Stoneham Golf Club

Stoneham Golf Club is a Willie Park Jr heathland design dating back to 1924. Set on undulating land, it offers variety and character throughout the round, with tree-lined corridors and several elevated tees providing stunning views. Despite being bordered by the M3 and M27, the course feels peaceful and secluded. Conditioning is excellent, with fairways, greens, and bunkers all in top shape. Standout holes include the 17th, played downhill across a stream to a green framed by quarry-like surroundings. The weakest point for me is the uphill par-5 18th, which lacks the same drama as the rest of the course. Facilities are first class, with a full driving range, nets by the first tee, and a large putting green by the clubhouse. The clubhouse itself is modern, spacious, and welcoming, complemented by a well-stocked pro shop and clean changing facilities. Stoneham is an impressive course that combines strong design with superb presentation. It is an under-the-radar gem (although in England Top 100) in Hampshire, and it is well worth seeking out.

Ah, Willie Park Jr …

Undulations and historic landscapes. Mature trees funnel you along cascading fairways, past purple fringed sand traps to large, tiered and welcoming greens.

Stoneham is a sleeping giant. Many other rankings place Stoneham higher than that of the 2019 Golf World List (my list). Quite rightly so. The routing at Stoneham is a true point of interest in that the front nine loops the site counter-clockwise, with the back nine folding itself clockwise, culminating back at the clubhouse. The routing ensures variety with constant changes in elevation and wind direction. Our host explained that the routing evokes similarities of Muirfield, although Stoneham’s routing predates that of East Lothian colossus.

A generous opening Par 5 lulls you into a false sense of security before a run of strategic and careful fiddly holes. Stoneham can provide birdies but still requires solid golf shots. The course strikes this perfect balance the whole way round and could possibly be the fairest test I have played all year. Stoneham also strikes harmony between that of beauty and scale – A large site with immense features (fairway escarpments and tumbling valleys) with intimate curvaceous, colourful corners.

The conditioning of the course is also incredibly impressive. England has been on the receiving end of a protracted drought and courses closely resemble cricket wickets, rather than verdant carpets. This is not the case at Stoneham – Matt Plested and his team have mastered the art of irrigation and thankfully the course has more than survived the summer.

I will end at the beginning. A visit to the new Academy designed by Edwards Design International (EDI) is essential. A thoughtful, detailed and entertaining practise paradise that allows the golfer to indulge in every and any shot type they desire. Member and visitor experience is obviously at the very top of Stoneham’s priorities and first impressions are quite rightly dazzling.

Thank to my host and all at Stoneham for their hospitality.

Stoneham’s was the most friendly welcome of the 90+ clubs I have visited on my quest to play those in top 100 lists.

Should it matter when reviewing courses? After all, it is nothing to do with the architecture, routing, conditions etc.

I believe so because it puts the customer/player in the mood to enjoy all of the above.

Stoneham’s team were on point from beginning to end.

The practice facilities are among the most impressive in the UK, the young woman in the pro’s shop was helpful and wished me a fine round, the veteran starter was light-hearted and pointed us in the right direction and there was even a course marshal to keep play at the correct pace.

This attention to detail is translated onto a picturesque heathland course where the greens run true and the fairways are in great nick.

After a gentle start, the course begins to bite on hole three, an uphill par-four with a steep slope from left to right. It’s a toughie and where I realised that this was going to be a day for stern course management.

The par-fives are short but really tricky and include the sixth which goes up, down and up again with heather, bushes, bunkers and trees ready to thwart the errant.

Conquering par-threes is essential to success at Stoneham and following the fiendishly long one at the seventh comes the picturesque and shorter eighth.

The most drama, though, came on the ninth with its undulating fairway and plateau green with steep drop-offs.

I was playing my approach oblivious to my trolley setting off and gathering pace across the fairway, eluding one of my compadres and crashing into trees.

Stoneham is a fine course which tests stamina as well as skill and the prompt delivery of food and drink meant our return to the clubhouse finished off the day perfectly.

I would imagine that players return again and again to Stoneham because it ticks so many boxes.

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Stoneham’s biggest asset is undoubtedly its superb routing over adventurous terrain which ultimately lends itself to some unique and brilliant golf holes.

And with well over 3,000 trees recently cleared the beauty of the property can now be showcased properly which also goes hand-in-hand with greatly improved playability and better ground conditions.

Add into this a restoration of every bunker back to the original vision of the course designer, Willie Park Jnr, and it’s clear to see that this is a course heading in the right direction. A prime example of this is on the opening drive where the golfer is now greeted with three staggered, heather topped bunkers that not only look attractive but improve the strategy compared to before.