.

Where is Wild Turkey Golf Club located?

Wild Turkey Golf Club is at 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ 07419, in southern Sussex County. The course sits on the Crystal Springs Resort property near Grand Cascades Lodge, with the pro shop and parking at the clubhouse.

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