PROFILE

Ian Young Class AAA - PGA Professional

Ian Young qualified as a PGA Professional in 1976 aged just 19 years old. He started his career at Ryde Golf Club on the Isle of Wight in Hampshire. He spent a few years at Southampton Municipal Golf Club working as an Assistant to John Cave before moving to Stoneham Golf Club as Head Professional in 1987.

Ian was a very accomplished player and once had as many as ten course records around England. He played a handful of European Tour events and missed gaining his full European Tour card at Tour School by just a single stroke. Unfortunately his playing career was cut short in 2000 due to injury however he now concentrates on his teaching and giving a great service in his shop.

Ben Johnson Class A - PGA Professional

I started playing golf at the age of 15 and managed to get down to 1 handicap before turning professional at 18 one of the youngest in the country at the time. Now in my 13th year as a Professional and 5th year at Stoneham working under Head Professional Ian Young. I had a brief but very enjoyable spell caddying for Stoneham touring Professional Richard Bland on the European Tour which was a great experience travelling the world and learning a lot more about playing and managing my own game. I'm a regular player on the Hampshire PGA circuit winning well into double figures the biggest being the Meachers Masters and the Stoneham Pro-Am on three occasions. I also play in tournaments with club members in America which I have been very fortunate to play the likes of Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass, Spyglass Hill and TPC Scottsdale.

They have been a great experience and stand me in good stead for my more local tournaments.

I also have a passion for teaching, especially the juniors we have at the club, I am available most days for lessons and have a successful ladies group helping with the ladies teams. I cover all aspects of the game and use video analysis to help myself and the pupil to study the swings in more detail.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Stoneham Golf Club and hope for many more years to come.

Nick Smith - PGA Professional

I have been Fully Qualified PGA Professional since 2005. 

Started my career at Dunwood Manor Golf Club where I was a junior when I started there at 12.  Spent many years at Dunwood building a very big teaching base and becoming shop manager.  I played full time on the Hampshire PGA circuit for 2 years and then tried my hand over in America playing on the Arizona and Pepsi Tour.  I am a multiple winner on the Hampshire Pga circuit with my biggest win being the Hampshire Open one of the biggest tournaments in the South.

Im a fully qualified custom fitter of all golf clubs and a very competent golf Coach with some of my successes being, Mens County Champion, Ladies County Champion and multiple wins in the handicap divisions of both County Championships.

I am very happy to be starting at Stoneham GC and I hope to have a successful career working along side Ian and Ben.