Streamsong Golf Resort is expecting — again.
On Jan. 22, the Bowling Green, Florida, destination announced that its fifth course has broken ground under the direction of architect David McLay Kidd. The golf course is located amongst some of the resort’s most interesting sand site terrain as it traverses rambling sand dunes and dramatic elevation changes situated between Streamsong Black and Streamsong Red.
"I have read many times how great players have a special love for the majors," Kidd said. "Not sure I understood what that meant when I was younger, but now I get it. In the world of golf design, there are certain properties, locations and even owners that working for can be like playing in the majors. Streamsong, for me, is a major.
"The destination is world renowned and KemperSports [which manages Streamsong] 'gets it.' To be included in that group of architects requires my team and I to do something exceptional. That opportunity both excites me and makes me nervous, but in a good way. My team and I are so excited to add to the history of a place so young and yet so rooted in a tradition of exceptional golf architecture."
Streamsong burst onto the destination golf scene in 2012 with the opening of Streamsong Red and Streamsong Blue along with a 228-room Streamsong Lodge and the Red and Blue Clubhouse. The resort added to its golf offerings in 2017 with Streamsong Black and, most recently, launched a 19-hole short course (The Chain) and 2.5-acre putting course (The Bucket) designed by Coore & Crenshaw that opened in April 2024.
With Kidd joining the Streamsong architect roster of Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Doak, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, Streamsong will become the only golf resort in the world to feature this collection of world-famous architects. Kidd is credited with ushering in a new era of golf course architecture and established himself as one of the premier figures in modern golf architecture where his highly regarded golf designs include Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley Resort, Tetherow Resort, Gamble Sands, Nanea Golf Club and the Castle Course at St. Andrews.
"We’re excited to partner with David to lead the continued evolution at Streamsong Golf Resort," KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner said. "He is one of the most talented architects of his generation with a unique ability to design golf courses that are visually appealing, challenging, and great fun to play. I know the whole golf world will be excited to see what he creates on some of our best property at the resort."
The new golf course name and timeline for completion have yet to be determined.
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
Bunkers taking shape! @JDRgolfdesign @david59duval @MazzellaGolf @TotalTurfGS @GCSAA #golf #SouthCarolina 🇺🇸⛳️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zynBdKUCLw
— Shane LeBaron (@LeBaronGolf) January 19, 2025
JEREMY RANCH TURNS TO FAMILIAR NAME
Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club in Park City, Utah, is moving forward on a course renovation by architect Brandon Johnson, in collaboration with the agronomic firm Turfgrass.
Tucked into the Upper East Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains, Jeremy Ranch is the only Arnold Palmer design in Utah. It will clearly benefit from Johnson’s background, given that Johnson spent 17 years in the employ of the Arnold Palmer Design Company.
"Since it debuted in 1981 Jeremy Ranch has sat virtually untouched," Johnson told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "Now, the club and its membership realize it is time to reinvest back into the course for continued growth and success for the next 40 years."
Johnson’s masterplan centers on renovating green complexes, which had shrunk over the years and faced other issues, resulting in turf loss and subsurface drainage troubles. Also to be addressed are bunkers, tees and cart paths, as well as an emphasis on conserving and replenishing native areas. Identifying the renovation priorities stemmed from a greens audit conducted by Adam Moeller, the director of agronomy for North America at Turfgrass. He collaborated with Johnson and golf course superintendent Chase Davidson to arrive at the findings.
"Turfgrass and Adam’s data-driven approach helped guide our project team and the Jeremy Ranch membership to make timely and informed decisions about an appropriate scope for greens construction and the overall project," Johnson said.
"The life expectancy audit included a comprehensive examination of various components that impact the short- and long-term performance of the greens," Moeller said. "The specific evaluation process included an agronomic inspection of all greens to identify factors that impact the physical performance, such as the construction method, surface and internal drainage, green sizes, useable area for hole locations, growing environments, entrance and exit locations, grass species composition, overall turf quality and historic performance."
Jeremy Ranch has plenty of history and lore to draw from. It hosted the Senior Tour from 1982-1992, where winners included Billy Casper, Miller Barber and Orville Moody. Johnson noted that the work at Jeremy Ranch will involve part restoration and part renovation.
"Our intent is to restore the original sizes and shapes of greens while making targeted expansion and contour modifications to introduce new pin locations," Johnson said. "We will retain the existing character of greens and use that as a guide when redesigning any that will increase pin locations, setup variety and playability. Greens that currently have limited pinnable areas due to severe slopes and pitches will be recontoured to make more playable with increased setup options."
Bunker work will revolve around the depth, shape and strategic aspects, along with tackling drainage concerns, sand quality and issues with slopes, faces and edges. Further efforts will be directed at fairway re-grassing, tee box additions, expansions and realignments and cart path adjustments.
"Also, we will help blend the existing natural and native surrounding slopes and valley floor along the creek into the overall golf course character and aesthetic," Johnson said. "And convert existing maintained turf areas into native turf and vegetative areas that are in character with the natural surrounding landscape."
IAN ANDREW TAKES ON STANLEY THOMPSON RESTORATION
Canada’s greatest Golden Age architect, Stanley Thompson, will have one of his last designs restored in 2025. Spearheaded by leading Canadian restoration specialist Ian Andrew, the project focuses on Whirlpool Golf Course, a 1951 Thompson design that’s located atop a cliff downriver from Niagara Falls, one of North America’s top tourist attractions.
Thompson’s final Canadian creation — completed two years before he died — is a parkland design with fairways framed by evergreens and backdrops that include the gorge that houses the Niagara River.
Under the auspices of the course operator, Niagara Parks Commission, Andrew aims to restore tee boxes to their original sites and to eliminate bunkers and mounds that were not part of Thomspon’s opening-day design.
Andrew has experienced previous restoration success at two of Thompson’s Top 100 Canadian classics, St. George’s and Highland Links. The multi-year project at Whirlpool, which began in 2024, will be executed in phases to minimize disruption to public play.
