Elverson, Pennsylvania
Stonewall’s Old Course is a prime example of Tom Doak’s minimalist approach, fusing strategic shot values with the natural drama of Pennsylvania dairyland. This is pure golf—meaty par 3s, smart routing, and a stone clubhouse finish—serving up a serious test for the region’s golf obsessives.
Initial routing proposed by Tom Fazio
Stonewall (Old Course) opens, designed by Tom Doak with Gil Hanse assisting
Historic dairy farm stone barns converted into clubhouse
Hosts 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur (USGA Championship)
Hosts 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (USGA Championship)
Stonewall’s Old Course is set on the site of a former dairy farm, its stone barns now forming the heart of the clubhouse and lending a rustic, authentic charm. Golfers are immediately immersed in the land’s agricultural history while navigating a thoroughly modern minimalist design.
Founder Jack May envisioned Stonewall as a sanctuary for purist golf—a place to walk, play into dusk, and escape the trappings of modern country club life. That original ethos still defines every round here.
Doak’s key routing move reversed the direction of the finishing hole, transforming it into a dramatic downhill approach to the iconic stone clubhouse. The close is now among Pennsylvania’s most scenic and memorable.
Stonewall has tested elite mid-amateurs on the national stage with USGA events in both 2016 and 2023. The course’s balance of strategy, length, and precision rewards real shot making—and punishes mistakes.
Stonewall’s Old Course exemplifies Tom Doak’s minimalist philosophy: respecting the land’s natural contours, maximizing strategic interest, and weaving holes around the historic stone structures that define the old dairy farm. Doak’s adaptive use of Tom Fazio’s approved routing—enhanced with Gil Hanse’s on-site input—created an 18-hole test full of drama, elevation changes, visually compelling risk-reward holes, and green complexes that reward ball-striking and precise strategy over brute strength. The result is a seamless blend of rural heritage and cutting-edge golf design, earning repeat USGA championship visits and glowing reviews from architecture fans.
Doak’s adaptation—amending Fazio’s original routing, with Hanse’s local sensibility—delivers a uniquely Pennsylvanian, soulfully minimalist test.
Iconic minimalist design, top 10 U.S.
Internationally acclaimed links
Doak’s prairie masterwork
Tribute course at Bandon Dunes
Reversible routing, bold experiment
A picturesque yet deadly downhill par 3, with wetlands stretching short of the green and a creek lurking to the right. Club selection is everything; the visuals tempt you, but safe play is often rewarded.
Take enough club for the center, and avoid sucker pins near the edge.
Short or right is wet; wind can also wreak havoc.
Championship-ready when needed; strong greens and firm fairways, though day-to-day may vary by season.
Moderate—designed for walking and fast play, but the shot value and elevation mean it’s not a quick loop for most.
Unfussy and golf-first; pastoral, peaceful, and deliberately lacking in country-club frills.
Strong bookable public course with architectural intrigue and excellent value.
Classic Mid-Atlantic pedigree for those who can secure access.
One of the top private parkland courses in the region.
Superb modern private track, well regarded for walkability and design.
Major championship venue and a true historic Philadelphia-area classic.
Exton or West Chester for fastest Stonewall access and easy regional drives.
With its rolling terrain and walking-first mandate, you’ll enjoy Stonewall more if you’re ready for 18 on foot.
Elevation swings and exposed green sites mean you’ll face plenty of odd-numbered shots—practice those in-between clubs.
The quartet of par 3s—especially the 5th and monstrous 17th—will extract a toll for poor strikes or bad decisions.
As a private club, make sure your host has cleared you with the pro shop and brush up on any local customs.
Stonewall’s founders repurposed the old dairy barns as the clubhouse, not just as a nod to history but to immerse players in the farmland setting.
The course is deliberately cart-free—walking is not just allowed, it’s fundamental to the experience.
Tom Doak’s design actually reversed the finishing holes compared to Tom Fazio’s original routing, giving the 18th its downhill climax by the barns.
Both the men’s and women’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships have been contested here, cementing its championship credentials.
Evenings at Stonewall often see members playing until dusk, without the distractions of non-golf amenities.
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