Most successful golf courses have a secret ingredient that pushes them from the everyday variety into the extraordinary where only a few golf courses ever operate. Crystal Lakes Golf Club has two such ingredients. Two distinct professionals who know the business and work tirelessly to bring their customers the best public golf has to offer. I’m talking about General Manager Jim Orlando and LPGA Golf Instructor Sheryl Maize. Together they elevate Crystal Lake into a class all its own. This includes healthy numbers of public rounds played out on immaculate fairways and greens. It also means full league nights teaming with friends and co-workers, a full-service practice facility humming with activity, practice greens with diligent youth dreaming of big futures and a clubhouse atmosphere full of smiles and high-fives. This is as good as it gets.

As Director of Instruction at Crystal Lakes Sheryl Maize is “Amaizing.” Her calendar is packed out with private lessons, group sessions, individual families (an unexpected uptick due to Covid-19) and a large amount of youth group teaching (her passion). During a recent attempt to connect I found her working 12-14 hour days while maintaining the high energy approach that she brings to everything she does. Like I said… “Amaizing.” Her students aren’t the only people who feel that way. She has been earning accolades and honors since coming to Crystal Lake 14 years ago. A short list of some of the recent recognition reads like a recruiters dream candidate – 2019 LPGA National Teacher of the Year; 2019 Southeast Section Teacher of the Year; 2020-2021 LPGA Top 50 Best Teacher; 2019-2020 Golf Digest Best Teacher in State (MN); 2019 U.S. Kids Top 50 Master Coach; 2015 LPGA National Jr. Leader of the Year; Multiple years U.S. Kids Top 50 Instructor. You get the idea.

Her philosophy centers around an individual’s strengths and weaknesses with an eye on optimizing all facets of the game including mental, physical and playing readiness. She says ‘listening’ is the key. Her coaching programs are built from the ground up based on those early customer downloads where objectives are established, and a plan tailored to meet those individual goals. There is no shortage of fun either. Sheryl realizes that the grownups and the kids like to have fun even when they are trying to hone-in-on their game. As evidence during a recent weekend visit to Crystal Lake, the range was nearly full. Embracing the game of golf and self-motivating for improvement seem to go hand-in-hand under Sheryl’s caring instruction.

The 2020 golf season has been weird to say the least. The whole world seems to be teetering on raw nerves. Which is exactly why four hours of athletic endeavor under the open sky feels so good. Last year course conditions took a hit when fairways across the state showed heavy damage from the effects of winter kill. I’m here to say Crystal Lake has bounced back like a prizefighter. This course always topped the list in course conditions but this year they have outdone themselves. Even the humble, understated GM is boasting of the best conditions he’s seen in years. The word has been circulating among players in the southern Burbs’ as well, which is obvious when you see the busy day-to-day tee sheet numbers. Jim says it harkens back to the Tiger-era days in the late 90’s and early 00’s when golf was rapidly expanding, and most courses were producing big round numbers. We’re all very happy to see the strong bounce back in 2020 and Jim is no exception.

The course has a number of memorable golf holes. On the front it feels like those fairway bunkers keep showing up at just the right (or wrong depending how you look at it) yardages. A good example is the properly handicapped par 4 sixth. On the long side at 419 yards from the blacks those bunkers are looming on the left side and stretch along your wheelhouse. Just to keep things even more interesting the green is strategically bunkered as well. There’s no shame in carding a bogey here. Typically, short par 3s come with a refreshing sigh of relief, not so on the 94-127 yard par 3 #8. Don’t get me wrong it’s a beautifully elevated tee with vista views to the west and a large sculpted, undulated green it’s just not that easy. The front closes with another smartly designed hole that highlights a majestic look back into the clubhouse complex.

The back tends to show off a greater variety of hole designs and that starts right at the short par 4 #11 which wraps around a large corner bunker on the left side that is loaded with fescue and then finishes into a tilted green that sits between some nice homes and the natural wetlands that give the back its signature feel. Remember this course welcomes in the natural surroundings so you can expect wildlife and all its elements to compliment the exceptional landscape work that keeps the groundkeepers busy all year. That work is evident as the over seeding, clearing and drainage efforts have kept conditions impeccable every year at Crystal Lake.

Jim and his team have adjusted to the new normal without a wrinkle. Sheryl and her legion of students have not let the restrictions dampen their drive for improvement. Crystal Lake is as good as it gets in public golf. Without any hesitation you should make the drive towards Buck Hill turn off the freeway and find your way to this gem of a course. Jim, Sheryl and the staff await you for a round on the pristine Crystal Lake conditions.