My Maiden Voyage to the New Streamsong Resort

The Best Golf Course I've Ever Played

As I've explained in previous posts, this road trip serves many purposes. I've had the chance to see family and friends, explore an area of this country of ours that I hadn't really experienced before, escape the New England winter, and of course, begin my golf season a few months early. I've played all over the Southeast, but I didn't yet have that feather in my cap of visiting a world class golf course. Not that I needed it. I've never payed more than a hundred dollars for a round of golf, and anything above thirty is a rare treat.

An understate sign welcomes visitors

Still, when I heard about a new resort being constructed in the middle of Florida's mining country--with hopes of becoming the Bandon Dunes of the Southeast--I knew I would do anything to play there. A month ago, I penned an email to the Head Pro at the Streamsong Golf Resort, explaining my passion for golf and golf course architecture. Just before I left for my drive south, I received a reply. Mr. Scott Wilson I was welcome at Streamsong. The excitement started building from there.

The Story Behind Streamsong

I'd heard about this project a few years ago and followed the progress with mild interest. It's not everyday that you see two eighteen hole courses being constructed at the same time by the two "hottest" modern golf course architecture firms--Coore & Crenshaw and Tom Doak's Renaissance Golf Design. And there are few places in this world which feature dunes akin to those in the British Isles, let alone in the otherwise flat and boring Florida landscape. Let me explain. Streamsong sits in the middle of Florida--about two hours from everywhere important, as I've discovered. Leaving the coast, the land can be pretty dull, with plenty of orange groves, fields of cattle, and mining operations. One particular mining site sat untouched for decades, the piles of sand left by the operation exposed to the wind and native vegetation. And it was this landscape--mirroring the Scottish or Oregon coast--that the idea for a new golf resort was born.

Such a prime piece of real estate could only be rewarded to the best golf course architects, so together, Tom Doak and Bill Coore walked the site in attempt to find the space for thirty-six holes. When they drew it up, they used a red pen and a blue pen to distinguish the separate eighteens from each other. When it came time to decide, Bill Coore chose the red eighteen, leaving Doak with the equally stunning blue eighteen. Thus, Streamsong's Red Course and Blue Course were born. Just three months ago, the courses were ready for play. Even with the resort hotel still under construction, the two courses opened to public play--attracting only the biggest and best golf nerds.

A view of the clubhouse, practice green, and surrounding dunes from the first tee

Making the drive to Streamsong is an experience in itself, but turning onto Streamsong Drive and seeing the first of the dunes made me stop to take in the landscape. It certainly did not look like any Florida I'd seen the past few week. The chique clubhouse sits nestled between two sixty-foot dunes, with fairways radiating outwards between the fescued hills.

Tom Doak's Blue Course

Tom Doak is my favorite modern golf course architect, even though his Streamsong routing is the first of his designs I've had a chance to play. His minimalist style opposes so many of the modern Florida designs, which is why he's been chosen to tackle projects in incredible landscapes such as Pacific Dunes, Cape Kidnappers, and Barnbougle Dunes. With a handful of designs already firmly in the World's Top 100, he is arguably the best golf course architect alive. The Blue Course at Streamsong is another one of his jaw-dropping designs, which can challenge any course in Florida and compete with the best in the world. The first tee sits at the highest point on the property, and offers views of the clubhouse, practice facilities, and nearly every hole on both courses.

Holes To Note

Though each hole would seem world class on a different course, I have to limit myself here. I felt the front nine was stronger overall, though the three closing holes offered the toughest test of the round. Had I played in different weather circumstances (I had off-and-on rain before the skies opened up on fourteen and pestered me for the rest of the round), I may have appreciated some of the latter holes more. I'm sure I'll play the Blue again, but for now, here are my favorite holes. (Yardages are from the Black tees, totaling 6698 yards).

3rd Hole - Par 4 - 370 Yards

The third is a moderate par four playing over a marsh to a wide fairway. (Side note: the fairways were the widest I'd ever seen, and the course featured no rough--only fairways and the thick bushes and fescue found everywhere else). A pesky little pot bunker guards the right side of the fairway, which is the safest play and also offers a frontal attack to the green. Playing left shortens the hole but brings the water and sand into play running down the left side. The uphill approach to the skyline green plays longer than it looks, especially when the pin is placed in the back corner.

The green sits high on the horizon, creating a "skyline" effect.

4th Hole - Par 4 - 417 Yards

The tougher of these wonderful back-to-back par fours, the fourth offers ample width for a drive. The direct line towards the green runs along the left side of the fairway, but a massive sandy area on the left steers golfers to aim right. From the right side of the fairway, the approach shot must fly a steep bunker and land softly on this perched high above the fairway. Tom Doak must have laughed a little when he realized he could put the bunker on top of the hill to create this difficult two-shotter.

This par four zigzags upwards, with menacing bunkers on both sides of the hill leading up to the green.

5th Hole - Par 3 - 121 Yards

Outstanding short par threes are getting harder and harder to find in modern golf design, but this green site--only fifty yards or so from the fourth pin--is befuddling enough to challenge any tee shot, regarless of length. On most holes, and on the fifth especially, the tee boxes are merely two stakes on a flat piece of fairway--no rectangular country club style tee boxes here! The green is skinny but nearly seventy yards in length, with a tremendous pin position in the bowl found on the back left corner of the green. I hope to play the Blue one day when the fifth pin is back there!

From behind the long and skinny fifth green, the bowl-like feature on the back of the green is visible.

7th Hole - Par 3 - 188 Yards

Though Tom Doak wouldn't want any of his courses to have a designated signature hole, the seventh is easily the most picturesque hole on the property. Playing from high above the pond, the golfer must carry the pond and avoid trouble on all sides to hit this large and devilish green. Walking across the bridge to the green site, the encircling dunes seem to loom bigger and bigger. The contours of the green are as such that it's possible to chip or putt from the back and have the ball roll into the water. This is a hole where I could hit the tee shot a hundred times and still never tire of it.

As gorgeous as it gets, the seventh is the perfect setting for a dramatic par three.

9th Hole - Par 5 - 541 Yards

The ninth (and eleventh) play in a part of the property where the features aren't as severe. On these holes, Doak exemplifies minimalism--using the soft natural contours to dictate tee and approach shots. The drive on the ninth is a true blind shot--something that many modern architects fear to build. The subtle mounds cause unexpected bounces for lay up shots, and this green accepts shots both along the ground and in the air. This par five may be the easiest on the Blue, but the thrill of hitting a blind tee shot and then climbing the steep hill makes it a memorable hole.

Massive bunkers guard the right side of the hill on this blind first shot.

12th Hole - Par 4 - 390 Yards

The dramatic twelfth green framed by water, sand, and dunes.

The twelfth has all the makings of a world class par four. A driving corridor framed by bunkers and dunes, a lateral hazard that makes the golfer think twice before blasting a tee shot, a picturesque green site sitting in a natural hollow in front of the dunes, and a wild green with two distinct tiers. Even if one can avoid the large greenside bunkers, ending up on the proper tier is a must for any hope of a two-putt.  I managed to stick a four-iron on the top tier, and I certainly wouldn't have wanted a putt up or down the slope. For sheer beauty and strategic design, the twelfth rivals any on the Blue Course.

The view from the dunes behind the twelfth green shows how perfectly this hole fits into the land.

Side note: here on the fourteenth hole the skies decided to open up, and though I was drenched, I did record my only birdie of the day on this double-dogleg par five.

And then the rains came.

17th Hole - Par 5 - 573 Yards

A true three-shot golf hole, the seventeenth is perhaps the most perplexing par five I've played. A wide fairway accepts all types of tee shots, but it's the second that requires all of the thinking. 170 yards short of the green sit three massive cross-bunkers. The decision is this: lay up short of the bunkers and have long approach uphill to the green, or attempt to clear the bunkers for a short pitch in but risk getting caught. Going left to clear the bunker is the shorter route, but it yields a tougher angle into the green. A gorgeous par five, and a very testing hole down the stretch.

A distinctive tree frames this par five, but it's the massive
cross-bunkers that cause all of the problems on seventeen.

Final Thoughts; Another Thank You

Streamsong Blue is the best golf course I've ever played, hands down. It made the day even better when I caught up to Kevin McGinnis on the fourteenth hole. I wrote about playing with Kevin in my previous golf post, and I'll reiterate that spending time on the golf course with someone who knows and loves the game is always a wonderful experience. I'd like to thank Mr. Wilson again for  treating me so well. I know that I will be back; I'd love another crack at the Blue (especially if the sun is shining), and I've heard the Red is every bit as good. I would recommend Streamsong to any passionate golfer, because these courses are a treat to play--and they're here to stay.