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Stoneham
by John Brooks

Note: This course contains 1024x1024 textures and can only be played in version 1.07 or later of Links 2003

Links Corner Course Database ID Number - 1909
Release Date CRZ Filesize Par Course Length
2009-09-22  62,094,449  bytes 72  7355 yards
Type Style CRZ Filename
REAL  PARKLAND  st2_locked.crz 
Course ID Course Key
   

COURSE SCREENSHOTS

COURSE NOTES
Stoneham Golf Club (Southampton, Hampshire, England) celebrated its centenary in 2008 and was designed by Willie Park jr, a winner of the Open. The Course was extended under the supervision of J. H. Taylor (who won the Open 5 times), and has hosted numerous professional and amateur events over the years.

Edited after release:
Some APCD 2003 textures and seam blends that were not displaying correctly at distance

John Brooks
22nd September 2009

CLIPNOTES by Ben Bateson (ousgg)

Description
Real, forest course
Location
TBA
Conditions
TBA
Concept  7/10
Very much in line with the precedent set by Bramshaw and Dibden, but yet a significant step up on either of those. Stoneham is a charming small Hampshire course surrounded by dense New Forest trees and is every bit as playable as the designer's other courses. The extras such as aiming poles, the practice green, and some assorted course objects are all very welcome and add to the course's typical hometown charm. Several holes are excellent in their demands on the player, notably the 17th. It's probably fair to say that demanding golfers would expect something extra from Stoneham, but for most of us it's a terrific little course in its own right.
Appearance  6/10
Lovely views are commonplace from the first tee, and the forest has been planted with aplomb, even if there is a clone or two visible. The trees prevent many long views, but when you can see a long way, the textures at middle- and long-distance are somewhat at odds with the close-up views. The other weak spot is the hazarding: the bunkers are lacking finesse around the lips, and the texture used for the streams is something of an afterthought.
Playability  9/10
It's very easy to tee up at Stoneham and immediately feel right at home. The fairways - even when semi-hidden - are inviting, and the open green complexes really invite you to have a go. There's a good sprinkling of cogitative holes, too: blasting away with the driver without thinking certainly isn't going to work here. An excellent experience.
Challenge  1/10
Perhaps one of the reasons that it's so easy to enjoy this course is the ease of getting on a birdie roll. Because the tees are faithful to the original positions, there are a number of reachable Par 4s, and all the Par 5s come in at close to 500 yards. Rather than breaking 70, a more realistic goal might be to break 60!
Technical  7/10
There's very little to fault here, and only the fine detail is holding the course back. It's good to a see a designer with unwavering priorities, and John's efforts to bring some superb local courses to life are resulting in some very fine creations.
Overall An excellent hometown course, ideally suited to a warm-up round or a moralising low score. 30/50
Please remember that Clipnote reviews are the opinion of one person and do not constitute an 'Official' Links Corner review of the course.

USER RATINGS

 Votes cast
Ace12 %3
Eagle50 %12
Birdie29 %7
Par8 %2
Bogey or worse0 %0

The User Course Reviews and polls have been removed from the forum due to the low numbers of members. The information above is presented merely for historical interest.

This course is available as a FREE download.


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