Woburn Golf Club – Duke’s Course

It is not the highest-ranked course at Woburn, but the Duke’s was the club’s first and remains its best known. The Duke’s has played host to a wealth of high-profile events and been widely popular with champions ranging from Greg Norman back in 1981 through to Lee Trevino, Laura Davies, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and right up to Henrik Stenson in 2004.

It was the threat of Bow Brickhill Heath being taken over as a country park for Milton Keynes that led the 14th Duke of Bedford to decree in 1974 that a golf course be built on the land. Charles Lawrie was given the task of laying out the course among the centuries-old woodland and within three years of opening it hosted its first British Masters, won by Graham Marsh.

After a low-key start, the pulse quickens considerably at the 3rd, one of the most picturesque short holes in Britain. The tee set high above the green is the perfect place from which to savour its beauty, not least the vibrant purple of the rhododendrons. These scenic 134 yards can cause a lot of pain though, the small green being protected by two bunkers and run-offs on all sides. The next might be even better, a par 4 which sweeps from right to left among densely-populated pines and concludes on a dangerously narrow, two-tier MacKenzie-style green.

After the strong par-5 5th, with a significant ravine to the left, comes another fine short hole; the elevated green that is surrounded by tall trees is also protected by bunkers edged by sleepers. It almost looks as if the 6th is fluttering her eyelashes at you, but at 207 yards (playing 220), it rarely flatters you. The Duke’s is all but 7,000 yards off the tips and more than 6,500 off the yellows, which is unquestionably long enough for most of us. Indeed, you need to play well off those tee boxes to score well on the Duke’s, which probably still remains the absolute ‘must play’ at Woburn.

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The Duke's Course designed by Charley Lawrie opened in 1976 and was the first of Woburn's three courses to be constructed.  The 6,983 yard Duke's course sports fairways lined with pine, silver birch and chestnut trees. Heather, bracken and gorse add to the charm of the course, as well as providing some of the natural hazards of each hole. It was the location for the British Masters for 20 years, as well as hosting the Women's British Open Championship.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course has: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap