I must admit when Streamsong Resort opened in January 2013, I had some doubts about whether it would be a long term success.

After all, its location in a remote part of Polk County about 30 miles south of Lakeland was not the easiest drive from Tampa or Orlando. I couldn’t imagine golfers driving all the myriad of twists and turns to arrive at Streamsong.

I was UNEQUIVOCALLY wrong.

Streamsong evolved into a phenomenal, one-of-kind golf experience and is definitely emblematic of the “build it and they will come” philosophy.

Streamsong is Florida’s answer to Bandon Dunes, the highly successful, multi-course golf complex on the southern Oregon Coast.

While landlocked without an ocean, Streamsong has some of the best links-style golf on the planet with designer names like Gil Hanse and Tom Doak along with Coore and Crenshaw.

Since its opening, Streamsong has never rested on it laurels, either.

Introducing THE CHAIN

The current menu of the Red, Blue and Black courses is going to expand with an innovative circa 3,000-yard walking course named The Chain at Streamsong Resort with 6- and 12-hole loops designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.

“Ben and I have wonderful memories of working with our talented associates and the Mosaic Company to create Streamsong Red, and we appreciate the opportunity to return to one of America’s most sought-out golfing destinations,” Coore said in a media release. “Routed on a highly interesting site, The Chain will feature a variety of holes laid upon a parkland landscape, live oaks, sand and lakes. Although diminutive in size, we believe The Chain, when combined with the anything-but-diminutive Bucket putting course, has the potential to complement, perhaps even enhance, Streamsong’s reputation for must-be-experienced golf.”

Things to Know About The Chain:

— First tees will be located a short walking distance from the Lodge at Streamsong.

— Its name was inspired by the remnants of a piece of mining equipment used to hold a dragline bucket in place that was discovered on the site during the routing process.

— The Chain at Streamsong Resort routing encompasses roughly 100 acres. The 3,000 yard layout will have holes ranging from 90 to nearly 300 yards. The innovative concept — with options of six- and 12-hole loops — does not require a full set of clubs offering a quicker play option that the three other larger and longer courses.

— The Chain will not have an overall yardage or par since it is being designed to play from a variety of distances and possibly without a full set of clubs.

— Large chain links will mark the beginning and end of each teeing area, and players can choose to tee off from wherever they like within that span.

— The six-hole loop weaver through a grove of native live oak trees with the longest hole at around 145 yards.

— The 12-hole loop sweeps across old mining cuts and along the banks of Little Payne Creek. These holes stretch from around 125 to nearly 300 yards with more opportunities for risk and reward.

— A sprawling two acre putting course called “The Bucket” (roughly twice the size of the existing Gauntlet putting course at Streamsong Black) is an integral part of the new design.

— The Chain will have its own clubhouse and beverage operations.

— Construction will begin in December 2022 and no planned opening date has been announced.