What’s the hottest you’ve ever been? I ask this (relatively) sincere question, because I had yet to experience my personal threshold of borderline heat stroke until I traversed the beautiful, rolling knolls and sand dunes of Streamsong’s Blue and Red Course. And before I continue, let me be clear, I am no stranger to the sun and all it provides. As native of Georgia, and a frequenter of Middle Georgia, I’ve often experienced days where I felt as if I was standing barefoot in a field of lava. I’ve combated and embraced heat in its myriad forms, from “it’s a little toasty out here” to “If I’m out here one more second, I may have a conversation with our Creator much earlier than anticipated.”
However, nothing had prepared me for that faithful July day where my body was essentially reduced to a deflated balloon, while walking on turf that was hot enough to fry an egg. Now, I realize that this diatribe against the Sun’s rays is making it sound like I had a subpar experience at Streamsong, and I can assure you that couldn’t be further from the truth. So, personal gripes about my condition aside, let’s dive into the golf portion of this post, specifically the Coore/Crenshaw designed track that may have been one of my favorites to date……
Built from a reclaimed phosphate mine, Streamsong resort is an exceptional example of creating commercial recreation in a manner that factors in both its economic and environmental expectations. The complex contains three 18-hole courses, and a Par 3 track entitled “The Chain”, that we unfortunately were not able to experience due to maintenance. However, our group did tackle both Streamsong (Tom Doak design) and Streamsong Red (Coore/Crenshaw design).
Streamsong Blue was undeniably well manicured and contained several staples of Tom Doak’s “minimalist” style, which included sweeping fairways around vertical water features and large, punitive bunkers. Blue had an exceptional Par 3 that was visibly cultivated around the drastic elevation changes of the mine itself, and the 18th finisher is one of the better closing holes that I have experienced in Florida. Overall, an enjoyable round of golf and an aesthetically pleasing 18 holes.
At “From the Porch”, our writers take pride in our rating scale that centers around the consumption of the seminal light beer, Miller Lite. Consider our rating scale akin to 'Who's Line is it Anyway?' where "everything is made up and the points don't matter." Having established our prestigious ranking metric, I would give Streamsong Blue a solid ranking of “Miller in a bottle”. Better than your average experience, but it’s not quite worth writing home to Mom about.
Day two of our Central Florida golf conquest centered around the heavily anticipated Streamsong Red. It was obvious on the first tee that this round would be the group’s unanimous favorite, as the opening hole contained the naturalistic and equally beautiful fairway contours, paired with long, pronounced native grass that gave the whole a distinct look and feel. The green’s gargantuan size could be noted even from 400 yards out, which is yet another staple of Mr. Coore and Crenshaw’s architectural prowess.
Now, at this point you may be thinking, “Why is LSJ waxing so poetically about Coore/Crenshaw? What’s the deal?” I must confess that I belong to a Coore/Crenshaw design golf course, and my years-long relationship with my home track has created an affinity for C/C and the desire to play them whenever the opportunity presents itself. That being said, for fans of course architecture that compliments the surrounding natural environment, Streamsong Red fits the bill, and then some. It contains all the tenants that make this course both memorable and re-playable.
After a challenging opening hole (464 yards from the back tees) a brief reprieve takes place on holes 2 through 4, with number 4 being an entertaining, short “shot selection” Par 4 (yet another C/C staple). The greens contain noticeable undulations and can be unforgiving downhill, so leaving the ball “below the hill” will be preached early and often by your caddy. Holes 5-8 are all entertaining in their own right, but one should pay special attention to the large waste bunker on number 7, which appears to be two expansive bunkers separated by a noticeably different sand barrier. Try to admire these sand features without finding yourself in them, it will make for a much less stressful day. Hole 9 wraps up the front with another abbreviated par 4 (271 yards up the hill) that tested our accuracy and mental fortitude (both me and Peppers were hacking the sand and yelling a muddled variety of swear words in the process).
The first four holes on the back nine are a couple of navigable Par 4’s, a shorter Par 5, and a Par 3 14th that tests your shot making ability with bunkers surrounding the green. After an arduous 15th hole, Streamsong Red’s “signature” is the Par 3 16th, which contains a tee shot that's all carry along a body of water that sits in a former ravine of the quarry. The hole contains everything you look for from both Coore/Crenshaw: exceptional design that flows in and out of the pronounced phosphate mounds, native grass, and a green complex that presents a challenge for any level of player. The Par 5 finisher provides a few last-minute, uphill views before taking you back near the clubhouse entrance.
Our group thoroughly enjoyed Streamsong Red, so much so that we played a free, six hole “loop” that may or may not have contained a money game (now that we had a semblance of course knowledge). Overall, it exceeded my expectations and provided 18 holes that were unlike any Florida golf that I had ever experienced. Official FTP ranking: Draft Miller Lite on a College Saturday (high praise).
So, what did I take away from our time at Streamsong? I came away with a renewed appreciation for the ingenuity of course designers when working with unexplored topographies. But perhaps most importantly, I learned to swallow my pride and not to walk in 100+ degree weather. A sports "talking head" recently quipped, “There are two things you don’t go cheap on: toilet paper and quarterbacks.” Feel free to add a cart fee to the saying as well. It’ll save you time (and potentially a heat stroke).
Until next time, enjoy a cold one, preferably on a porch after a good round with better friends.
From the Porch,
LSJ
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