When visiting the Crystal Springs Golf Resort in the wilds of Sussex County, N.J., golfers who've traveled from the densely populated parts of the state can feel as if they’ve journeyed to another country. That’s because the topography in this northwest corner of New Jersey is so varied, so filled with rolling hills and small mountains, that even the most innocuous-looking golf course can be a challenge, even from the white tees.

And when you step into the 4-star Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Golf Resort, you'll feel transported once again. The newest addition in lodging at this grouping of seven courses owned by the same company sits right on the 9-hole, Roger Rulewich-designed Grand Cascades golf course; both opened last May. The construction of the 250-room lodge took 18 months, and you'll see why when you book an accommodation.

The showpiece of this romantic getaway is the $7 million indoor tropical Biosphere Pool Complex. The ingenious roofing material allows close to 100% light transmission for year-round tanning; when the weather permits, the roof is also retractable. The complex features a heated indoor freeform pool, an underground aquarium, and a 140-foot water slide that's a blast for children of all ages. Guests can also enjoy the Jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna, then head to the Biosphere Café for a sandwich, salad, and umbrella drink.

For the golfer who also likes to whip up a gourmet meal, settle in to a 1-bedroom suite and get access to a full kitchen complete with coffeemaker, microwave oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, and oven/range. The rooms are thoughtfully appointed, from the flat-screen TV/radio to the overhead lights on the stove to the deluxe showerheads in the tub. The Reflections Spa inside the Cascades Lodge offers a variety of skin-care and massage treatments for women and men. The 18-hole, all-natural turf grass putting course just outside the lodge is a nice way to wind down after 18 or 36 holes of regulation golf.

Veteran golfers will appreciate the range of golf shots they’ll be required to pull from their bags to score well at Rulewich’s new 9-hole Grand Cascades course. The course has enough challenges built into it that even seasoned golfers will enjoy a second go-round. It includes a fair amount of creative shaping and mounding, in addition to the naturally rolling hills found in this part of the Garden State.

It is the newest addition to the lineup of Crystal Springs golf courses, which includes Black Bear Golf Club, Crystal Springs Golf Club, the Spa (9 holes), the Great Gorge Golf Club, Wild Turkey, Ballyowen Golf Club, and the new Cascades golf course. Rulewich also designed the Wild Turkey golf course, which opened six years ago.

The area around the Crystal Springs Golf Resort had historically been known as a ski destination. For many years, the Playboy Club at Great Gorge – now known simply as Great Gorge Golf Club – was the only big draw for golfers. Then, a significant building boom started in the 1980s, and golf quickly became another reason to visit Sussex County. In the late 1990s and into the new millennium, upscale daily-fee courses like Ballyowen and Wild Turkey opened for public play. Now, with the addition of the luxurious Grand Cascades Lodge as well as the recently opened Minerals Hotel, golfers who ski and skiers who golf can easily make Crystal Springs an affordable, twice-a-year excursion.

Rates at Grand Cascades, a 4-star destination resort, start at $234 for a premium room. A one-bedroom suite with fireplace deck goes for $314, and larger suites are available in a range of other packages and prices.

“One unique aspect of the guest rooms,” says Nicole Molina, the Cascades’ manager, “is that each room is different by way of color patterns and décor while maintaining a similar style. All rooms contain one king or two queen beds with Tempur-Pedic mattresses and top-of-the-line linens, flat-panel TV with cable and in-room movies, a desk equipped with high-speed internet access, bathroom with tub, an alarm clock and I-Pod dock.”

Two small nitpicks: Rooms with balconies feature locks on the inside, so if you’re staying in a balconied room on your own, make sure the door is unlocked or leave it open once you step out on the balcony. And like many fine hotels, Cascades is a non-smoking lodge, so an after-round cigar needs to be enjoyed down on the common patio area.

Whether it’s a weekend get-away with a significant other or an extended, guys- or girls-only golf trip, you’ll leave Cascades Lodge feeling renewed and rejuvenated. And you don’t have to get on a plane to get there.