Stoneham

Stoneham Golf Club, located just north of Southampton, is one of Willie Park Jr’s finest designs, and a must-play if you’re in the area! 

Designed by the two-time Open Champion and opened in 1900s, Stoneham is an undulating course with dramatic rises and falls that aid the layout. 

As a host of the Dunlop Masters (now British Masters) and the Brabazon Trophy, you can following in the footsteps of legends by playing at this Hampshire venue.

Visit Stoneham’s website here.

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Stoneham’s history dates back to the early part of the 20th Century. The club was founded in 1908, with two-time Open Champion Willie Park Jr behind the design of the golf course.  

Since the turn of the 21st Century, the course has undergone renovations and improvements to give the venue a slight makeover. 

1946, the year after the conclusion of the Second World War, saw the inaugural Dunlop Masters take place. Stoneham was the venue for the tournament, with Bobby Locke and Dai Rees sharing the honours. The club has also played host to the Brabazon Trophy in its storied history. 

Stoneham is a rare treat – a distinctive parkland laid out on either side of a large valley by Willie Park Jr. He did a fine job at Stoneham on what was, and is a challenging site. At a shade under 6,400 yards and a par of 72, Stoneham is of manageable proportions, but the scorecard cannot hope to tell the full story on a course where most holes involve a change of elevation. The rises and falls of the land in what was formerly a deer park are never so dramatic as to cause genuine difficulty with the routing. There are several blind or semi-blind drives but they only add to the enjoyment.  

The course begins with the first of its five par 5s, which are countered by five short holes as well to make up the par of 72. The opening hole at Stoneham just pushes past the 500-yard barrier from the tips, meaning that some will fancy their chances of an early eagle... The 2nd is the first of those aforementioned five par 3s. Played to a large green, guarded by just two bunkers front left and front right, the 2nd is comfortable despite being 190 yards. A trio of par 4s follow, including the hardest hole on the course. That comes at the 4th, which is 458 yards from the tips. There is a ditch which splits the fairway in two, so your tee shot has to stay short of that, leaving a lengthy approach to the green.  

The 5th might be drivable for the longest of hitters at 325 yards, but the majority will play between the fairway bunkers for their first, before hitting a wedge to a generous green. The 6th is the next of the par 5s and the longest hole on the front nine at 510 yards. The hole turns slightly to the left following the drive, so a draw with the second shot is the perfect play. There are then back-to-back par 3s to follow, with the 7th coming in at more than 225 yards from the tips. There is just one greenside bunker, but the distance is this hole’s problem for most. 8 then feels short, coming in at just 163 yards and playing at least a club downhill as well! 

After the straight away 9th, the 10th becomes the third par 3 in four holes. At 189 yards, it has length, but a large green that is only guarded by three bunkers at the front of the surface mean that there should not be too much trouble in navigating this hole. 11 is the hardest hole on the back side at Stoneham, and features a narrow stream running diagonally across the front of the green. 12 is the longest hole on the course, and the first of three par 5s on the back nine. It comes in at 513 yards, and if you can avoid the giant cross bunkers with your tee shots, then there is the chance of going for the green in two.  

The 13th is a proper risk-reward hole. At just 270 yards, most will think about taking this on. However, it is a blind shot, and the green is small. If you haven’t played at Stoneham before then think about laying back to a point where you can actually see the surface. 14 is another scoring opportunity, as a par 5 of less than 480 yards. No fairway bunkers mean you have a wide landing area for your tee shot, which could leave as little as a mid-iron to the green for the longest of hitters.  

The closing stretch at Stoneham begins with the tough par 4 15th. At 420 yards, it is on the lengthy side, and the fairway is split in two, so you have to lay up short of the trouble. 16 is the closing par 3, and the shortest hole on the property at just 130 yards. The green is guarded by four hefty sand traps, but this is a wedge or low iron for most. 17 is another par 4 with a split fairway, this time due to a stream that runs across the hole. The same stream also then follows the hole down its left side, so anything pulled on the approach may well find it. The last hole is a short par 5 that climbs up towards the clubhouse – the concept of tempering the length of the hole on account of the upwards gradient seems simple, yet it can be so effective, as is the case with Stoneham’s final flourish. 

David Walker: Underrated Willie Park design with subtle green complexes and enough slopes, streams, heather and bunkers to ensure it holds your attention

Joss Powick: A challenging piece of land. The 8th and 9th are the standout holes

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is Stoneham Golf Club located?  

Stoneham Golf Club is one of the southernmost venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, sitting just four miles north of the city of Southampton. The club is next to the junction between the M3 and the M27, providing an easy route from London and for those driving along the South Coast as well.  

Swaythling is the nearest train station to the golf club, with trains running between Salisbury and Romsey on an hour basis in both directions. Southampton Airport is basically next door to the golf club, and is on the same train line as Swaythling as well. For those requiring a larger airport with a wider range of destinations, both London Heathrow and London Gatwick are within a 90-minute drive from Stoneham. 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

Stoneham is just one of several golfing venues on the South Coast that can claim a place on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Parkstone, Ferndown (Old), Broadstone, Isle of Purbeck and Remedy Oak are all within 50 miles to the west, while the likes of Hayling, Blackmoor, Liphook, Hindhead, Hankley Common and West Sussex are within the same distance to the east.

What golf facilities does Stoneham Golf Club offer?  

Between the opening and closing holes of the golf course, Stoneham has recently constructed a brand new driving range, with greens to aim at across several distances. Add in a short game area to the side of the range, and a putting green by the 1st tee, and there is everything you could possibly need to work on your game before taking to the course.  

What are the green fees at Stoneham Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Stoneham changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Stoneham visit their website here.