Lunchball
Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner took the “go big or go home” ethos literally at Streamsong Black, turning a massive sandy expanse of phosphate mine tailings into a bold tribute to the Australian Sandbelt. The scale here is jarring; the fairways are distinctively wide to accommodate the Florida winds, but the strategic angles into the massive, undulating greens are tight and demanding. It is undeniably a second-shot golf course where the ground game isn’t just an option—it is the primary defense, requiring creative bump-and-runs and the utilization of side-slopes to feed balls toward tucked pins.
While the Red and Blue courses share a clubhouse and routing intimacy, Black stands apart on its own ridge with a distinct “playground” energy. Featuring a massive putting course (The Gauntlet) and a vibe that encourages interaction, it embodies the ultimate buddy trip destination. It is rugged, tawny, and bold, demanding imagination rather than robotic execution. The sheer volume of exposed sand and the sharp-edged bunkering style make you feel like you’ve been teleported from rural Florida to the outskirts of Melbourne.
Comparison: 9th (Road Hole)
9th (Road Hole)
Road Hole
St Andrews (Old Course)
Architectural Analysis
Hanse reimagines the Old Course classic by adding a punchbowl effect that gathers shots, though the penalty for finding the 'Road' bunker remains severe.