If you happen to’re pondering of travelling to Tampa or to Orlando sooner or later, then add some days onto your schedule and head to The Streamsong Resort. Writes Graham McKenzie
Positioned on a 16,000-acre former phosphate mining web site close to Fort Meade, Florida. Sure, a former mine discipline has develop into one of many high {golfing} locations in the entire of the USA and it’s solely a 45-minute drive from the foremost tourism sizzling spots of the sunshine state.
With its dramatic terrain of towering sand dunes, deep-water lakes, and expansive landscapes formed by mining operations, Streamsong provides a novel and fabulous {golfing} expertise.
The resort options three celebrated programs, Purple, Blue, and Black, has a fourth idea course referred to as the Chain and is growing a fifth course to increase its world-class choices.
HISTORY AND MINING HERITAGE
Streamsong’s land was as soon as a part of Florida’s “Bone Valley,” recognized for prehistoric fossils. The Mosaic Firm, a significant phosphate provider, owned the location and used it for strip mining.
In 2012 firm executives, most likely golfers themselves, recognised the potential of the land’s distinctive contours and reworked it right into a golf resort harking back to Scotland’s and Eire’s coastal hyperlinks programs. Definitely not hyperlinks however nonetheless it’s a {golfing} paradise that blends industrial historical past with pure magnificence.
THE COURSES
RED
Designed by Invoice Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the Purple Course is an 18-hole masterpiece that challenges gamers with its dramatic landforms and strategic design.
It was the primary one I performed, and it’s an absolute delight with the elevation modifications, quick greens, because of the Bermuda grass, and really intelligent design making an allowance for the abundance of hazards each stable and liquid.
The opening par-4 is a particular problem in case your sport of the tee is less than snuff because it requires a protracted carry over water whereas the shorter holes present scoring alternatives.
BLUE
Tom Doak designed the Blue Course with a minimalist strategy that emphasizes pure contours vast fairways lined with wild grasses, large irregular bunkers formed by wind, and undulating greens.
BLACK
The Black Course by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner is at present the daddy of all of them. A par-73 championship course stretching 7,331 yards with 5 par-5s of various lengths. With a number of the largest greens in golf that appear to go on for ever, dramatic elevation modifications and bomb crater bunkers. Its not a course for any individual with a foul slice.
THE CHAIN
Opened in 2023 as an modern quick course designed by Coore & Crenshaw it has , unusually 19 holes that vary from 90 yards to 240 yards. Typically used as a ‘’enjoyable’ course or as a warmup it provides a novel problem and will be performed by people of various ability ranges as you possibly can select your personal tee off place.
Sounds weird but it surely does work and is a golf course of immense high quality. Diverting from the inventive naming routine of primary colors from the remainder of Streamsong the chain known as such after the gear used on the previous mining space.
NEW COURSE
The story doesn’t finish there although as David McLay Kidd, of Bandon Dunes fame, is designing Streamsong’s fifth course.
If precedent is something to go by will probably be referred to as Inexperienced or Yellow however we could all be shocked. Chatting with ‘these within the know’ it’s anticipated to be the longest course on the resort, dunes and ridges will function closely however designed in such a method to profit from the wind that may have an effect on this a part of Florida.
We aren’t speaking a 55mph easterly on the shores of the North Sea however a mild breeze that may alter your membership choice and mess along with your mind.
It would actually be situated between Purple and Black programs so possibly will probably be referred to as Roulette and can share the identical magnificent membership home that gives vista over not simply the property however proper throughout this a part of Florida.
So, if you’re coming to play Golf right here, and why play just one course when quickly 5 might be out there, there’s an possibility to remain over and benefit from the services.
Streamsong provides luxurious lodging to enhance its golf services. Streamsong Lodge is a 216-room lodge that includes eating places, a spa, rooftop lounge, health centre, and lakeside pool.
The Clubhouse is a smaller facility with 12 guestrooms, a golf store, and a steakhouse-themed restaurant. In case you are travelling with non-golfers, there are different actions out there. Guided bass fishing, mountain climbing trails, chicken watching, and sporting clays.
With out over egging it Streamsong Resort is redefining a golf break in Florida by remodeling an industrial web site into a unprecedented {golfing} vacation spot.
With its current programs ranked among the many greatest within the U.S. and its upcoming fifth course promising much more pleasure, Streamsong continues to draw gamers from across the globe. It stands as a testomony to modern design and sustainable land use.
For additional info go to www.streamsongresort.com
