BOWLING GREEN, Fla. – Even when Streamsong Resort is filled to capacity, this famed golf and outdoors destination here in Central Florida has little problem with social distancing. It’s a 16,000-acre property deep inside ancient phosphate pits and featuring a 216-room Lodge (made of wood, stone and glass) three golf courses and more than 20 lakes. Indeed, there is plenty room for everybody – as well as some outstanding rates and packages. For example, a Florida Resident Day Rate to play one round on the Black Course begins at $99. Florida Resident Rate Stay and Play packages (double occupancy) are as low as $179.
Best of all, the Streamsong team, from Lodge check-in to food and beverage to the golf course staff on the Black Course – have Covid-19 safety protocols down to a science. A recent two-night trip to Streamsong began with a masked valet attendant unloading the car; a masked front desk attendant for check-in; and masked restaurant servers at P2O5 in the Lodge.
Yes, a (masked) bellman will take your luggage to your room, but will leave it at the door instead of entering. The same for check-out – a bellman will come for your luggage but will load it on a cart in the hall instead of enter your room.
Inside each Lodge room and suite, there are plenty of reminders as to the safety procedures. Even the TV remotes each are wrapped in protective plastic.
P2O5 currently is the only restaurant open inside the Lodge. It serves a variety of dishes – from steak to seafood to burgers – and has seating outside the main dining area.
Streamsong’s AcquaPietra Spa currently is closed, but don’t miss an opportunity to visit when it re-opens. The grotto-style spa, with its six water features, is one of the better spa experiences in Florida.
There’s plenty of room to sit near the outdoors fire pits and watch the wildlife around the lakes near the Lodge. Better yet, reserve a time for bass fishing, which has re-opened at Streamsong. One fisherman caught an eight-pound bass earlier this month.
The Gil Hanse-designed Black Course is the only course currently open at Streamsong. Facemask policies are strictly observed inside the clubhouse, including the pro shop, Boone Valley Tavern and around the golf car staging area. Only one rider is allowed per golf car and a caddie or forecaddie is required. Even if a caddie/forecaddie weren’t required, Hanse’s terrific minimalist layout basically calls for one, particularly for first-timers, as it can be a bit confusing to find you way from a green to the next tee box.
The Black Course is in ruggedly good shape – exactly how Hanse designed laid it out. Its fairways are wide, its greens large and undulating and its bunkers deep. Keep in mind that on most holes, distances are farther than they seem to the naked eye. Also, in keeping the Covid-19 protocols, there are no rakes in the bunkers and touching the flag sticks is not allowed.
If you want to a glimpse of things to come, check out the practice pitching area near the golf car staging area on the Black Course. It’s seeded with Mach 1 Bermudagrass, the same grass that currently is being used to re-grass the resort’s Blue and Red courses. As advertised, Mach 1 is a great grass for rolling putts, appears to stand up well to the central Florida heat and humidity, and is a vibrant shade of green.
The Blue and Red courses each are schedule to re-open in in October, just in time for the resort’s Fall and Winter seasons.
https://www.streamsongresort.comhttps://www.streamsongresort.com
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