So Glad Someone Had a Camera ...Streamsong Opening

Tom Doak, golf's most accomplished architect commissioned two Streamsong oil paintings as a gift to the Mosaic company. A year ago, he flew me out to play the juvenile version of the course with him. This was a great moment, as we had never golfed together and I hit shots while taking photos trying to figure out great painting angles, of which there were many. Fast forward a year to last weekend. The weekend was filled with amazing weather, two fantastic courses debuted and great personalities coming together. This presentation happened at the grand opening and it was fantastic as I finally got to meet Ben Crenshaw. He was pretty excited about seeing my painting of his course. He and Bill Coore couldn't have been more complimentary, but of course you would expect nothing less from these two gentlemen. Tom completely caught the ownership off guard with this generous gift. Thanks to Masa Nishijima for the best photo on the subject. Being among these three gentleman and talents is a moment I will never forget. Cheers to a great 2013 and a huge year in my life with the birth of our first Daughter expected within the month!!!!

A Streamsong Blue Story

Tom Doak's wonderfully rugged new course at Streamsong.


What a fantastic hole !! The photo above depicts the par three 5th hole, a mid-length one shotter with plenty going on. It will leave an indelible mark on your golfing memory bank after you see it. Left is an absolute no-no as it drops 30 feet down towards the previous hole. To me it does the best job of linking Streamsong to its ancient golfing roots. Namely, the staggered layout of the small bunkers with their peaked and tattered edges, the low profile "non framed" backdrop and the ultra random shape and undulation that the long slender green follows.


Here you see Tom walking the breadth of the 5th green again in afternoon light to show where all the unique pin locations are and their respective elevations. I had the good fortune of previewing the course on his invite, he flew me out from California in order to scout out Oil Paining possibilities for him, of which there are many. It was a dream of mine to play golf with Tom at some point and I am so thrilled that it happened in this forum. Wind will surely be a factor on this hole and with the depth of the green calling for a possible 4 club alteration in the absence of wind, one can only imagine the fun that will ensue. It may be a great hole to try to hit putter off the tee and take the wind completely out. ;) This photo may end up an oil painting coming soon. Oh yeah, this resort will open in 2012 and will also feature the Red course, a Coore and Crenshaw 18 holes interwoven with the Blue.

Streamsong Golf

Red Course @ Streamsong Golf, photo by Keith Rhebb

Just returned from a fantastic trip to preview the Streamsong Golf Club's 36 holes. After having a Rock Creek Cattle Company trip postponed last year as well as a Cabot Links visit pushed into the future, it was great to get the wheels up and research some upcoming oil paintings at this "Instant Classic". The Red course is built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and the Blue course is built by Tom Doak. This resort will WOW any golf lovers who find it. The courses are slated to open late this year and are open to the public. To have 36 built on amazing sand dunes and representing some of the best work of Doak and Coore Crenshaw is truly "Bandon Like". The terrain is like a combination Sand Hills of Nebraska and Lost Dunes of Tasmania, Aus, with some large lakes scattered around the property.
My trip was sponsored by Tom Doak with the thought of doing a couple of oil paintings. Took hundreds of photos, but will start it off with an amazing construction photo taken by Coore Crenshaw shaper/photographer Keith Rhebb.

This is a photo of the Red. Keith was kind enough to tour me around the Red course after I had the opportunity to play the Blue with T. Doak. It is going to be hard to compare these two. I don't really see the need, they are both winners. Will post some of my photos soon of both courses.

Cheers.

Josh CF Smith