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Woburn (Duke's), England |
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Woburn Golf Club
Little Brickhill
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK17 9LJ
England |  | Charles Lawrie |  | Luther Blacklock |
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 | +44 (0) 1908 370756 |  | M1 J13, south of Milton Keynes |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance – midweek only |  | Jason O'Malley |
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It was Lord Tavistock’s brilliant idea to bring golf to Woburn. He commissioned Charles Lawrie of Cotton & Pennink, to design the Duke’s course. After two years, and much tree-felling, the first course at Woburn Golf Club opened for play. It didn’t take long for it to be recognised. In 1979, the Dunlop Masters was hosted, and, since then, the Duke’s has never looked back – playing host to the English Strokeplay Championship, the British Masters and the Women’s British Open. The professional golfer, fashion designer and personality, Ian Poulter, is now officially attached to Woburn Golf Club.
With fairways flanked by glorious pine, birch and chestnut trees, the Duke’s is an intimate golf course. Each hole is played in splendid isolation. It’s a serious challenge too, measuring almost 7,000 yards from the back tees and 6,550 from the regular tees. Straight and long driving is the order of the day. This is not a course for the novice golfer – it will beat you up and spit you out.
There are some fantastic holes on the Duke’s but the pick of the bunch is the famous par three 3rd. Framed by rhododendrons and gorse, this is a genuinely delightful golf hole. The green is 100 feet below the tee, and the hard green slopes violently from back to front. Measuring only 125 yards, a short iron must be played to the heart of the green, otherwise, the ball is likely to scuttle off, pronto. The 5th is a wonderful, short par five – a well-struck drive down the right, as close as you dare to the trees, will provide a chance to reach the green in two – anything struck too far left, will scamper down a slope towards the trees.
The Duke’s is an outstanding course, but Woburn’s young upstart, the Marquess, has threatened it. There may be a benefit to this – the Duke’s will be less busy – perhaps.
Don't miss the third course at Woburn - The Duchess | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | Absolutely fantastic course, the condition of the course was incredible for November, fairways, greens, rough, bunkers and tees especially were all perfect even with all the rain weve had. Once you step onto the 1st tee you can see it is a special place with holes 2-6 setting the round alight and giving you one of the best 5 hole starts anywhere in the world. Obviously the 3rd is an incredible par 3 with our balls spinning back 30 feet but the 4th and 13th par 4's really stood out with the towering pines flanking the fairways. In my opinion not as good as the newer Marquess as there are a few holes that arent completely tree lined (7 thru to 10) whereas the Marquess is more consistent but the Dukes has more memorable holes. Every golfer should play Woburn in their lifetimes and it will be the best money theyve ever spent with the hole atmosphere of the place being incredible and the staff are exceptional! |
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| 03 November 2012
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| | guys - I'm a huge links fan and there are VERY few inland courses I would go back to again and again but this is at the very top of my list 1st is a shortish par 5 but OB left, boondocks right and very well bunkered - 2nd to 5th are all stunning, with the 4th possibly my favourite par 4 on ANY inland course - I'm an 8 h'cap so a half decent hacker but I reckon I've played this hole close on 50 times and I doubt I've parred it 10 times - 6th to 12th all good holes and then you reach 13...another stunning par 4 - 14th is a fiendish par 5 and your closing holes are all strong, with the possible exception of 18 which is a short par 4 but still no gimme play this course at all costs, closely followed by its little sister, The Duchess...shorter, tighter...a true gem for my money, stay away from The Marquess...leave it to the thousands of corporate visitors, while you enjoy the TRUE beauty of Woburn GC - should be ranked far higher |
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| 31 March 2011
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| | Just played the course last weekend.Wonderful feel and atmosphere seemd like one of the three W's in Surrey, only thing missing is the heather!Par 3's very strong and the back 9 very testing.Positional tee shots are essential!
Despite a corporate image it is very much a members club. |
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| 21 October 2009
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| | Played this on the 2nd day of our 3 day stay. Very good course with tree lined fairways that define each hole beautifully. A little more open than the Duchess but they have compensated by adding some fairway bunkers, and it is also longer. Greens on the small side and difficult to find. Can't think of a weak hole - even the very short 3rd is difficult to hit as it is very hard to choose the right club. the overall Woburn experience is fantastic and not one to be missed - each course is very enjoyable. Overall condition of course was first class with superbly defined fairways and fast running firm greens - even in October. My only small complaint would be inconsistency of sand levels in bunkers. Our fourball suffered several plugged balls. Will definately return. |
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| 09 October 2009
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| | A great place to play golf. The course is magnificent, as was the carvery we had in between rounds!
Expensive but worth it. |
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| 26 September 2008
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| | As past reviews have said the holes 2-7 are the best stretch on this course, 4th hole must be one of the nicest in England.. the rest of the course is also pretty special as is the lunch. very friendly welcome and well organised place geared up for coporate golf. Fantastic greens and everything was immaculately groomed such as tees, bunkers etc.. Play here if you get the chance, its as close to Augusta as your gonna get in England due to the massive pines that flank each fairway on both sides. |
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| 04 May 2008
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| | Holes two through seven are fantastic with the fourth the obvious standout. Many of the other holes are uninspiring but collectively it is a very enjoyable course to play if you can keep it between the trees. |
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| 16 April 2008
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| | Beautiful course with an exciting start...1-7 routed nicely in a chain over the best terrain. After that the routing tends to go back and forth a lot (parallel holes). So the routing is a bit of a let down compared to the great inland courses of Britain but there are still one or two super holes on the back 9, like the 13th. Unforrtunately the members 18th is a dud to finish with. Bit too high in rankings 75-100 is more like it. |
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| 31 August 2007
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| | What a JOY.
Lovely layout, great challenge and good condition. Can't really think you could want much more from a course.
A great mix of holes, long and short par4s, easy and tough par 5's and challenging par3's offer a real test of golf.
I would heartily recommend this to anyone whether scratch or 18, give it a try.
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| 01 June 2006
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| | Tthe course wasn't in very good condition when i played it. The greens were bare and the fairways were diseased. i was very dissapointed but it was well worth the money £21!! |
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| 18 April 2006
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| | Played this course after the Duchess and was slightly disappointed, dont get me wrong the first 4 holes were absolutely superb, but after that the rest seemed rather samey, with the exception of some of the par 3's, not as pretty as the duchess and i personally didnt find it as testing.Overall an excellent course, but the Duchess would be my first choice any day. |
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| 02 April 2006
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| | Although the Dukes is a great course I think it is the weakest of the three here at Woburn, but having said that, I think it has the best greens. They are huge, tricky to read and, in the summer, as fast as lightning. There's something a bit ordinary about some of the holes, although all the par threes are good. Memorable holes include the 4th and the 13th, the latter has a really tough approach across a ravine to a tight green. Woburn certainly know how to look after you and I'd never pass an opportunity to play here...but you can have the Dukes as long as you leave the Duchess to me! |
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| 27 May 2005
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| | Great course, great condition, great test of golf. You will NOT be disappointed playing here. |
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| 03 July 2004
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| | The Duke's course is a true favourite of many with some great holes - all in top condition. I love it here with the 3rd, 4th and the 12th the real quality holes. The 18th hole (fairly short par 4) anywhere else on the course would be a weak hole - but as the last it has the habit of being a hole where games are won or lost in dramatic fashion - and I should know - ouch !
Never turn down a trip to the Woburn Duke's. |
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| 29 June 2004
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| | There is a very specific sound that accompanies a round on the Duke's and it is the sound of Pinnacle on Pine. This beautiful course is surrounded by pine woods and an errant shot will find your ball bouncing between the trees. Thankfully the thinness of the trees often allows for a straightforward recovery shot, which is just as well as the fairways are gorgeous, Each hole is well concealed from the other and it often feels as if you are playing alone in a corridor of greenery. There is one particularly great par 4 which doglegs left and channels down to small green nestling in the trees, The course is fairly lengthy and narrow, but there are one or two opportunities to open the shoulders, however some shrewd positioning play is recommended. There is a great par three over dense shrubbery down to a wickedly sloping green, the hazards of this par three make up for its short length, two putting on this green is by no means a formality. There are at least four really memorable holes on this course which make the trip worthwhile. The clubhouse is modern and well organized, the carvery is superb. A friendly club without any noticeable aloofness. Well worth a visit, one of the best parkland courses I have played. CJ |
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| 13 April 2004
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| | Still one of the great venues in the south to play golf. The Dukes is so famiilar because of the TV coverage and with this, you up your game - mind you, you need to ! Not many throw away holes here - Pricey but for what you get and where you are - no problem - Highly recommended ... |
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| 07 April 2004
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| | Best course in the area by far. Well worth the green fee. Great feeling of privacy amongst the forest. Geared up for societies and corporate days. |
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| 01 April 2004
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