Streamsong Resort: Red

Coore and Crenshaw’s Red Course is part of a resort triple-header that gives golfers a rare opportunity to compare and contrast the differences in styles and philosophies of three of America’s hottest design firms. (Streamsong (Blue), a Tom Doak design, is ranked No. 148; Streamsong (Black), by Gil Hanse, is No. 169.) The Red was built from sand spoils created by a massive phosphate strip mine, with some piles forming dunes reaching 75 feet into the air. The Red has a wonderful mix of bump-and-run links holes and target-like water holes. Some greens are perched like those at Pinehurst, others are massive with multi-levels like those at St. Andrews. The Bermuda turf is firm and bouncy, and while the routing is sprawling, it’s easily walkable. The Red comes out on top in this survey, but the Blue is just half a point behind, the Black another half a point behind that. Things could change in the future.