The whispers from Florida’s phosphate-rich earth have finally articulated their secrets, and the golf world is abuzz. For nearly two years, as I followed the murmurs from Streamsong, the speculation about their fourth 18-hole masterpiece had become a parlour game among architecture enthusiasts. Would it be a new hue to join the iconic Red, Blue, and Black? A Streamsong Yellow, perhaps a verdant Green? How delightfully predictable that would have been. But then, Streamsong rarely settles for predictable, does it?
The news hit like a prehistoric hammer: David McLay Kidd’s latest creation, unearthed from the very sediment of time, is to be christened Bone Valley, opening for preview play on November 30th. And what a name it is. It’s a name that doesn’t just suggest a place, but conjures an epoch, a primal landscape teeming with forgotten giants.
Stepping Back in Time: A Landscape Forged by Megalodons
To truly appreciate Bone Valley, one must first shed the modern-day notions of championship golf and journey back millions of years. This isn’t just a golf course; it’s a geological canvas, vast and untamed, much like the Florida I often find myself falling in love with for its raw, evocative beauty. The land upon which Streamsong now sits, where Kidd has so artfully etched his latest vision, was once a thriving, sun-drenched ocean. And in those ancient seas, predators reigned supreme, none more awe-inspiring than the megalodon.
“Millions of years ago, the swath of Central Florida where Streamsong sits was underwater, a roiling ocean filled with all manner of marine life. High up on the aquatic food chain was the megalodon, a shark so outsized it made a Great White look like a minnow. The quantity of fossilized remains gave rise to the name for the region: Bone Valley.”
I can only imagine the thrill—and later, the wry amusement—Kidd must have experienced during construction. What began as a startling discovery, unearthing a gleaming megalodon tooth, must have quickly become part of the everyday symphony of earthmoving. “The first time he found one he was blown away. By the fourth or fifth, he told GOLF.com, he was less impressed. ‘I was like, ah, that one’s broken,’ he said. A few months in, unearthing the saw-sharp remains of an ancient fish seemed no more remarkable than stumbling across a cactus in a desert.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the sheer volume of history buried beneath the fairways.
Kidd’s Canvas: Design Rooted in Deep Time
Having traversed courses designed by architects who often feel like archaeological detectives – peeling back layers of a landscape to reveal its truest golf potential – I can tell you that Streamsong offers a unique challenge and opportunity. The pre-existing Red, Blue, and Black courses, shaped by Coore & Crenshaw, Tom Doak, and Gil Hanse respectively, are masterclasses in minimalist design, letting the dramatic sand dunes and exposed phosphate spoil mounds dictate the routing. They play firm and fast, embracing the wild contours of central Florida in a way few other courses do.
So, what can we expect from Kidd at Bone Valley? Given Streamsong’s ethos and Kidd’s recent evolution in design – moving from the bold, sometimes brutal, MacKenzie-esque features of his early career to a more naturalistic, nuanced approach seen at destinations like Mammoth Dunes – I anticipate a course that feels both ancient and exhilarating. The raw, exposed earth, surely peppered with fossil fragments, will not just be a backdrop but an active participant in the strategic questions posed by each hole. Will Kidd lean into the “bone” aspect, creating stark, almost skeletal bunkering that echoes geological forms? Or will he carve out greens and surrounds that mimic the undulating ocean floor, once traversed by leviathans?
Streamsong’s courses are renowned for their incredible variety and strategic depth. The exposed sand, the firm turf, the often-windy conditions – these elements demand shot-making precision and creative recovery. Bone Valley, with its uniquely geological name, suggests a continuation of this philosophy, perhaps with an even deeper connection to the very ground it inhab upon. The property’s commitment to “natural fit for land” reinforces that we can expect a course that feels like it has always been there, not imposed upon the landscape but revealed from it.
;)
Streamsong Resort
Beyond the Fairways: Streamsong’s Allure
For those of us who appreciate the art of golf course design, Streamsong is already a pilgrimage site. The sheer concentration of world-class architecture in one place is unparalleled. With Bone Valley, the resort solidifies its status not just as a top golf destination, but as a living museum of golf design evolution. The name itself, Bone Valley, already lends itself to a powerful brand identity. As the article points out, “There’s also a commercial logic to the name. Golf course branding lives and breathes through merchandise, and Bone Valley gives a creative team considerably more to work with than, say, Streamsong Yellow.” Indeed, the skeletal, crocodilian creature in the new logo, echoing ancient Florida life, promises some truly unique golf gear.
“The name was a natural fit for land and a course that was literally millions of years in the making,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner.”
This “natural fit” is what truly excites me. It suggests a course that will feel deeply connected to its origins, a design philosophy I champion above all else. When a course feels like it has always been there, born of the land rather than imposed upon it, that’s when golf transcends sport and approaches art.
Planning Your Expedition to Bone Valley
Streamsong Resort is located in Bowling Green, Florida, a relatively remote location that adds to its secluded, immersive appeal. Getting there typically involves flying into Tampa (TPA) or Orlando (MCO) and then making about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive. The resort itself provides accommodations, dining, and other amenities, making it a true stay-and-play destination. With preview play beginning November 30th, booking early will be crucial, as golf travelers from around the globe will surely be clamoring to experience this new chapter in Streamsong’s storied history.
I’ve walked the fairways of the Red, Blue, and Black, felt the wind whip across those dramatic dunes, and marveled at the strategic brilliance etched into every hole. Now, with Bone Valley, Strings is poised to offer not just another golf course, but an entirely new dimension of the game – one where the roar of the crowd is replaced by the silent echo of ancient oceans, and every divot might unearth a piece of history. Bone Valley isn’t just a name; it’s a promise of a golf experience unlike any other, deeply rooted in the primal past of Florida.
