Walking only times at Streamsong

[Pete Buczkowski]

Apologies if this is a double post. 

Streamsong has announced walking only times throughout the year, see this page for details: http://www.streamsongresort.com/best-florida-golf/walking-golf-philosophy/

It is very limited in the summer, but hours are extended during cooler months.  One major change is that carts will no longer be available during prime season (Jan 1 - April 15).  I love that they explained the walking philosophy and how carts can detract from the overall experience, for walkers and non-walkers alike.  Very bold move as this will likely cost them revenue, especially during peak season.  Bravo Streamsong!

[Jud_T]

How exactly do carts detract from the overall experience for non-walkers?  

[John Kavanaugh]

It's a culture thing. Even I, a cartballer, likes it better when everyone walks.

[Mike Sweeney]

Fabulous, and you have to give them real credit in the picture they place on that page, two golfers with two bags:

[Pete Buczkowski]

How exactly do carts detract from the overall experience for non-walkers?  

They laid out a nice argument on their site, quoted below.  They also could have mentioned traditional reasons, e.g. socializing with the entire group, getting exercise, etc.  Mixing walkers and cartballers in the same group (or consecutive groups) sucks for pace of play.

At Streamsong®, our philosophy is that when you walk Streamsong® Blue and Streamsong® Red, you’re able to enjoy every step of your round while immersing yourself in the environment that Tom Doak and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have specifically designed for walking golfers. In so doing, you’re able to appreciate the subtle undulations of the fairways, the natural contours of the land, and the many nuances of the course architecture.

Although carts are available, we believe that the limited visibility, noise and distractions of riding in a cart are all factors that contribute to an inferior golfing experience. When you’re in a cart, you may still be able to see the courses from the tees and your approaches from the greens, but ultimately, the experience in between is lost.

[Greg Tallman]

Applaud the effort and interested to see the results.

[Paul Jones]

I love to walk, but really enjoy walking in morning with a caddie, then have caddie drive cart in afternoon when I want play 36. I think this will cut down on some people playing 36 a day.

[ward peyronnin]

Then they better start issuing pin sheets and pace of play sheets

[Jud_T]

Why not 12/1- 3/1?  Average high in April is 84, while it's 74 in December.  Since when does prime season in Florida not include Christmas break?  Guess I'm not going from 3/1-4/15.  Not sure I've ever walked 36 when it's 85 and humid.

[Rees Milikin]

Why not 12/1- 3/1?  Average high in April is 84, while it's 74 in December.  Since when does prime season in Florida not include Christmas break?  Guess I'm not going from 3/1-4/15.  Not sure I've ever walked 36 when it's 85 and humid.

Since I have been living in Central FL (going on 4 years) the weather in March & April has been more pleasant than December. It was in the mid to high 80's this December up until Christmas.

March & April are prime time for playing golf here.

[Howard Riefs]

For this year’s Phosphate Feathery in March, we had two guys who dropped out after we learned that Streamsong prohibited carts for morning tee times before 9:30 a.m. (without a doctor’s note or ADA card) in March in an effort to protect the turf. Of the remaining 21 who attended, I’m confident that four more would have dropped out if these new rules were in place and they couldn’t take a cart for at least one round each day.  

This move makes me ask: Who exactly is the target Streamsong clientele?  

As I view it, the new walking only/cart rules are…

Good news for…
Caddies
Course maintenance staff
Traditionalists who believe carts “contribute to an inferior golfing experience”
Orlando and Tampa-area (e.g., World Woods) courses
Competing U.S. resorts (e.g., Sea Island, Pinehurst, etc.)
Pushcart revenue

Bad news for…
Caddies (no carts means no forecaddies)
Seniors
Golfers who only take a cart
Golfers who play 36 and walk one of the two rounds
Streamsong sales staff who book large groups
Buddy trips
Cart barn staff
Golf cart leasing agents
Streamsong revenue

[Jud_T]

Hey,

These guys can afford to make the courses tiddly-winks-only if they want.  Walking-only works well at Bandon cause it rarely hits 70 and there's almost always a nice, ahem, breeze about.  Walking-only in central Florida is a bit of a head scratcher IMO.  Kind of like Erin Hills mid summer. Walking-only before noon would make more sense IMO.  They better stock lots of this stuff in the pro shop for all us fat norther bedpost notchers   :

[BCowan]

''Who exactly is the target Streamsong clientele?''

   Guys who can't get into Seminole???

(Nov 1-April 30th) Florida is great, especially last two weeks of December before the masses come down Jan 1st.  (Nov 1- Dec 30th) not many down there, don't get it, great weather. 

[John Kavanaugh]

They won't have any turf left if they allow carts at a high frequency.  Paths would cost more than revenue lost.

[Mike Sweeney]

They won't have any turf left if they allow carts at a high frequency.  Paths would cost more than revenue lost.

While I understand that you understand the cost better than anyone here, the revenue side is yet to be determined.

I skipped playing Streamsong last Christmas-New Years week as after three trips I was a little tired of some issues disclosed here.

Now, I am ready for a return visit next holiday season and hope that the manager of this thread will play again, even if that means playing the worst C&C course that I have played.

[Bill_McBride]

They won't have any turf left if they allow carts at a high frequency.  Paths would cost more than revenue lost.

While I understand that you understand the cost better than anyone here, the revenue side is yet to be determined.

I skipped playing Streamsong last Christmas-New Years week as after three trips I was a little tired of some issues disclosed here.

Now, I am ready for a return visit next holiday season and hope that the manager of this thread will play again, even if that means playing the worst C&C course that I have played.

Please list all of the C&C courses you have played, in the order of your preference, and explain why Streamsong Red is not your favorite when compared to each of the others.  

[Mike Sweeney]

Please list all of the C&C courses you have played, in the order of your preference, and explain why Streamsong Red is not your favorite when compared to all the others.  

Sand Hills - The Mother Ship

Hidden Creek - No longer a member, but a great members course.

Friars Head - Well documented here, more dramatic that HC, but as an everyday golf course...

Cuscowilla - I really love this course and can't believe it is #4 on my list

Sugarloaf - I really liked the course. Part of that was probably due to the fact that they were VERY cool to my son when I was playing there.

Chechessee Creek - Hard to believe this is #6.

Streamsong Red - In the elegant world of C&C, one course has to be last. Two flaws:

• Opening is too hard when Yale closes at Thanksgiving and I have not hit a ball for 30 days
• The back 9 is too long for a C&C course. They missed on the flow of mixing in short 4's and 5's. None of the holes are bad, just the flow is not C&Cish.
• My buddy Pete does not agree, but he is young  

[Bill_McBride]

Please list all of the C&C courses you have played, in the order of your preference, and explain why Streamsong Red is not your favorite when compared to all the others.  

Sand Hills - The Mother Ship

Hidden Creek - No longer a member, but a great members course.

Friars Head - Well documented here, more dramatic that HC, but as an everyday golf course...

Cuscowilla - I really love this course and can't believe it is #4 on my list

Sugarloaf - I really liked the course. Part of that was probably due to the fact that they were VERY cool to my son when I was playing there.

Streamsong Red - In the elegant world of C&C, one course has to be last. Two flaws:

• Opening is too hard when Yale closes at Thanksgiving and I have not hit a ball for 30 days
• The back 9 is too long for a C&C course. They missed on the flow of mixing in short 4's and 5's. None of the holes are bad, just the flow is not C&Cish.
• My buddy Pete does not agree, but he is young  

Cool, you thought I was serious!   Nice job.   Have to agree.  I have Bandon Trails and Austin Golf Club ahead as well, and Talking Stick North tied.  Talking Stick South is my last place.  Crenshaw Cliffside Barton Creek is just behind AGC.   Streamsong Red does have two of their best par 5s, 7 and 13.   

[Michael Whitaker]

Fabulous, and you have to give them real credit in the picture they place on that page, two golfers with two bags (I forget how to size, so page over):

I think that is Pete and me on the Red after we brought the Blue to it's knees and killed the mega hotdog.

I'm happy with the new rules. I've never taken a cart or a caddie during my three visits to Streamsong, so this fits right into my wheelhouse.