Southeast
Streamsong Resort, Florida
Three world-class courses by three legendary architects, rising from reclaimed phosphate land in the middle of nowhere, Florida — the purist's paradise.
Overview
Streamsong is the most improbable great golf destination in America. Built on thousands of acres of reclaimed phosphate mining land in central Florida — roughly equidistant from Tampa and Orlando but feeling a world away from both — the resort features three championship courses designed by three of the most celebrated architects in modern golf: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Red), Tom Doak (Blue), and Gil Hanse (Black). Add in The Chain, an 18-hole par-3 course that is a destination unto itself, and you have four distinct, world-class golf experiences on a single property.
What makes Streamsong remarkable is what it is not. There are no condos lining the fairways. No beach. No theme parks. No distractions. The terrain — rolling hills of sand and scrub created by decades of mining — looks more like the Sandhills of Nebraska or the links of Ireland than anything you would expect in Florida. The courses are walkable, the caddies are excellent, and the design philosophy across all three courses prioritizes strategic options, ground-game creativity, and visual drama over the manufactured difficulty of most resort courses.
Streamsong is Florida's answer to Bandon Dunes — a remote, golf-obsessed retreat where the only agenda is to play great golf, eat well, and argue about which of the three courses is best. That argument, by the way, never gets resolved. Each course has passionate defenders, and playing all three is the only way to form your own opinion.
Courses · 4
Streamsong Red (Coore & Crenshaw)
Resort · Championship
$195-$450
Best for: Architecture enthusiasts who appreciate Coore & Crenshaw's minimalist, strategic style. The most 'natural' feeling of the three courses — it looks like it was discovered, not built.
Insider tip: Red is the course that most resembles links golf in the British Isles — the bounces, the run-outs, the ground game options around the greens. Bring your bump-and-run game. The greens are the most complexly contoured of the three Streamsong courses, and reading them correctly is the difference between birdie and bogey. Walk with a caddie if available — they know the hidden contours.
Streamsong Blue (Tom Doak)
Resort · Championship
$195-$450
Best for: Golfers who appreciate Tom Doak's bold, wide-fairway, massive-green aesthetic. Blue is the most 'open' of the three courses — fewer trees, more options off the tee, and greens so large that the pin position changes everything.
Insider tip: Blue's greens are enormous — some exceed 10,000 square feet — but they are wildly contoured. Being on the green in regulation means nothing if you are on the wrong tier. Pay close attention to pin positions on the yardage sheet and play to the correct quadrant rather than just aiming at the center of the green. A 60-foot putt across two ridges is worse than a chip from 10 yards short.
Streamsong Black (Gil Hanse)
Resort · Championship
$195-$450
Best for: Golfers who want the most visually dramatic and boldly designed of the three courses. Hanse's design is the most modern and aggressive — big waste areas, rugged bunkering, and green complexes that reward imagination.
Insider tip: Black is the newest course and the one most people form the strongest opinion about — you will either rank it first or third among the Streamsong trio. The course has the most elevation change and the most visual intimidation, but do not let the aesthetics fool you — the fairways are wider than they look and the recovery options around the greens are better than they appear. Play it with courage.
The Chain (Par-3 Course)
Resort · Moderate (but deceptively strategic)
$50-$100
Best for: The perfect warm-up, cool-down, or alternate-day round. An 18-hole par-3 course designed with the same care and creativity as the championship courses. Also ideal for groups with a skill-level spread — par 3s are the great equalizer.
Insider tip: The Chain is not a gimmick or an afterthought — it is a genuinely excellent short course that will test your iron play and short game. Bring a wedge set, a putter, and maybe a 7-iron, and prepare to be surprised by how much fun it is. The routing uses the same dramatic terrain as the big courses. Play it on your arrival afternoon or as a bet-settling match on the final morning.
Lodging
Premium
Streamsong Lodge
$350-$650The only lodging on property — a modern, architecturally striking lodge with 228 rooms overlooking the courses. Clean-lined design, comfortable rooms with balcony views of the landscape. Staying on property is essentially required to maximize tee time access and avoid the drive from surrounding towns. The lodge houses all resort restaurants and the rooftop bar.
Mid-Range
Streamsong Lodge (Off-Peak)
$250-$400The same lodge at summer and shoulder-season rates. May through September offers 10-20% off standard rates, especially Sunday through Thursday. The experience is identical — same rooms, same restaurants, same courses — at a significant discount. Florida and Georgia residents receive additional discounts.
Stay-and-Play Packages
$400-$600 (all-inclusive per person)Streamsong offers packages that bundle lodging with 2-3 rounds per day across Red, Blue, Black, and The Chain. These packages represent significant savings over booking rooms and rounds separately. For a group trip, the package pricing is the way to go — contact the resort's group sales team for custom packages for 8+ players.
Budget
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland
$110-$170Located in Lakeland, approximately 40 minutes from the resort. Basic but clean. Complimentary breakfast. The drive is manageable but you lose the convenience of being on property — no early morning tee times or late evening dining at the resort. Only recommended if the lodge is sold out or budget is extremely tight.
Hampton Inn Bartow
$100-$160Closest off-property chain hotel, about 25 minutes from the resort. No frills. Use this as a last resort if the lodge is booked — the experience of staying at Streamsong is a significant part of the trip, and staying off-site diminishes it considerably.
Dining
Canyon Lake Steakhouse
$$$$Upscale Steakhouse
The flagship dining experience at Streamsong. Classic steakhouse with hand-cut prime steaks, an extensive wine list, and stunning views of the courses. This is the big group dinner destination — reserve a large table with course views and settle in for a proper evening. The quality rivals top steakhouses in Tampa or Orlando.
SottoTerra
$$$-$$$$Modern Italian
Tucked below the lodge in a subterranean setting that feels like a wine cave. Modern Italian cuisine with handmade pasta, seasonal preparations, and one of the best wine programs on the property. Intimate atmosphere makes it better for groups of 4-8 than large parties. The burrata and house-made pappardelle are standout dishes.
Restaurant Fifty-Nine
$$$Steak & Seafood
Located in the clubhouse with dramatic views of the championship courses. A polished steak and seafood menu with daily seasonal specials. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The views during a sunset dinner overlooking the courses are among the best dining views at any golf resort in America. Named for the 59th element — a nod to the phosphate mining heritage.
Pub 59
$$Gastropub / Casual American
The casual option at the Red & Blue Clubhouse. Elevated pub food, craft beer selection, and a relaxed post-round atmosphere. This is where you land immediately after your round for a beer and a burger while the adrenaline settles. Walk-in friendly, accommodates groups of any size, and the food is better than typical clubhouse fare.
Bone Valley Tavern
$$-$$$Seafood / Small Plates / Cocktails
Rooftop bar and restaurant with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. Fresh seafood, creative small plates, and craft cocktails. The best sunset spot on the property. Open-air seating means the Florida evening breeze makes this a natural gathering spot for groups after dinner at the main restaurants. The name references the Bone Valley region — Florida's phosphate mining corridor.
Pro Tips
- 1
Play all three championship courses and The Chain over a 3-4 day trip. Each course has a completely different character, and the group debate over which is best will fuel conversation for the entire trip and years afterward.
- 2
Book a stay-and-play package through the resort's group sales team for parties of 8+. The bundled pricing saves significantly over a la carte rounds and rooms, and the group coordinator can arrange preferred tee times, dining reservations, and even tournament scoring.
- 3
Walk the courses. They were designed for walking, and the experience on foot — the elevation changes, the textures, the wind — is fundamentally different from riding in a cart. Walking is mandatory December through February, but it is the right call in any season if your group is reasonably fit.
- 4
Play Red first, then Blue, then Black. This is not about quality ranking — it is about the progression of design styles. Red is the most natural and subtle, Blue is the most expansive and strategic, and Black is the most dramatic and bold. This order builds the experience.
- 5
Do not skip Restaurant Fifty-Nine for at least one dinner. The sunset views over the courses from the clubhouse are genuinely spectacular, and the food is excellent. Book a window table.
Sample Itineraries
weekend getaway
3 daysDay 1: Arrive from Tampa (80-minute drive), check into the lodge, afternoon round at The Chain to warm up and settle a group bet, drinks at Bone Valley Tavern rooftop, dinner at Pub 59. Day 2: Morning round at Streamsong Red (walk it), long lunch at Restaurant Fifty-Nine, afternoon round at Streamsong Blue (cart if legs are tired), dinner at Canyon Lake Steakhouse. Day 3: Morning round at Streamsong Black, lunch at the clubhouse, depart.
full trip
5 daysDay 1: Arrive, afternoon at The Chain (18 holes, walking only), casual dinner at Pub 59. Day 2: Morning round at Streamsong Red (walk with caddie), spa or fishing in the afternoon, dinner at SottoTerra. Day 3: Morning round at Streamsong Blue (walk with caddie), long lunch at Restaurant Fifty-Nine, afternoon sporting clays or pool time, big group dinner at Canyon Lake Steakhouse. Day 4: Morning round at Streamsong Black (walk with caddie), optional afternoon replay of your group's favorite course, sunset drinks at Bone Valley Tavern rooftop, farewell dinner at Restaurant Fifty-Nine. Day 5: Optional morning nine at The Chain for the final group competition, lunch and depart.
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