Gator Country

**scbeerman** · 03-19-2013, 02:27 PM

I have done this in the past, so please give me some feedback if you enjoy this thread or find it useful. Everyone has a passion, and one of mine is golf. My bucket list is primarily comprised of finding the best golf courses to play. It has taken me to some off the beaten track places, but that is where the best courses are found.

Streamsong Resort is newly opened as of late 2012. It is in a remote location in Polk County (Fl) roughly 10-15 miles south of Mulberry. It is a place that only serious golfers will enjoy as that is all there is at present and the golf is expensive at $175 per round excluding caddies. A 220 room inn is under construction, set to open late 2013, that should include a spa and other amenties. The resort is some 16,000 acres owned by Mosiac Corporation, so there is plenty of room for future courses. At present, there are two golf courses, Red and Blue. The Red was designed by the duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (yes, the 2 time Masters Champ) and the Blue was desigend by Tom Doak. These two groups are among the elite designers today.

I only played the Red Course this trip. I am a Coore/Crenshaw fanatic, and this was the fourth of their courses that I have played. The course features dramatic sand dunes surrounding the fairways, much like you encounter in Ireland. As with other C&C courses, the yardage varies often, resulting in many short and long par 4s. The 10-12 holes are all par 4s which are almost impossible for to reach in regulation except for bombers (260+ drivers). The course is fair, offering the player the choice of risky or safe paths to the hole. It is enjoyable for all levels of players if played from the correct length (according to skill level). You will hit every club in your bag, which is the sign of a great design.

In summary, Streamsong is a dream resort to visit. Any serious golfer should plan a trip there, but if staying for two days, I would wait until the inn is completed.

**teebone7200** · 03-19-2013, 02:31 PM

Thanks!

vangator1 · 03-19-2013, 08:41 PM

I'm into quantity over quality, so $175 is too rich for my blood.

My favorite course is the North Hills in Corry Pa (NW Pa near Erie). http://northhillsgolf.com/index.htm

$375 for a single membership! $500 for the family. It is a wonderful layout carved out of maple, oak and elm.

**scbeerman** · 03-21-2013, 10:21 AM

This is what I love, the discusssion of other courses. North Hills is designed by Ed Ault, a respected designer.

I got enough views on the thread so that I will post reviews periodically, between 6 and 10 a year. If anyone else has a course that they like to play, post a review.

gators83 · 03-22-2013, 09:35 AM

Great Layout near Orlando with reasonable green fees. The clubhouse is amazing.

http://www.bellacollina.com/

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-22-2013, 04:52 PM

Our club (LWCC) is a 1926 Donald Ross. Greens were redone 20 or so years ago taking away some of the turtleback shape that made the course so great. Still a good track and very reasonable even for guests.

BHGIII just sold it a few months ago and hopefully the new ownership group will get it back to the great course it once was.

Had many friends make the ride over to Streamsong. Helluva track from what I hear.

northgagator · 03-22-2013, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleBlueLW

Our club (LWCC) is a 1926 Donald Ross. Greens were redone 20 or so years ago taking away some of the turtleback shape that made the course so great. Still a good track and very reasonable even for guests.
.

Donald Ross was the golf architect of his day and one of the best ever. His course designed captured that classy Walter Hagan feel. and that Great Gatsby atmosphere. I grew up caddying and playing golf on one of projects. That is the old Hyde Park Golf Course on the west side of Jacksonville. Over the years Some of the turtle back greens were leveled an (but still have some elevation and slope. A lot of Ross's big fairway traps with high lips were filled (to make play faster, easier and to lower maintenance). Some of the greens still have deep traps with he high lips.

Here us a list if his courses: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...rses#section_2
If you want to see a good Donald Ross course on the PGA tour via TV there is Atlanta's East Lake (Fed Ex Cup) and Pinehurst #2 (US Open, Ryder Cup, and PGA). Here is some good news but you will have to wait until next year to actually see it.

Quote:

In 2011 Pinehurst #2 completed a $2.5 million, year long renovation by a group led by Ben Crenshaw. The goal was to revert the course back to the original Donald Ross design. [2]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineh...o._2#section_2.

**scbeerman** · 03-27-2013, 02:01 PM

Donald Ross is one of the greatest of all time. You can almost go into any small town in North Carolina and find a Ross course. The course on which I learned to play golf may be a Ross, but it has not been proven for sure (Florence CC in SC). I think that is why I have a love for old classic courses.

Lake Wales CC and Mountain Lake (a Seth Raynor) are two courses on my radar screen.

JaxLizard · 03-27-2013, 02:16 PM

Anyone done the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama? Which ones do you recommend? I am a mid handicapper who hits it fairly straight and can consistently hit it about 250-260 off the tee.

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-27-2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scbeerman

Donald Ross is one of the greatest of all time. You can almost go into any small town in North Carolina and find a Ross course. The course on which I learned to play golf may be a Ross, but it has not been proven for sure (Florence CC in SC). I think that is why I have a love for old classic courses.

Lake Wales CC and Mountain Lake (a Seth Raynor) are two courses on my radar screen.

We have a two day tournament at LWCC starting Friday if you can make it! Its the 11th Annual Old Friends Invitational that me and some buddies cooked up years ago. Took the weekend formerly of the BHG Invitational when that tournament was discontinued last year.

I have played Mountain lake many times. It is truly special. One of our committee members is the head greenskeeper there and in the summer it rarely gets played. I think the Florida mid amateurs are being played there this fall.

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-27-2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaxLizard

Anyone done the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama? Which ones do you recommend? I am a mid handicapper who hits it fairly straight and can consistently hit it about 250-260 off the tee.

Ross bridge is pretty good. Played there a few years back before bama whipped our butts up there.

**G8trGr8t** · 03-27-2013, 10:11 PM

golf course design was my first love. I started in high school building and working at Ravines CC and building golf courses for McCumber Group during the summers; worked every summer through college running dozers and other equipment building courses designed by Ron Garl, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio among others. Graduated from college with a civil engineering degree and went to work for Nicklaus and was a design coordinator for 5 years. Gave it up to come back to G'ville and work on first marriage that failed anyway. Last major project I was managing before the real estate bust involved updating a RTJ Sr course and building a new course so got to do some design work with Rees Jones. Been truly fortunate to have met and worked with some of the masters of the art. Scariest ride I ever took was drving Nicklaus through a snow storm on icy roads in Pittsburgh one fall. Scared to death something would happen and I would be the one responsible for killing the bear.

Always said that a golf course is one of the only things you can build and it will look better in 30 years. Best thing about golf courses were the flexibility to modify it to make it better as it is being built. Loved working with Dye because he didn't really put much on paper and wasn't too proud to accept input from a kid on a dozer. We rebuilt an entire course in the swamp west of Jupiter (Pete Dye Preserve) one summer without him ever putting pencil to paper. If you ever get the chance, make sure you play Black Diamond in Lecanto. Great tract on a unique piece of property. If in Pittsburgh, check out Nevillewood Country Club if you can get on. Also did Barrington Country Club in Aurora Ohio.

Don't ever play now as what little time I have (3 kids under 14) I like to spend fishing but still appreciate a good design and the beauty of a well done golf course.

**scbeerman** · 03-28-2013, 10:19 AM

LittleBlue - I will contact you the next time that I am down your way. If I can get on Mountain Lake without paying the hotel bill, that would be great.

G8trG8tr - great to have someone who has actually been in the golf course design business. I think we have enough people in here to have a golf course thread.

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-29-2013, 07:58 AM

Local story on our tournament starting later today. This years charity is Good Sheppard Hospice.

http://www.theledger.com/article/201...-Polk-s-Majors

**SwampKing1** · 03-29-2013, 08:27 AM

LBLW - Playing in the most prestigious tournament in Polk county @ The Heights in Lakeland - The 4 Ball??? As a side note - Cleveland Heights was designed by the same architect that designed Shinnycock Hills in New Jersey!!

**LittleBlueLW** · 03-29-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampKing1

LBLW - Playing in the most prestigious tournament in Polk county @ The Heights in Lakeland - The 4 Ball??? As a side note - Cleveland Heights was designed by the same architect that designed Shinnycock Hills in New Jersey!!

I am not this year but many of our Old Friends players are. When I lived in Lakeland I used to walk the Heights all the time.