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Mosaic's Streamsong golf and conference resort

Mosaic's Streamsong golf course
Mosaic’s Streamsong development is being built on formerly mined phosphate land between Orlando and Tampa. [Photo: Larry Lambrecht]

Mosaic Co. mines 10.3 million tons of phosphate each year, getting most of it from land that stretches from Polk County south through Florida’s interior. The Minnesota-based fertilizer company, the world’s biggest producer of phosphate and potash fertilizer, has the go-ahead to grow its Florida mining operations after settling a lawsuit filed against it two years ago by environmental groups that tried to stop it from expanding its South Fort Meade mine, which employs 220 and produces 20% of the nation’s phosphate. As part of the settlement allowing it to expand south into Hardee County, Mosaic will donate 4,171 acres it owns in DeSoto County to be used as a state park.

Meanwhile, on 16,000 acres roughly between Tampa and Orlando, Mosaic is working on a project on the opposite end of the phosphate-mining spectrum. Streamsong, a golf and conference resort the fertilizer company is building on formerly mined phosphate land in Polk County, is on schedule to start opening in stages later this year. The project will include two golf courses, a clubhouse, conference space, a lodge and amenities, including restaurants, a spa, hiking trails, bass fishing and a course for playing sporting clays.

Here’s where the development stands:

  • The golf courses: Tom Sunnarborg, Mosaic’s vice president of land development and management, says the courses are nearly complete. All that remains is allowing the turf to grow in. The courses have gotten a lot of attention from the golf press because of their links-like, old-fashioned feel, thanks to being constructed on craggy looking sand dunes left over from the phosphate mining process. Both courses, along with a clubhouse, are due to open in December.
  • The lodge: Construction has been under way since January. The lodge will have 216 rooms and more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space. It is expected to open by the fall of next year.
  • Management: “Earlier this year we signed Interstate Hotels and Resorts as the resort management company and KemperSports as the company that will manage the golf operations,” Sunnarborg says.
Streamsong lodge
Rendering of the lodge [Rendering: Alfonso Architects]