The whispers have been circulating through the golf architecture world for nearly two years now, a low hum of anticipation about what David McLay Kidd was stirring up in the ancient sand pits of Central Florida. Streamsong, that wild, rugged jewel in Florida’s crown, was adding a fourth 18-hole track. The immediate speculation, of course, revolved around color. Blue, Red, Black – so what next? Yellow? Green? It seemed almost a given.
But Streamsong, as anyone who has walked its dramatic, lunar-like landscapes knows, is rarely given to the obvious. And now, the truth is out, and it’s far more intriguing than a simple hue. Drumroll, please, for Streamsong’s newest masterpiece: Bone Valley.
A Name Etched in Time
Bone Valley, what a name! It instantly conjures images, not of painted greenswards, but of deep time, of primordial oceans and colossal predators. It’s a name that makes sense once you understand the very ground you’re walking on at Streamsong. I’ve always been captivated by courses that tell a story, courses where the land itself is the primary protagonist, and Bone Valley seems poised to do just that.
This isn’t just clever marketing, though I’ll admit the resort’s new logo, a skeletal, crocodilian creature, looks rather sharp and will undoubtedly adorn many a hat and polo. No, this name is deeply rooted in the geological history of the region.
“To understand the choice in name, it helps to bone up on your geologic history.”
Indeed. Millions of years ago, this precise stretch of Florida was an underwater kingdom, a teeming marine ecosystem. And at the apex of that food chain? The megalodon, a shark so immense it would make a modern Great White look like a guppy. The sheer volume of fossilized remains from these and other ancient creatures led to the region earning the moniker: Bone Valley. From a design perspective, this gives McLay Kidd a canvas unlike almost anywhere else. You’re not just playing golf; you’re traversing a prehistoric seabed.
Streamsong Resort
Kidd’s Paleontological Playground
David McLay Kidd, known for his bold, sometimes controversial designs that challenge and reward, found himself unexpectedly turned paleontologist during the routing process. I’ve always appreciated architects who immerse themselves in the land, letting its natural contours and features dictate the flow of the holes. But finding megalodon teeth? That’s a new level of connection to the site.
“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.”
That quote, delivered with Kidd’s signature dry wit, tells you everything you need to know about the sheer abundance of these relics. This isn’t a gimmick; it’s a defining feature of the land itself. For a designer like Kidd, who seeks out “naturalness” in his layouts, these ancient bones must have been both a challenge and an inspiration. Will we see earthworks that evoke skeletal remains? Hazards shaped by what once lay beneath? I can’t wait to see how he integrated this unique historical tapestry into the course. Given his work at places like Bandon Dunes and Gambling Creek, I expect an unvarnished, authentic experience, perhaps even more dramatic than his previous Streamsong Black course.
What to Expect from Bone Valley
Streamsong is a destination that demands imaginative golf. Its sandy, moonscape terrain, born from mining operations, provides endless possibilities for elevation changes, natural bunkers, and undulating greens. With Bone Valley, I anticipate Kidd will lean into these natural features, perhaps even more so with the added geological narrative. We can expect wide fairways that funnel players into strategic positions, often guarded by deep, sandy waste areas that recall the ancient seabed. His green complexes are typically imaginative, presenting a variety of short-game challenges and reward accurate approach shots.
The preview play opens November 30th, and I am already picturing the scene: golf carts (or perhaps more appropriately, walkers) navigating dramatic rises and falls, the Florida sun glinting off sandy expanses, and the occasional fossil discovery adding a tangible link to the course’s extraordinary past. Bone Valley is situated within the larger Streamsong Resort, which already boasts three acclaimed courses – Blue (Tom Doak), Red (Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw), and Black (David McLay Kidd). This new addition solidifies Streamsong’s place as one of the world’s premier golf destinations, offering a diverse architectural palette to any true golf design aficionado.
“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.
Indeed. This isn’t just another golf course; it’s an archaeological adventure, a walk through millions of years of history, with a golf club in hand. For those planning a pilgrimage to Streamsong, and I wholeheartedly recommend it, preparing for Bone Valley will involve more than just practicing your short game. It will require an appreciation for the wild, the untamed, and the ancient. It’s an opportunity to connect with the land in a profound way, to play a course where every divot feels like a brushstroke on a canvas shaped by time and titanic forces. Bone Valley promises to be a truly unique and unforgettable golfing experience, a testament to David McLay Kidd’s vision and the incredible story told by the Florida earth itself.
