I'm going to be in Tampa/Clearwater area with the family from July 13-19 and am pondering whether or not to try and obtain a pass from my wife for golf and whether or not to try Streamsong if I play. Given I'll either be a single or matched up with someone, I'd certainly prefer not to break the bank on my first experience.
If I were to line up a 8:00am-ish tee time on one of the courses, is it unreasonable for a mid 30's guy like myself be able to walk (carry or with push cart) and not be completely worn out? I'm use to playing and walking/carrying in the Midwest summer heat/humidity on a walkable but somewhat hilly home course. Is one of the courses more conducive to walking/carrying or walking/push cart than the other?
Michael,
I haven't played Streamsong, but I have played golf in Florida in the summer, and there are some important things to consider:
The sun is intense, and the humidity is more intense. Staying hydrated and relatively cool is vital. Will you be able to carry enough water/Gatorade? Will there be enough water for you on the course?
Florida often has thunderstorms that develop (not blow in from somewhere else) in the afternoon, and they can develop earlier than that. These storms can build quickly, and often have a lot of lightning (St. Petersburg is one of the lightning capitals of the country). If a storm develops while you're far from the clubhouse, will you be able to get back in time to avoid the lightning? While carrying your 55-gallon drum of water/Gatorade? While walking, I've gotten stuck in the rain a few holes away from the clubhouse, and I was blessed that my playing partners had carts and could give me a ride back to safety.
If it were my choice, I'd save the walking for winter.