A Strategic Masterpiece

Following my initial round at Streamsong Blue, my next journey led me to its sibling, Streamsong Red—a tougher, more strategic, and windier test of golf. This would be my second round at the Streamsong Resort and, unfortunately, my last full round. More on that later.

In my previous write-up on Blue, I didn’t share much about the practice facilities, but they’re worth mentioning here as they set the tone for the day. While the resort boasts vast space, I was somewhat let down by the driving range, which felt underwhelming. Despite visiting during the popular golf month of November, we were hitting off mats both days, even though the grass areas appeared to be in good condition. With only five sparsely spaced flagsticks on a slightly sloped range, dialing in yardages was frustrating.

However, the chipping area stood out as a highlight, featuring a green that rolled faster than most of the Red course—half-joking but half-serious. For a resort that prides itself on world-class golf, I’d recommend Streamsong focus more on enhancing the practice facilities, especially given the effort it takes for many golfers to travel to Bowling Green, Florida.

A Demanding Opening Stretch

The Red course doesn’t ease you into the round; it challenges you right from the start. The first hole, a slightly uphill par four, requires accuracy off the tee with long grass and shrubs on the left and a hidden pond on the right. The green, guarded by a right greenside bunker, is relatively straightforward, but getting there unscathed is the real test.

The second hole, a par five, throws hazard after hazard at you. Water is in play twice, along with a forced carry off the tee and long grass running the entire right side. This hole may very well be the toughest par five on the course and can quickly derail a scorecard.

The third hole, another par four, offers a reprieve with a shorter forced carry, but by this point, many golfers might already feel the weight of the course’s difficulty. Over-aggressive play after struggles on the first two holes can lead to further mistakes.
I’ll admit, my driver let me down during this stretch, and I walked away with a string of bogies. Losing two balls in three holes made my scorecard look better than my game deserved.

The fourth and fifth holes, however, redeemed my early struggles and became my favorites on the course. The fourth is a nearly driveable par four for big hitters with the right wind. Its fairway is flanked by two center bunkers, forcing you to either go for the green or lay up with an iron. While it offers birdie opportunities, the undulated green and strategically placed sand hazards make eagle almost impossible.

The fifth hole is a beast, especially into the wind, and reminded me of a mirrored version of the iconic 18th at TPC Sawgrass. Bail left off the tee, and you’re left with a poor angle and a downhill lie in the rough. Cheat right for a better angle, and you risk finding the water. Coore and Crenshaw masterfully used the natural terrain here, creating a hole that’s both visually stunning and strategically challenging.

A Stretch of Scoring Opportunities

Starting with the sixth hole, my round began to take a turn for the better. This par three features a raised tee and a two-tiered green that can create some fascinating putts. While not as punishing as the opening holes, it still demands precision to score.

The seventh hole, a par five, offers one of the first real scoring opportunities. The fairway is generously wide, but water looms on the left. While the water doesn’t come into play off the tee, it becomes a factor on the approach. The boomerang-shaped green stretches over 40 yards, making for countless pin positions and a unique line of defense.

The eighth hole is the shortest par three on the course, but its difficulty varies significantly depending on the tee box. From the back tees, I found the angle more favorable, while the forward tees, placed further left, make for a trickier approach.

The ninth hole is as driveable as it gets for a par four, but Coore & Crenshaw placed two massive, high-lipped bunkers right in front of the green. These hazards cover almost every possible pin position, making it a risk-reward decision to go for the green. While I opted to play it safe, I still walked away with a stress-free par after lipping out a birdie putt.

A Test of Endurance at the Turn

The tenth, eleventh, and twelfth holes are a trio of demanding par fours that test your consistency. The 10th and 12th are long, while the 11th compensates for its shorter length with a raised green that refuses to hold approach shots. These holes are straightforward in their design but leave little room for error.

The thirteenth hole, a par five, is a mix of strategy and blind trust. The fairway bunker, perfectly positioned to frustrate well-struck drives, forces you to decide whether to lay up or go for it. From the fairway, you’re left with no view of the green, which sits just beyond a hill with a bunker in front. While I’m not a fan of blind shots, I appreciated the presence of a visual target to guide my approach.

The fourteenth hole is a scenic par three offering panoramic views of both the Red and Blue courses. However, its beauty is matched by its difficulty. Missing right sends your ball down a steep slope into long grass, while missing left leads to an awkward recovery. I learned this the hard way when my tee shot rolled off the green, caught the slope, and ended up 20 yards below in the rough.

The fifteenth hole, a long uphill par four, rewards well-struck drives with an easier approach—a rarity on the Red course. By this point, my round had smoothed out, and I was playing well after a rough start.

An Appropriate Closing Stretch

The sixteenth hole, the signature par three of the Red course, is a breathtaking yet brutal test. Sitting next to the Blue course’s par three seventh, the two holes combine for one of the most scenic stretches on the property. Significant crosswinds made this hole play like a British Open challenge. Missing the green anywhere but long spells disaster, as I found out when I barely managed to avoid trouble by aiming 15 yards left of the target and letting the wind bring my ball back to the green.

The seventeenth hole, a par four, features a narrow fairway with sand running alongside the right and little bailout room to the left. Despite its shorter length, the tee shot is crucial to setting up a manageable approach.

The eighteenth hole, a quirky uphill par five, forces players to carry a strategically placed bunker off the tee if they hope to reach the green in two. While I appreciated the strategic intent, the hole felt underwhelming as a finishing hole. After the excitement of the sixteenth and seventeenth holes, the eighteenth left me wanting more.

A Course Designed to Challenge

Streamsong Red is significantly more difficult than its counterpart, Streamsong Blue, and may not be as enjoyable for the average golfer. However, for design enthusiasts like myself, it’s a masterpiece. Coore & Crenshaw’s use of natural terrain and strategic hazards make this one of the best resort courses I’ve ever played.

I found the greens on the Red course to be the slowest of the three courses, which I was told is due to the phosphate mine terrain Streamsong is built on. While this surprised me, I still enjoyed the challenge, although I’d love to experience the course under faster conditions.

Streamsong Red is a course that demands precision, patience, and strategy. While it may not be as "fun" as Blue, it offers an unparalleled test of skill and creativity. If you’re planning a trip to Streamsong, Red is a must-play for those seeking a challenging and rewarding round of golf.

Streamsong Black

A Rain Shortened Round

My third and final round at Streamsong took place on the Black course, a layout I had been eagerly anticipating after my experiences on the Blue and Red courses. Unfortunately, my time on Streamsong Black was cut short by heavy rain, forcing me to end my round after only six holes. Despite this, those six holes left a strong impression, and I could see why many golfers regard Streamsong Black as the resort’s most unique and quirky course.

Streamsong Black is the newest of the three courses, and it shows—not in a negative way, but in the freshness of the design and conditioning. Unlike the Red and Blue courses, which have more years of wear and tear, the Black course feels polished and well-maintained. The greens stood out immediately as the smoothest rolling of the three courses, a feature I greatly appreciated.

The design of Streamsong Black is undeniably funky and unconventional, with massive greens featuring bold undulations. Some golfers I met during my trip described the course as “gimmicky,” but I couldn’t disagree more. While certain greens are extremely sloped, the pin placements felt fair, and putts around the hole were makeable. If you find yourself with a tricky, mini-golf-like putt, it’s likely because you missed your target area—something that would leave you in the rough or a bunker on other courses.

Highlights from 6-ish Holes

While my time on Streamsong Black was brief, the six holes I played showcased the course’s creativity and character.

One of the course’s defining features is its enormous greens, which add an extra layer of strategy to your approach shots. With such large putting surfaces, being on the green is only half the battle; being on the correct section of the green is critical. I found the greens to be forgiving in terms of speed, but their undulations made positioning incredibly important.

The fairways on the Black course are wide, which helps offset the difficulty of the greens. The course invites you to swing freely off the tee, but poor positioning on approach shots can quickly turn a birdie opportunity into a struggle for par. Despite its quirks, the course felt fair, rewarding good strategy and execution while penalizing careless mistakes.

Unfortunately, my round was cut short when the rain became too heavy to continue. After six holes, my clothes were soaked, and my phone began to take on water in its ports, forcing me to call it a day. While I was disappointed not to finish my round, the short time I spent on the Black course left me eager to return.

Streamsong Black is a course that demands a second visit. Its quirky design, smooth greens, and polished condition make it a standout at the Streamsong Resort. While I wasn’t able to experience the full course, the six holes I played hinted at a layout that is challenging, creative, and just plain fun.

For those who might describe Streamsong Black as gimmicky, I would argue that it offers a different kind of challenge. Yes, the greens are large and undulating, but the design rewards precision and thoughtfulness. It forces you to think about your shots and encourages creativity, which is exactly what great golf courses should do.

If anything, my rain-shortened round on the Black course gave me even more motivation to return to Bowling Green, Florida. I can’t wait to experience the full layout and compare it to the Red and Blue courses. From what I’ve seen so far, Streamsong Black has all the makings of a modern classic, and I look forward to giving it the full round it deserves.
For now, I’ll leave you with the few pictures I managed to take before the rain fully set in. Until next time, Streamsong Black.

Course Gallery (Red and Black)