Referred to as "The Big Hit," by many local golfers, Stoneybrook Golf Club plays over 7300 yards from the back tees. The course rating is 75.8 and it has a slope rating of 141 on Bermuda grass. The course opened in 1999. Stoneybrook is located on I-75 at exit 19 east, between Ft. Myers and Naples.
This challenging par 72 course was designed by renowned course architects Jed Azinger and Gordy Lewis. With seven sets of tees, Stoneybrook offers a golf course for everyone and is one of only 200 courses nationwide to be certified "BEGINNER FRIENDLY" by the National Golf Course Owners Association. Stoneybrook is always in magnificent shape and is a championship golf course with a reputation for excellent greens and superb golfing conditions.
Wide and generous fairways wind through immense preserve areas and crystal clear lakes leading to large undulating greens protected by imposing bunkers and rolling mounds.
Stoneybrook offers great practice facilities including a 17,000 sq. ft. practice green; over 2 acres of grass tees on the driving range, practice bunkers and a short game area. You’ll have no excuses when you hit the first tee box!
Memorable Holes
Number 1: Par 4 446 yards. There is nothing like starting off with a monster and number 1 at Stoneybrook does not disappoint. Water on the right can come into play if you miss hit your drive as do the fairway traps on either side that are reachable as well. Unless you absolutely boom your drive, you’ll be left with a long iron or hybrid to a medium sized green that slopes back to front. Beware, the green falls off in the back so, with a back pin placement, hit a little less club and leave an uphill putt. Oh yeah; too far over the green and you could find the water. Par is a great way to get started at Stoneybrook.
Number 2: Par 5 540 yards. You’ll want to play your tee shot down the left side of the fairway on this long, dogleg right par 5. Avoid the fairway bunkers on the right side at all costs; actually anything on the right side of the fairway will have you blocked out. With a good drive down the left side, long ball hitters can have a go at the green in two by going over the corner of the wetlands.. The rest of us will be faced with a somewhat tough layup shot, avoiding the fairway bunkers on either side. A successful layup will leave around 120 yards to an elevated green that is well protected by bunkers.
Number 4: Par 4, 368 yards. Water on either side can make for an intimidating tee shot on this shorter par 4. Your approach shot is a little easier than the first two holes. The green is protected by front right bunkers and is a lot wider than it is deep.
Number 5: Par 3, 167 yards. Number 5 is one of the prettiest holes on the course. Anything short or right off the tee will find the water or the rocks. The hole consists of a quasi-island green and is made up of waste bunkers, palm trees and grass that is kept very short. Once you get over the initial awe of this hole, it gets a lot easier.
Number 8: Par 4, 404 yards. The emphasis on this hole is on straight off the tee; water down on the left can come into play should you pull your drive. There is also a smaller lake to carry from the back tees. An approach from the left side will require navigation of some large oak trees. The lake on the left that circles the green should not come into play.
Number 10: Par 5, 509 yards. Number 10 is a fairly easy driving hole that starts with an elevated tee box surrounded by rocks. A good drive can easily leave an opportunity to go for the green in two. The rest of us will have a wide open layup shot followed by a short pitch shot to a wide, shallow green with a hogsback running through the middle of it.
Number 12: Par 4, 345 yards. Although not the longest of holes, number 12 requires accuracy off the tee to hit the narrow landing area. Pull your drive left and it is most likely wet; hit it right and you’re most likely in the trap. A well struck three wood or long iron off the tee will leave a short, manageable approach shot to a multi tiered green that places a premium on club selection.
Number 13: Par 4, 325 yards. Number 13 is another short par 4 that requires an accurate tee shot. Should you choose to hit away off the tee, watch out for the water on the right just past the stand of trees. A well planned tee shot will leave a short pitch shot to a good sized green. It may be a short hole, but par is a good score here.
Number 14: Par 3, 230 yards. This is one of the toughest holes on the course, mainly because of its length. It’s not often you play a par 3 that, paying into the wind, may require a driver off the tee! It’s mostly carry over water which also makes up the right side. To make matters worse, the left side is lined with houses; mostly pool homes with people sitting outside, watching your antics. This can be a very humbling hole in more ways than one.
Number 18: Par 5, 469 yards. This ego boosting par 5 finishing hole makes up for the monster that started the round. It’s a short, straight par 5 with water all down the right side. From the tee, keep it on the left side of the fairway and you can have a go at the green in two. Should you come up short, your short game skills will be put to the test with the closely mown collar that surrounds the green. Number 18 can make or break the round.
Last Word: Stoneybrook is a well designed, well maintained golf course in Estero, FL that sees a lot of play. Unfortunately a five hour round on a weekend afternoon is not uncommon however if you have not played Stoneybrook, it is worth it. You can make the course as easy – or as difficult - as you choose; simply by your choice tees. There are 7 tee boxes to meet the demands of any player.The greens were redone in 2010 and are truly a joy to putt on. They tend to be on the larger side, are fairly fast and offer subtle undulations to test your skills.There as a full sized aqua driving range as well as a short game area and large putting green so there are no excuses for not being ready when you hit the first tee. For more information on Stoneybrook, you give them a call at (239) 948-3933 or you visit them online at http://www.stoneybrookgolffm.com. You can book tee times on the website as well.
