The Golf –
I was skeptical of the Streamsong complex from the initial announcement. I have always been a fan of World Woods PB and Mountain Lake, which both sit on a sand belt and are fairly underrated due to the Florida bias of GCA. It certainly is not natural, but the mining site provided enough initial drama and then the architects move A LOT of dirt on certain holes to make the Streamsong site work really well.
Anyone who calls these courses a minimalist study really does not look past the press releases or the surrounding terrain. This place moved LOTS of SAND to make this site work. I have no exact idea how much was the mining company and how much were the golf architects but this is NOT a Sand Hills site where dirt was moved with beach pales. That said, it reminds you of a combination of Nebraska and Ireland in spots. Some extreme drama, some rolling terrain, firm conditions and some really fun shots and terrain.
• The Doak – If you had told me that Tom Doak would build a 7200 par 72 course where the first tee he makes you walk up a steep slope to catch a high dramatic view, I would think Tom Fazio. Then on hole number 7 Tom Doak makes you walk across a bridge and back for the drama of playing across a LAKE ala TPC #17, I would think Pete Dye. Finally, on hole number 18, he finishes with a hole down in a valley similar to Stonewall Old, I would think old Tom Doak trying to make a statement. It all works as the first seven holes are simply a blast to play. It gets a little quiet for a while (see #11, a long slog of a par 4 and #13, a short 4 with no ability to hit driver for a regular guy to hit driver) and then it builds to a stunning finish. I loved the course and it easily went to #1 in Florida for me over Mountain Lake, Calusa Pines, World Woods PB and TPC Sawgrass. I have not played Seminole. Doak 8.
• The C&C – Kyle Harris was able to give us a very thorough tour as we did not want to rush a round here for a second round after a small frost delay. The first five or six holes here are visually intimidating as seen in recent pictures. However it is wide and it is playable for sure. It is probably the harder (for me) course off the tee and the greens are gentler. I hope to get back there later in the week. It appears to be the hardest C&C course that I have seen.
The Clubhouse –
I did not like the look of the clubhouse from the website, but I really liked it on the ground. It sits in a hole surrounded by some of the most dramatic dunes and the lake, and it works. There were still some kinks in the logistics around the clubhouse as it was Day 3 but they will get worked out over time. We did not see the 12 rooms upstairs but they should be nice. Lunch afterward was very nice. The logistics from practice area to first tees are slightly awkward, but part of that was the newness.
The Location –
It was 70 minutes from Disney to the front gate, no traffic and with Pete driving who knew the right roads to get around Lakeland. It is as quiet as any course in Nebraska. The vistas are stunning. There are not the long long vistas that you see at Nebraska, but it is not Florida golf in any manner or form.
The Conditioning –
Very firm, the greens were fantastic. Sure they will have some issues to deal with in the summer and today may have been the best conditioning day ever but it was all the stuff we talk about around here.
The Lodge –
Probably a mile from the clubhouse, it is 220 rooms so this is a big question. Today the course and complex have an intimate feel. Will it have the same feel when they open 220 rooms and have multiple shuttles from Lodge to Clubhouse?
The Economics –
Clearly they have priced themselves to create a unique experience for golf on the East Coast. How it works out nobody can really predict. It is a big upfront cost with a decent sized maintenance so I personally do not want to see it follow the path of Deltona and Sugarloaf (currently closed) to $20-30 rounds. It needs money to stay at this level and the courses deserve a higher price point.