Streamsong - A Golf Resort Not Resort Golf
Destination golf is a relatively new phenomenon for travelling golfers, and the standard bearer may just be Streamsong Resort in Florida. Until recently, most visitors to Florida would be families with children in tow, frequenting amusement parks. Now, Florida is replete with gaggles of gentlemen frequenting Streamsong Resort in their droves.
The golf resort is located in central Florida in Polk County, approximately 50 miles southeast of Tampa and 90 miles southwest of Orlando. The resort is approximately a 1-hour drive from Tampa International Airport or 1.5 hours from Orlando International Airport.
The resort sits on 16,000 acres of former phosphate mining land in a remote area near the small community of Bowling Green. Despite the town being just a few miles away, it feels remote. Once you arrive, you feel immersed in golf heaven with all the thrills a golfer could dream of.
Golf at Streamsong Resort
As of 2025, the golf resort sports The Blue Course by Tom Doak, The Red Course by Coore & Crenshaw, The Black Course by Hanse & Wagner, The Chain by Coore & Crenshaw and the newly announced (but unnamed... White would make sense) David McLay-Kidd layout. The Gauntlet Putting Course is located beside the Black Clubhouse.
What makes Streamsong unique is its ease of access (relatively speaking - its proximity to international airports), it's year-round playability (it's pretty chilly in Bandon and Wisconsin in the winter), and the fact it will soon have original designs from the four headline golf course architects of the modern golden age. Let's delve into four current courses and what we know about McLay-Kidd's recently announced addition.
The Red Course by Coore & Crenshaw
Coore and Crenshaw's Red Course is our highest-rated Streamsong course and dates to 2012. Currently sitting at 95th in the USA and 3rd in Florida.
With options from 4861 yards to 7110 yards, it is eminently playable for all skill levels. The par 72 design features water on 10 of the 18 holes, but it never feels like a TPC or typical resort course.
Centreline bunkers and clever mounding around green sites are design features with some unique designs you'll only see here - the best example being the 208-yard par 3 16th which is all carry over water to a Biarritz green fronted by a deep bunker with a massive dune on the right, and deep collection area to the left.
Photo courtesy Gary Lisbon
The MacKenzie-esque boomerang green on the 4th hole was one of the very best on any Streamsong course.
Photo courtesy P Koenig
Read genuine reviews and more about Streamsong Red.
The Blue Course by Tom Doak
Tom Doak's Blue Course also dates to 2012 and recently dropped from the USA Top 100, ironically being pushed out by his own Sedge Valley.
The par 72 layout dates to 2012, making it one of the original two at Streamsong. The most iconic hole on any of the courses is the par 3, 7th. Played from an elevated tee to a green which lies on the opposite side of the dune used by Bill Coore's 16th on the Red, it is accessed by a walking bridge to a green sunken in a large dune complex.
Photo courtesy Gary Lisbon
The course feels more 'linksy' than the Red and less frilly than the Black. The close is especially strong, featuring a 237-yard par 3, 690-yard par 5, and a 478-yard par 4.
Read genuine reviews and more about Streamsong Blue.
The Black Course by Gil Hanse
Despite being the lowest-ranked golf course at Streamsong, it might be the one you like the most. It divides opinion, a very Marmite golf course design that is unique in its design to either the Red or Blue.
With the least amount of water in play on any course, its primary landmark is not so much a natural feature but a windmill from the original mine. The green sites are absolutely massive with the combined acreage of the Red and Blue less than the putting area on the Black.
Photo Courtesy P Koenig
The punchbowl green on the 9th is the dominant feature and is the largest I've come across, with the exception of a couple at Royal Cinque Ports. The closing Par 5 is a great risk and reward hole, reachable in two if played successfully & boldly.
Our advice is to play it in a match and not worry about your score... fair is not an adjective you'll use here. No visit to Streamsong is complete without playing the Black. If possible, I'd book-end it with the Red and Blue so all three contrast with one another.
Read genuine reviews and more about Streamsong Black.
David McLay-Kidd's Course
Details are still scarce but you can bet Mr McLay-Kidd will be using his opportunity to set the bar amongst his contemporaries and competitors here.
Streamsong Resort Day Guest Golf Experience
If you're local to the resort or you want to experience only one of the layouts, the Day Guest option is superb. From 9 am, you have time to enjoy The Chain. After lunch, the Red, Blue or Black is available. With prices from $140 per round, it's not as dear as most would think and actually represents very good value for money considering the quality of golf on offer. Add in your lunch, dinner and drinks along the way, and you'll drop a few hundred dollars.
Food & Drink Options at Streamsong
The resort also offers quite a few options when it comes to food and drink. There is Bone Valley Tavern at the Black Clubhouse, Pub 59, Canyon Lake Steakhouse at the Red & Blue Clubhouse, or SottoTerra, an Italian option if you're up for a proper meal at The Lodge.
If it's a cocktail or two or simply a drink with a view, there are three options at The Lodge: Rooftop 360, Hemy's poolside bar or the Leaf Lounge.
The halfway houses, or comfort stations as they are called here, are also worth a visit. Mexican and BBQ menus are the themes with drinks carts topping you up mid-round.
The clubhouses for Red & Blue and the Black are superb with quality fare that will satisfy even the most discerning of palates if a restaurant experience is not needed.
Stay and Play Options at Streamsong
Most visitors will be staying in The Lodge. The Lodge is the beating heart of the resort, with a variety of suites available to every guest. Fin & Feather is where the day begins for most visitors. (The breakfast buffet is the best I've ever enjoyed.) Immediately opposite reception at The Lodge, it is available all day for visitors to the resort.
The Red and Blue Clubhouse also features 12 deluxe guestrooms with butler service, breakfast, all-day snacks and access to The Player's Den. Perfect for a buddies weekend, this is the ultimate option if you're looking for that little something special.
The resort spa also caters to tired golfers or non-playing partners with six unique therapy pools to enjoy.