His task in Hampshire was to design a golf course on the old deer park of North Stoneham House, a historical landscape that had been improved in 1775 by Capability Brown. It was just three miles from the centre of Southampton, but it had naturally rolling ground, wooded with native mature trees, and with heather and gorse in abundance, and a stream running through it. With wonderful colours that changed with the seasons.

Work was completed and the golf course was formally opened in 1909, and more Open Champions came to Southampton, two of the famed Triumvirate, J H Taylor and James Braid, two of the greatest golfers of the time, with five championships each, played an exhibition match.

Both gave an enthusiastic welcome to such an excellent creation, praise indeed, but no surprise with Park at the helm. In 1912 the course was extended on the advice of J H Taylor, and apart from very few alterations to a couple of greens the course is the same today.

The original clubhouse, which was half timbered building was completely destroyed by fire in 1958, the replacement was opened by Dai Rees, who was then Ryder Cup Captain. He came with the rest of the team to play at Stoneham when they were en route to sail to America to defend the Ryder Cup that they had won so marvellously at Lindrick. The match in the next battle, was to be played at Eldorado Country Club in California.

The meeting room at the club is home to a wonderful collection of photographs depicting not only the visit,but also Taylor, Braid and many other luminaries who have graced the club over the years. Well worth a few minutes absence from the bar to have a look at the 'Glory Wall'.

The original owners of the land were the Fleming Estate, but in 1955 Squire Willis Fleming died, and the family faced a huge bill for death duties. It is an ill wind that blows, as the saying goes, and the club were able to purchase the land, 129 acres and two roods, for the princely sum of £ 11,500, a bargain price even at that time.

In the period after the war, the professional game was just in recovery, many of the players had served in the forces and were returning to the fray on the golf course. The inaugural Dunlop Masters tournament was hosted in 1946, it was won jointly by Bobby Locke and Jimmy Adams. During the 50's and 60's a number of other professional tournaments were held at the club, including the News of the World Matchplay and the Swallow Penfold events.

In 1949, the Brabazon Trophy was held, it was won by Paddy Hine, who later in his career was knighted and became Air Chief Marshall. A local lad, he was educated at Peter Symonds in Winchester, and became a member of the club. As a junior officer he flew Meteors and Hawker Hunters, and was a member of the Black Arrows display team. Stories are told that one sunny morning he flew a Meteor up the eighteenth fairway below tree height, much to the consternation of the members.

The Brabazon returned in 1993, when it was won by David Fisher, during the competition another local lad hit the headlines, Matt Blackey broke the course record with a brilliant round of 63, a record which stands today despite the advances in ball and equipment technology.

Ladies top flight events have also been staged, The English Ladies Stroke play Championships were held in 2001, and won by Caroline Marron after a playoff. The course has long been a favourite for County events, and in 2008, Centenary Year, the club will host the Hampshire County Championships, and also the English Ladies Senior Matchplay. The year 2008 will see much activity as the Centenary celebrations are held.

Long standing member David Harrison will be played in as Captain of the R&A in the traditional ceremony at St Andrews in September this year, and will serve during the Centenary. It recognises his great service to golf in the County and Nationally. David has also been President of the English Golf Union, an honour he shares with another member Dr Bradford, a rare honour for one club to have two members serve in that elevated capacity. A rich past but an even richer future in store.

A visit to play Stoneham is a pleasure at any time, but with the sun shining and the course in pristine condition it was a special treat. The few putts on the practice clearly indicated that the greens would be fast and true, no surprises there.

The refurbished clubhouse and locker rooms are so light and airy and with that modern stylish aura after the recent work. Though I must say I felt a tinge of regret and a touch of nostalgia for the old spikes bar, which had such a homely feel. The view though the sliding windows, or out on the terrace, over the putting green and out over the 18th green and fairway, is enhanced by a glass of something refreshing.

After a glance at the amusing gallery of charicatures of Past Captains, which always attracts the attention of first time visitors, it is time to play.

So to the course, a superb layout which starts and ends with par fives, they are two of the five on the course, which unusually also has five par threes, all of which are totally different. I have a method of rating a golf course, that involves trying to recall how many holes stick in the memory bank, the higher the number the better the track. I remember the first time I played it, weeks after the number was as high as the day I played, all eighteen holes, and into my list of all time favourites. No two holes the same, and each a challenge, ample risk and reward holes, and the odd one or two that will flatter if the driver is working well.

The starting hole is a generous introduction, a good drive should yield a par. The huge green on the second hole is a candidate for three putting unless the tee shot is right, followed by the shortish par four 3rd, which can often be troublesome. The fourth hole, a real favourite, is stroke index one, and rightly so, a demanding drive to a sweeping fairway, then a second over the stream to a sloping green.

The next two holes can restore some stability to the scorecard, before two challenges. Back to back short holes, the 7th is a tough par 3 of over 200 yards, the correct line is essential to achieve a shot on the green, and the 8th over a ravine to a narrow bunkered green. A good drive on the 9th should reach the top of the hill for a view of the green, but left and there is heather, and right the trees await.

The back nine begins with a 182 yard par 3, good club selection required especially when the pin is at the back of the green. The 11th, is another of my favourites, picturesque and challenging. A narrow landing area for the drive, then an approach over a ravine to a green which is not generously deep, with rhodadenrons forming the backdrop.

Then there are two par 5?s, both should yield par if played sensibly, brain over brawn for these two, the 12th and 14th. They separated by a sporting par 4, not long but intimidating from the tee, with no sight of the fairway, and a marker post for guidance. With a long narrow green that runs off on both sides, a par is always welcome.

The last four holes are full of variety, using the rise and fall of the land to create different tests. Fifteen down the hill, sixteen a well bunkered short hole then the dogleg 17th, well protected by the stream left. The finishing hole is a climb up to the clubhouse, if the round has gone well managed with ease, if the sticks have not behaved, it is a long haul with the clubhouse in sight all the way up from the tee.

A first class course, in superb condition. There was a consensus a little time back, when it was felt that the club had relied on past reputation, all that has changed since the arrival of Head Greenkeeper Vince Ley, when the renaissance began in earnest. He had been head greenkeeper at Sunningdale New course, and knows heath and heather conditions well. With his team he has restored the course to pristine condition, wonderful springy fairways, fast true greens, even the heather which had been dying back, seems to have found a new lease of life, adding colour and challenge to the course.

Stoneham is rightly proud of it's golf course and facilities, and welcomes visitors to enjoy the challenge. Societies can be accommodated on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, an enquiry to Manager Richard Penley-Martin will gain all the information on current packages, and with the winter on the horizon there will be special deals that are wonderful value. This is a course with wonderful subsoil, where they can boast that there are never temporary greens, except in the severest of frost conditions.

The membership is full at the present time as befits one of the best clubs in the County, but applications are accepted for the scheme which enables members in waiting to gain introduction to the club, pending their election to full membership.

2008, the Centenary, will be a special year for the club, which continues to go from strength to strength, the Centenary will create much interest and activity for the current Captain Alan Douglas and his successor for 2008, Ben Richards. The history of the club, which is in the course of being written, will be well worth reading, for members and other golfers alike, when published next year. One of my personal favourites, it could one of yours once you sample the challenge.