Had the opportunity to play a few games down in Hampshire this week. I was greatly looking forward to seeing Stoneham again after many, many years. We also played North Hants. Either I am getting older and noticed the hills of Stoneham more than when I was a relative flat belly or Stoneham has gotten hillier. Overall, I was very impressed with the course, especially the par 4s. One weakness is the par 3s - not bad, but considering there are five, I would expect to see a few very good ones, but that isn't the case. On the flip side, there are five par 5s and a few are very good. I think the course is a Willie Park Jr. How much is changed, I don't know. However, the routing is very interesting because the front nine goes counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the course and the back nine essentially goes clockwise around the inside of the front nine. I believe this was designed before Muirfield. Perhaps Colt learned something from Park Jr. In any case, the player is left constantly trying to gauge the swirling winds and wondering where the course will turn next. Now for the course.
#1 - a short par 5 that is very reachable, but the second is blind and anything left off the tee continues to push down the hill. Good starter, but one may often feel as if they have already lost ground if a birdie isn't earned. The first also reveals evidence of Stoneham's attempt to regenerate some heather, a move which is proving to be popular among many heathland courses.
#2 is a decent par 3. The course really gets going with #3. To carry the ridge requires a solid strike of maybe 250 yards, anything short leaves a blind approach. An excellent hole!
The 4th is the first of many blind tee shots. In this instance, a burn lies about 250 - 270 out, very reachable for some. The approach to #4. One can easily see the severity of the green leaning right. This is another excellent hole!
#6 is another short par 5, but getting home in two is tough because the immediate approach to the green is severely uphill and protected at each green corner by a bunker. The 7th is most unusual. A 230 yard par 3 uphill and a obscured. One can work the ball in from the right around the greenside bunkering, but there are trees which come into play. I must say that I admire the hole without totally liking it. In other words, it makes me feel very uncomfortable on the tee. Every course needs holes like this which just niggle the player.
The 8th is another one shotter. Its not a bad hole, but somehow I think better use of the land could have been achieved. Its a bit of a letdown considering how the previous holes used the land expertly.
The 9th reminds me of Ross - an up and over hole. #10 is the third par 3 in four holes. This isn't one of the best stretches of the courses because two of the short holes lack any flair of the many of the par 4s.
Another obscured drive 11th is a cracker! Below is the approach to this shelf green.
The 12th is a wonderful 3 shotter which once again plays longer than its suggested yardage. All of the par 5s at Stoneham share this characteristic. #13 is a most unusual hole. It is a reachable par 4, but blind and with trees guarding the left of the green. The smart play is a 200 yard layup leaving a shot straigh up the alley. After considerable thought on this hole I have come to the conclusion that #13 is one of the world's great short par 4s.
#14 continues the fun with a slinging legger to the right. This par 5 is reachable, but dangerous. Below is a closer view of the terrain and how a pushed 2nd leads to a blind third. The the fairway feeds beautifully into the green with a hard left to right roll. Just a wonderful hole which once again takes full advantage of the land at hand.
Hang onto your hats because 15 is another rollercoaster. Though I really dislike the trees planted out on the right which help guide the player. #16 is a short par 3 with a big front bunker, a left bunker and a rear bunker - all hidden. The green is like an L with the long part of the green to the right of the big tree. One of the few god par 3s on the course. Water is not totally absent at Stoneham. The stream on #17 was created some 15 years ago. I think it is a great success which really strengthens this mid length par 4. #18 is an uphill par 5 snaking toward the clubhouse. Not a great finisher, but an opportunity for a birdie at the last.
What can I say? I was totally taken aback at the quality of Stoneham and I cannot praise it enough. It is every bit as good as many London courses, but like Beau Desert, it is in an unfashionable city (Southampton) and therefore receives few accolades. I am not quite sure how to rate Stoneham. I think I need another go! In truth, for anybody interested in seeing how a course using its terrain supremely, Stoneham should not be missed. It is a great day out and can be had for £50 (£45 for a round).
Ciao
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