I love a golf trip that hits the ground running.
Skip the “warmup round” – to me, there’s no better way to transition to golf vacation mode than diving straight into one of the most memorable rounds you’ll encounter on the whole trip.
Energy levels are at their highest on arrival day, making it the perfect time to bring your golf game to an awesome, unfamiliar setting.
Some of my most vivid memories of golf trips took place right at the beginning. A few that come to mind – the immersive links experience and first ocean reveal of Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes, a round at mind-bending Tobacco Road to kick off a Carolina Sandhills tour and an adventure like no other at The Lido to christen a Sand Valley weekend.
These lasting memories will keep bringing you back to this great game, creating first impressions of a destination that linger long after you’ve left.
Over the past two years, we’ve kicked off our winter PGA Show trips in a big way by heading straight to Streamsong Resort upon arrival.
This year’s trip was a bit different from the previous one. Instead of a multi-day golf marathon like we enjoyed in January 2025, this time we spent a single day filled with photography, golf and connecting with media, architect David McLay Kidd and the KemperSports team during the media day to tour Bone Valley, Streamsong’s fifth course.
Experiencing Kidd’s design at Streamsong ahead of its grand opening was absolutely incredible – there’s an exciting magic unfolding at this Florida destination that’s sure to elevate it to spectacular new heights.
After the morning expedition at Bone Valley with David, the rest of the day played out beautifully, including a round at Streamsong Black and bonus golf on the opening stretch of The Chain.
In both cases, I completed my first full loop of golf on these esteemed layouts – in 2025, our rounds on The Chain and Black were shortened due to light and weather, respectively.
Now that I’ve played nearly all of the holes on site (Red #16-18 still remain – 2025 round also shortened due to light), I feel like I have a deeper appreciation for Streamsong as a whole.
After four years of extensive golf travel, this is one of the best golf destinations I’ve visited – and it’s definitely my favorite spot on the East Coast.
What makes Streamsong so special isn’t just its unique landforms, its exceptional sand-based terrain or its plush accommodations – it’s also the architectural variety employed.
Streamsong has thoughtfully curated a collection of layouts crafted by four of the most renowned architects of our time, offering unmatched architectural depth among golf’s elite destinations.
Golf’s First Mount Rushmore of Modern Architecture
With the addition of Bone Valley, Streamsong has become the only resort in the world to boast the “Mount Rushmore” of modern golf architecture, featuring remarkable designs from the leading visionaries of our time: Tom Doak, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, and now David McLay Kidd.
All four architectural firms have become household names, shaping destination golf as the sport has surged in popularity in recent years.
Variety is key to unforgettable golf trips – whether you’re traveling across the country or abroad, experiencing different design styles will keep memories fresh and help connect with each natural setting on a deeper, more personal level.
Other A-list destinations have adopted this model to a lesser extent – Dream Golf, for example, has employed a diverse architectural roster at its resorts while leaning heavily on Doak and Coore/Crenshaw, while Cabot has taken a similar approach without being afraid to tap other rising stars (e.g., Kyle Franz and Mike Nuzzo at Cabot Citrus Farms).
On the other end of the spectrum, some top-tier resorts put all their eggs in one basket, championing a singular architectural philosophy by developing long-standing working relationships with a select design team.
Take Destination Kohler, for example – here, you’ll be fully immersed in the mind of Pete Dye from start to finish. Some of Dye’s best work happened at Kohler, but all four championship layouts feature similar architectural themes.
Architectural variety has been part of Streamsong’s DNA since it opened in 2012, when it brought in Doak and Coore/Crenshaw to design the Blue and Red courses.
The two design teams often worked within earshot of each other during construction of the original 36-hole facility, yet the result was two completely distinct layouts – each a brilliant vision that brought the rugged, sprawling sand barrens to life in its own unique way.
Streamsong’s bold approach continued with Hanse and Wagner designing the Black course, and while Coore and Crenshaw returned for The Chain, the lineup is now complete – capping its Mount Rushmore with David McLay Kidd’s Bone Valley.
Bone Valley – Set to Become the Best of Streamsong?
While every course at Streamsong is critically-acclaimed, it’s yet to achieve one of the great accomplishments in golf course design – cracking Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses list.
It’s come impressively close, with the first three 18-hole courses all earning spots on America’s Second 100 Greatest Golf Courses – Red at #133, Blue at #166 and Black at #191. Yet, for all its grandeur, Streamsong has yet to receive the full recognition it truly deserves.
After seeing Bone Valley firsthand, I truly believe that’s about to change – and I don’t say that lightly. While I’ll reserve my final judgment until I’ve actually played the course, the tour alone convinced me that Bone Valley has the potential to become Streamsong’s crown jewel.
It sits on some of the most captivating land at the growing resort, blending the best features of the other courses. At Bone Valley, you’ll find striking topography and wetlands reminiscent of Red and The Chain, gentle rolling terrain like Blue and expansive sand blowouts framing the fairways, similar to Black – all showcased across different parts of the property.
The result is a setting that doesn’t lean on a singular signature look, but one that immerses the golfer in an adventure that will demand a well-rounded, versatile approach.
To do the site justice, KemperSports tapped perhaps the perfect architect to mold the diverse footprint into an American epic – David McLay Kidd.
Of all the qualities David possesses, what I admire the most about him is his masterful approach to routing.
David’s expert understanding of the golfer’s mindset – shaped by a lifetime in the industry and his outgoing personality – plays a major role in his course routings.
In a similar fashion, Bone Valley stretches into the captivating southwestern corner of Streamsong’s property, an exceptional canvas for David to craft his next dynamic and drama-filled routing.
Kidd masterfully blended the unique sections of the Bone Valley property, creating a seamless yet diverse golf experience. With outstanding shot values, smaller yet strategically engaging greens and excellent use of the natural landscape, Bone Valley has the potential to be the most stunning of all four 18-hole layouts.
Touring Bone Valley with a Legend
Following an excellent sunrise photo session, we headed to the Streamsong Black clubhouse – also to be shared with Bone Valley – to meet David Kidd, the KemperSports team and an enthusiastic group of media for a guided tour of Bone Valley with David himself.
From the outset, it was clear that David took great pride in his creation and was equally grateful for the opportunity to establish his legacy alongside the other top architects of our generation.
David’s infectious personality makes him an ideal frontman for such an endeavor – he’s always eager to engage in conversation about his craft, unafraid to share insightful and thought-provoking opinions.
And on Bone Valley’s Media Day, he was brimming with enthusiasm as he guided us along the routing of Bone Valley.
We set out in carts, making our way across the property and pausing every two or three holes as David thoughtfully highlighted the key features and design elements of each shot. He clearly identified playing lines for golfers of varying skill levels, demonstrating how he has incorporated versatility into the design with both safe routes and aggressive angles in play on nearly every hole.
The routing starts and ends at what will be a shared clubhouse with Streamsong Black, before venturing out into its own corner of the Streamsong property.
The opening and closing stretches border wetlands, with rolling sand dunes framing the opposite sides. The water hazards add complexity to the beginning and end of the round, while also making this section of the property especially memorable.
The routing then follows gentler terrain throughout the remainder of the front nine, showcasing wide fairways, a mix of blind to semi-blind shots and expansive sand blowouts adjacent to the Black course.
After a brief stretch of flatter terrain and longer yardages, Bone Valley turns east on the back nine, revealing more pronounced mounding and demanding approach shots.
One consistent feature throughout the round is smaller greens compared to most of Streamsong’s other courses. David often commented on their size, particularly in comparison to the Black course – for instance, he rated the largest green on site as only a “5 out of 10” on a Streamsong Black scale.
While the greens are smaller in size, they offer strategic contours to open up multiple angles of attack. A crucial element of Bone Valley’s design was to allow for the ground game to thrive – shelves, humps and kicker slopes are used to maximum effect, acting as runways to work the ball across the ground towards the pin.
After the tour, we were treated to one of David’s favorite delicacies, a dish I had never encountered before – Scottish eggs. Encased in layers of crispy fried breadcrumbs and seasoned sausage meat, this unique take on the hard-boiled egg was an instant crowd favorite.
Paul then sat down with David for an interview, providing us with an in-depth, firsthand account of what the opportunity at Streamsong meant to him in his distinguished career and how he seized it to create something truly special.
David unmistakably takes great pride in his work at Bone Valley, a project that harmoniously blends his design philosophy with the land’s unique features, combining familiar Streamsong visual elements with distinctive traits such as smaller greens and versatile options for the ground game.
Bone Valley was an intense and meaningful project for Kidd, yet by adhering to core principles, he crafted a design that is both enjoyable and accessible while still challenging. Set in a visually striking location with breathtaking views, the golf experience is thoughtfully curated to showcase the land’s natural beauty to its fullest.
The course is set to preview in Fall 2026 and officially open in January 2027, and I couldn’t be more excited to tee it up at Bone Valley in a future trip. From everything we saw, it offers an authentic expression of Streamsong’s exceptional terrain and promises to enrich the overall destination experience.
A Blissful (and Completed) Loop on Streamsong Black
During our 2025 trip, an attempted round on Streamsong Black quickly became legend within WiscoGolfAddict circles – for all the wrong reasons. Mother Nature tempted us with a light drizzle and the promise of clearing skies, only to unleash her full fury on the 6th hole.
Dario’s Hilarious Review of our 2025 Experience at Streamsong Black
Cloudy with a Chance of Tee Shots: An Unforgettable Day at Streamsong Black
As we teed off on the first hole, Mother Nature had not yet unleashed her fury. Instead she lured us into the danger with a slight mist… as if she was saying “You can trust me, I know how special this place is. I won’t open the heavens on you…” only to have her fingers…
It’s rare that I visit a bucket-list course and don’t finish a round, so to say I was eager for a second chance this time around would be an understatement.
We were joined by Wisconsin golf legend Charlie Delsman as our caddie, who knew our inconsistent games all too well from carrying our bags during last year’s trip.
As talented a golfer as Charlie is, he may be an even more exceptional caddie – every piece of advice was spot on throughout the day. Considering it was the first round of the 2026 season and rust was at an all-time high, the fact that I broke 90 on a challenging track speaks volumes about Charlie’s invaluable guidance and calming presence.
Caddie guidance around the greens is especially crucial at a course like Black. While its vast fairways and greens offer ample opportunities, skillfully navigating the expansive green complexes is essential to posting a respectable score.
I’m a big fan of courses that reward the ground game, and Streamsong Black provides the perfect canvas to get creative and find ways to get the ball close to the hole, no matter the shot trajectory.
On top of that, the greens were fast – I hadn’t played on a tightly cut, silky-smooth green in over three months, and it was a true joy to get back into the game on a course with such fantastic conditions.
In the end, it was a glorious day under the sun, and thankfully Mother Nature gave us a much-needed reprieve this time. After completing my first full round here, I’ve ranked Black as my third favorite course at Streamsong, slightly behind Red and Blue – but still comfortably within the top 30 courses I’ve played.
A Perfect Nightcap at The Chain
Last year, as soon as we arrived, we quickly dropped our bags in our rooms and, with just over an hour of daylight remaining, headed straight to The Chain for some evening golf.
We managed to play 13 of the 19 holes on site before darkness forced us to stop, but since we started on the 7th, we never got the chance to experience the opening stretch.
In a similar situation this year with the sun sinking to the horizon after we finished at Black, we decided to tackle the opening seven holes before heading back to Orlando.
This section of The Chain meanders through a serene setting, with corridors lined by beautiful live oaks. The flatter terrain and less abundant water hazards make this the most scorable stretch on the property.
The setting felt especially sublime, with perfectly clear skies and high spirits as we concluded the opening act of our trip.
The Chain stands on par with other premium resort short courses I’ve played and significantly enhances the overall Streamsong experience.
Closing Thoughts
Destination golf has taken the world by storm over the past several years, and we’re extremely fortunate to live in a time when new high-end course openings have become the norm each year.
At the forefront of the new-age renaissance is Streamsong, a resort that continuously pushes the boundaries of destination golf. With a top-tier management team in KemperSports, Streamsong is dedicated to elevating the guest experience and redefining the possibilities of golf travel in both scale and quality.
During the recent Media day, it became clear that Streamsong’s fifth course will match or even surpass the high standards set by its existing four courses. By collaborating with renowned golf architect David McLay Kidd, Streamsong has added another masterpiece to its lineup with a unique architectural flair, further cementing its place as a premier golf destination that every enthusiast should experience.
For much more on Streamsong, be sure to check out our collection of content on the world-class destination.
All original photography by WiscoGolfAddict photographers/writers Brian Murphy, Paul Seifert and Troy Giljohann
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