How to Play Streamsong Red: Dunes, Big Greens and a Giant Biarritz

Nobody expected to find towering sand dunes in the middle of Florida, but that's exactly what Streamsong offers. Built on reclaimed phosphate mining land about an hour from Tampa, the resort opened its Red and Blue courses in 2012, and both were instant hits. Red was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and it plays around 7,150 yards from the back at par 72.

The Red course is about scale and variety. There are big, sweeping fairways, massive greens with dramatic tiers, and bunkers that look natural rather than manufactured. It's wide enough that you'll rarely lose a ball, but the greens and their surrounds are where scores are made or lost. If you love creative short-game shots, using contours and playing firm and fast golf, Red is a must. It's also a terrific choice for groups with mixed abilities, because the width lets everyone enjoy it.

Before you go

• Stay on site if you can. Streamsong is remote. Resort guests have the easiest access, and you'll want time to play Blue and Black as well.
• Walk it. Most players walk, and the routing is comfortable on foot. Caddies are available as walking caddies or group caddies. Golfers who ride have typically needed a forecaddie, so confirm the current policy when you book.
• Take a caddie on your first loop. On greens this big and contoured, someone who knows where the ball will feed is worth a lot of strokes.
• Choose shorter tees. The width makes it tempting to play back, but long approaches into these greens get tough. Most mid-handicappers will be happy somewhere around 6,000 to 6,500 yards.
• Plan for wind and heat. The exposed dunes catch the breeze, and Florida summers are hot. Play early in summer, and enjoy cooler, breezier conditions in winter and spring.
• Practice lag putting. Expect firm, quick greens. Spend more of your warm-up on long putts than on the range.

Hole-by-hole strategy

Hole 4: short and clever

The 4th is a short par 4 of about 330 yards from the back, with a huge bunker sitting in the middle of the fairway and another guarding the green in the style of a Principal's Nose. The green is shallow, wide and sloping. The key is picking your side of the central bunker based on the pin. A layup to a comfortable full-swing distance usually works better than trying to sneak close to the green, because the shallow putting surface needs a spinning wedge.

Hole 6: the tiered par 3

At around 185 yards from the back, the 6th plays to an enormous green with distinct tiers. The yardage to the flag can vary dramatically, so get the number to the pin rather than the middle. Landing on the correct tier is the whole game. If you're unsure, err toward the tier that leaves an uphill putt.

Hole 7: water left, bunkers everywhere

The 7th is a par 5 of about 525 yards from the back, with water running the entire left side and roughly a dozen bunkers scattered around. Coore and Crenshaw give you a choice: play down the left, closer to the water, and you'll have a deeper green to approach; play safe right and the green effectively becomes shallower. For mid-handicappers, the right side is usually the smart play off the tee, with a precise layup that sets up a full wedge.

Hole 8: a short par 3 with personality

This is a short par 3 of about 145 yards with a distinctive finger of green reaching toward the front. It's often compared to the Australian sandbelt courses. Pin position matters a lot here, so take a careful look before choosing your club. A ball in the middle of the green is a great result.

Hole 9: a birdie chance

The 9th is a short par 4, around 310 yards from the back, with a generous fairway. Bunkers can be deceptive, but the hole gives you options. A long hitter might go for it in the right conditions. For most players, a hybrid or fairway wood to a comfortable layup and a confident wedge is the formula for a birdie putt.

Hole 14: the turtleback

The 14th is a par 3 of about 180 yards with a green that falls off on all sides. Anything not on the surface will roll away, often leaving a delicate chip up a slope. Aim for the center of the green regardless of the flag, and if you miss, consider putting from off the green.

Hole 16: the giant Biarritz

The signature hole is a par 3 of about 210 yards from the back, with water across the front and a big dune on the right. The green is enormous, around 70 yards deep, with a deep swale running through it in classic Biarritz style. Where the flag sits changes everything: a front pin and a back pin are almost separate holes. Get the exact number to the flag, take enough club to carry the water comfortably, and accept a long putt as a good outcome. Putting through the swale is one of the most fun shots in Florida golf.

Hole 18: a thrilling finish

The closing par 5 is about 540 yards from the back and offers everything from eagle to double bogey. If you've hit a good drive and have a clear path, you might go for it. Otherwise, lay up to a comfortable distance and give yourself a wedge into the big green. It's a great hole to end a match on.

Scoring tips for mid-handicappers

• Lag putting wins here. Many putts on Red will be 40 feet or longer. Focus on speed and getting the ball within three feet.
• Use the putter from off the green. The firm, tightly mown surrounds make the Texas wedge a reliable choice.
• Pick sides off the tee. The width of the fairways is a gift, but where you are in the fairway matters. Ask yourself which side gives the best angle to the flag.
• Get the pin yardage, not the middle. With greens this deep, the gap between the front and back can be several clubs.
• Don't fear the sand. Bunkers here are often natural and sandy. Make a confident swing and focus on getting the ball back to the green rather than close to the flag.

Streamsong Red is pure fun. Embrace the scale, enjoy the dunes and keep your putting speed sharp, and you'll be planning a return trip before you're done.