Stoneham isn’t a showy course but it’s a place that exceeded my expectations, and I’d return in a heartbeat.

Tucked quietly to the north of Southampton, just a sharp turn and a bridge away from the M3 and M27, lies Stoneham Golf Club, a course that’s more than worth the slightly confusing final turn off the sat-nav. Once you arrive, a sense of tradition and natural beauty greets you—subtle, mature, and full of character. Designed in 1908 by the legendary Willie Park Jr., Stoneham has a pedigree and architectural significance to match its historic roots, having once hosted the British Masters.

Set across an old deer park, the course makes full use of the natural terrain. The site is a striking example of land working in harmony with architecture—rolling hills, ditches, furrows, and subtle elevation changes throughout. While it aligns itself with the heathland style, Stoneham doesn’t quite share the sandy-soiled, hollow feel of its Surrey cousins. Instead, it blends woodland and heath beautifully. Gorse in golden bloom lines fairways in spring, heather erupts in roughs and bunker edges, and the removal of trees in recent years has opened up sightlines and airflow, enhancing the rugged feel.

The soil, firm and free-draining, supports excellent year-round playability. You get firmness underfoot without the spongy, soft feel often associated with inland courses. The vegetation, primarily pine and silver birch with occasional deciduous interjections, contributes to a calming, enveloping atmosphere, where birdsong and hawks circling overhead more than offset the distant hum of the motorway.

The clubhouse has a traditional but polished charm. Wood-panelled locker rooms are clean and well-appointed, and though I didn’t eat there, the large glass windows overlooking the 18th green and short game area make the dining space feel open and inviting. The pro shop, housed separately next to the first tee, is very well stocked, with knowledgeable, friendly staff that made a strong first impression.

But the star of the show is undoubtedly the routing and architectural flow. The course dances with the terrain. Every hole reveals a different nuance—blind tee shots, elevated greens, table tops, ditches, and deceptive run-offs. There’s always something to puzzle through. It's not just a round of golf; it's a lesson in strategy, restraint, and local knowledge. And with a slope rating of just 119 and a modest 5,900 yards from the yellows, Stoneham dares you to underestimate it. I did. I won’t make that mistake again.

2nd (Par 3 – 182 yards) A long, early test framed by woodland. The green sits like an island on a tabletop, guarded by mounding left and bunkers short. It’s a beautiful yet demanding par 3.
4th (Par 4 – 447 yards) The blind tee shot offers only a glimpse of the green in the distance. From the crest, the fairway drops to a stream, crossed by charming wooden bridges, before climbing again toward a broad, green amphitheatre surrounded by tall pines. One of the best visuals on the course.
5th (Par 4 – 291 yards) A tempting short par 4, slightly doglegging right. Fade one down the centre, avoid the fairway bunkers, and you’re rewarded with an inviting approach to a large green. One of the few scoring chances.
8th (Par 3 – 145 yards) My favourite, the signature hole. A charming bridge crosses a ditch to a green perched atop a steep slope, surrounded by four bunkers and a swaying frame of pine. The wind whips here—club choice is everything.
9th (Par 4 – 332 yards) Uphill drive, then downhill roll—another scoring hole if you manage your approach. A nice touch: WhatsApp your food order from the tee, and it’s ready at the halfway hut beside the green. A lovely wooden shack with benches and shade.
11th (Par 4) Completely blind off the tee. But the approach—carrying a ditch, sweeping downhill and back up to a green carved into the side of a hill—is one of the most dynamic on the course.
12th (Par 5 – 494 yards) A true strategy test. Another blind drive, then downhill into a narrow corridor guarded by a thin, steep fairway bunker draped in heather. A bad second shot here is punished.
13th (Par 4 – 250 yards) A drivable par 4 over a hill to a lightbulb-shaped green. Another blind tee shot, but high reward if you trust the line. Only one bunker guards the right—play smart or go bold.
14th (Par 5 – 458 yards) Short but intimidating. The fairway is a landscape of humps, dips, and ditches—like a wave rolling through heathland. A satisfying challenge of positioning over power.
17th (Par 4 – 354 yards) Another favourite. A downhill drive must stop short of a brook that splits the fairway. Then a delicate approach to a secluded green nestled beneath the man-made dunes of the range. A green guarded by stream left, bunker right—delightfully framed and full of drama.
18th (Par 5 - 460 yards) A final uphill battle. The fairway invites with width, then the approach steeply climbs to a green beneath the clubhouse terrace. Some construction work currently mars the backdrop, but once the new reservoirs are in and the earth is settled, it will make for a brilliant finish.

The greens are outstanding—true, quick, and full of subtle breaks. The fairways are varied and well-groomed. Bunkers are generally consistent, though the occasional small stone was found. Importantly, the course is not over-manicured. There’s a beautiful roughness to the natural areas, which have been carefully blended into the design by a greenkeeping team that deserves praise—not just for the work, but for their courtesy, patience, and warm manner.

Practice facilities include a modern driving range architecturally disguised as a dune system—blending effortlessly with the site. Two nets, a putting green, and a short game area round out the warm-up options.

At £85 on a County Card, Stoneham delivers value through intelligent architecture, memorable routing, and thoughtful conditioning. But beyond the layout, there’s a sense of soul here—found in the welcome from members, the laughter by the tee boxes, the subtle sound of the wind pushing through cleared trees, the buzz of nature.

Stoneham isn’t a showy course. It doesn’t try to wow you with extravagant holes or views beyond the site. Instead, it offers a cohesive, characterful, and challenging golf experience, one that rewards repeat visits and careful play.