I've just written my review of Streamsong Blue. I published it here:
https://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/96550-streamsong-blue-a-quick-review/ . I'd copy and paste it here, but I'm not sure the images would work. I'm happy to do so - here or in a different topic - if it suits the other members here.
I caution my readers at the beginning that they should NOT give a lot of weight to my review as I played the course but one time. I don't think courses should be reviewed after one time, which is not to say that first impressions don't matter, but that more than the first impression matters. Changing weather conditions, etc.
Two things I'd bring over from my review are in the cons section. They are:
- The bunker sand was like beach sand: 6" deep and easily shifting. I'm almost reluctant to list this one, because bunkers should be hazards, but this is almost going a bit too far. I'd prefer unraked but firm bunkers. That would still make bunkers a challenge (think Kiawah Island Ocean Course). These felt like unkempt bunkers where they'd just dumped in way too much sand and hadn't done anything to compact it. Even raking it was bigger chore. You had to just play a chunk/run type shot; if you wanted any spin you almost had to a) get lucky with a clean lie and not a slightly plugged one, and b) pick the ball almost clean. For a resort? Meh.
- The fairway approach areas were soft, and the greens, though not rock-hard, were medium firm. This is my greatest dislike: I expected to be able to play the ground game, but couldn't. Balls would die out and almost all their speed would be scrubbed before the ball trundled onto the green. It was very disappointing to see what I was seeing, understand what I think I understand about Tom Doak's work, and have to play an almost typical American-style "fly it to the hole" type of golf. It made using the slopes on the greens less fun and effective, and rendered the slopes and contours fronting the greens completely irrelevant, as balls couldn't be counted upon to not plug. And no, there was no rain storm or any unusual weather before we played - the ground should have been reasonably firm. Perhaps there's just too much sand beneath it? (Though there's obviously plenty of sand beneath links courses in Scotland, and those are firm as firm gets.)
The first I'm torn about, because again I do think bunkers should be hazards, but they just didn't feel right. Make the bunkers too penal and players can't show off their skills in hitting them cleanly with spin. But again, maybe that's by design.
The second, maybe I just had the wrong idea, but I was disappointed to discover that I couldn't play the type of golf I thought I would get to play there.
Anyway, I had a great time, and I'd love to play it six more times, in different winds and weather, and start to apply some of the local knowledge I didn't have the first time around.
P.S. If this belongs in another topic, or a new one, moderators should feel free to move it.