Only time for one. Streamsong Blue or Red?

[Ari Techner]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

[J_ Crisham]

Red has more spectacular views and movement to the property- it is also significantly more difficult with very penal tee shots on the first 3 holes.It was also unbalanced yardage wise with 3100 on the front and 3500+ on the back nine. Blue is very good but a bit flatter terrain wise. Greens were better on the Blue-internal contours pretty impressive. Of my group of 12 players- 9 preferred the Red over the Blue. I personally liked the Blue more but these are both top 100 moderns in my book.

[Mark Saltzman]

Blue.

[Joe Bausch]

You simply can't go wrong at either, IMHO.

[Patrick Glynn]

A tough question Ari - both are no doubt great courses.

My opinion is based on having never played either so take it it for what it's worth:

1. The Blue looks great from the photo tour & up there with Tom's best.
2. I have heard a few mixed reviews on the Red & regardless, its unlikely to be C&C's best course (a place out in Nebraska likely takes that mantle...).
3. Of course if you were a true golfer, you would invite your Irish brethren over for a week & play multiple rounds at each 

Regards,

Patrick

[Ben Kodadek]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

Figure out a way to play them both!  The "flu" is going around you know.

[Ari Techner]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

Figure out a way to play them both!  The "flu" is going around you know.

LOL I truly wish that we're possible but unfortunately it is not and they are all booked up Saturday and Sunday when I might have time to go back.   

[Mac Plumart]

Blue.

[Cory Lewis]

Blue.

[J_ Crisham]

A tough question Ari - both are no doubt great courses.

My opinion is based on having never played either so take it it for what it's worth:

1. The Blue looks great from the photo tour & up there with Tom's best.
2. I have heard a few mixed reviews on the Red & regardless, its unlikely to be C&C's best course (a place out in Nebraska likely takes that mantle...).
3. Of course if you were a true golfer, you would invite your Irish brethren over for a week & play multiple rounds at each 

Regards,

Patrick

Patrick,  At the risk of sounding grumpy- why offer advice on courses you have never set foot on? Pictures rarely if ever tell half the story. Streamsong is pretty amazing- I  have just played multiple rounds there for the past three days. The courses are very different- the group of guys I played with strongly preferred the Red course over the Blue- in fact it was split 9 to 3 in favor of the Red. I preferred the blue. The greens on Doaks course are better IMO but the Crenshaw/Coore course has a better piece of land. The Red favors a better player. The Blue is challenging but very playable- with the winds we had on Friday 15-20mph, Red was a beast off the tee. Blue was friendlier.

[Mike Sweeney]

Blue

[K. Krahenbuhl]

I prefer the Red 7-3 out of 10 rounds.

[Colin Sheehan]

Earlier today, The Outpost Club completed a 16-person, three-day event called The Winter Matchplay, and the participants did a pole at lunch about which course everyone liked more and the breakdown was a dead even split of 8 to 8.

[Terry Lavin]

Pacific Dunes.

[Ronald Montesano]

If one were that much better than the other...

[Tom_Doak]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

I am going to say that based on feedback so far, if your handicap is less than 8, you're 75% likely to prefer the Red course, and if your handicap is 10 or more, you're 75% likely to prefer the Blue.

The odd thing about that, though, is that the course ratings and slope ratings for the two courses are almost identical. [Blue is 74.1/131, Red is 74.2/130]  So, I do wonder if most of the above is really built-in preconceptions of the differences between Bill's courses and mine, instead of actual differences on the ground.

[Mike Sweeney]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

I am going to say that based on feedback so far, if your handicap is less than 8, you're 75% likely to prefer the Red course, and if your handicap is 10 or more, you're 75% likely to prefer the Blue.

Thanks Tom.

I appreciate being called a Big Wimp by one of the most famous living golf course architects in a public forum. Now I REALLY understand why I like Old Dead Guy golf courses.  

PS. I would adjust to 5 handicap (real handicap) or less...

[John Kavanaugh]

The Doak theory does not explain Brad and Joe preferring the Red.

[Mike Sweeney]

The Doak theory does not explain Brad and Joe preferring the Red.

You are rubbing off on people and the alternative view is now popular. What time are we teeing off at Seminole?

[Tom_Doak]

The Doak theory does not explain Brad and Joe preferring the Red.

Sounds like Joe will get the chance to explain that to me on Saturday over a full 18 holes at the Grand Opening.

Incidentally, did either of them say they actually preferred one course to the other?  Or did they just say they rated one higher, or that they thought others would prefer one to the other?  I know Brad gave each a number, but is that the same as stating a preference?

[John Kavanaugh]

My apologies to Brad and Joe. A professional critc does not base his reviews on personal preference. Brad has however quite famously championed the higher handicapped golfer. I have not spoken to either about Streamsong so do not know their personal preference. Be sure and ask them before the dinner check arrives.

[Tom_Doak]

My apologies to Brad and Joe. A professional critc does not base his reviews on personal preference. Brad has however quite famously championed the higher handicapped golfer. I have not spoken to either about Streamsong so do not know their personal preference. Be sure and ask them before the dinner check arrives.

Brad won't be there this weekend.  Was surprised to hear Joe would be at the opening.  Ron Whitten is playing in the Renaissance Cup for the first time in many years.

[Patrick Glynn]

In true Techner fashion, Ari has managed to organise a game at both courses this week.

@ Jack - fair point and that's why my first sentence specifically states I have not been there. I would point out that if we were precluded from commenting on courses that we have not played, the board would be a lot quieter place.

Patrick

[Carl Nichols]

Be sure and ask them before the dinner check arrives.

That made me chuckle.  Twice.

[Joe Leenheer]

Heading down to Orlando tomorrow and I only have time to play one round at Streamsong.  For those of you who have played both, would you recommend Red or Blue for this one round?

I am going to say that based on feedback so far, if your handicap is less than 8, you're 75% likely to prefer the Red course, and if your handicap is 10 or more, you're 75% likely to prefer the Blue.

The odd thing about that, though, is that the course ratings and slope ratings for the two courses are almost identical. [Blue is 74.1/131, Red is 74.2/130]  So, I do wonder if most of the above is really built-in preconceptions of the differences between Bill's courses and mine, instead of actual differences on the ground.

Tom,

I played your Blue this past Wednesday and I must say that from your comments the Red must be an absolute BEAST!  The blue was plenty of a challenge especially the approach shots, green structures, and conditions (plenty firm and fast).  I would say if you are a 10 or more you will probably have a tough time at either.  Regardless of difficulty, the place is very special.  How much did you pay them to let you work with that land?

P.S. Can you please give someone a call about cutting some holes in the practice green?  Those "bumpers" are a terrible first impression.