Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course Key Information

The Duke’s, which has long featured in our Top 100 golf courses UK&I, is where it all began on the Duke of Bedford’s Woburn Estate, with Charles Lawrie crafting the first of today’s three courses through avenues of pine, birch and chestnut in 1976. It’s an extremely attractive layout with springy fairways lined by bracken, birch, heather and gorse, and it sits so comfortably in its surrounds, it feels it has always existed. It's one of the UK and Ireland's top-100 courses.

Within three years of its opening, it had found its way onto the European Tour schedule, going on to host the British Masters 16 times over the next 23 years. The course winds through pine trees, demanding accuracy off the tee. If you’re not on your game, as is often the case with me, you will often find yourself playing your second shot out sideways.

All the Woburn courses are tree lined throughout, the Duke's is wider and visually less challenging than the Duchess'. While I like the fact that the trees frame the holes well and provide a feeling of seclusion and tranquillity, this also makes for a real challenge.

It’s a well-designed course that doesn’t rely on heavy bunkering or water hazards for protection. The clever routing through the trees and the changes in elevation provide challenge enough.

The Duke’s boasts a very pretty start, a demanding middle section then a tricky run for home where accuracy is often of more use than distance as you seek to place your ball in the ideal spot over the closing three doglegs.

To my mind, the most majestic of the holes falls early on in the short-but-delightful downhill par-3 3rd, bathed in robes of purple glory when the rhododendrons are in bloom, and the magnificent par 4 that follows playing round and up to a challenging two-tier green sheltering in a secluded arbour. Precision is most definitely the name of the game on the Duke’s course.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said...

John Winter

The Dukes is a golfer’s course and with its rich tournament history was again in very good condition when I played it. The tree lined fairways in the dappled sunshine give you a sense of privacy and exclusivity. The sound of your golf ball echoing down and through the avenue of pine trees helps endorse your good shots. The bracken and gorse clearance has helped reveal some of the course’s more subtle hazards but a good tree surgeon could do more.

Matt Weavers

The historical tournament pedigree definitely adds a sense of occasion to the Dukes and the welcome for visiting golfers is polished and genuine. However, the overall feeling is clearly that of a commercial enterprise and leaves me feeling a little uninspired.

Chris Dobson

The iconic 3rd and the dramatic rollercoaster dog legs that follow set the tone for an exciting though (depending on your accuracy off the tee) sometimes scary round of golf. I love playing in amongst the woods at Woburn. The tree lined holes are truly as beautiful but challenging when you are fighting a bit of a slice!

Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course Location

Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course scorecard

Best Courses Near to Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course

WOBURN DUCHESS'

Of all the courses in the Top 100, then from the tee, this is almost certainly the most demanding. Beautiful pine trees line the fairways, at times like spectators straining to get a view. Accuracy is also vital on many approaches as the greens are relatively small, meaning that the Duchess’ requires a strategic, skilful approach.

WOBURN MARQUESS'

This is a grand-scale golf course, winding its way through 200 acres of glorious countryside with plenty of majestic woodland separating the holes. Since opening in 2000, this excellent design has hosted the British Masters four times and the Women’s British Open twice. Large greens, exquisitely crafted holes and stirring approaches are the hallmark here.

For other top courses in the area, check out our guide to the best golf courses in Bedfordshire.

Best Places to Stay Near Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course

The Woburn - Book now at Booking.com
Sitting proudly at the heart of picturesque Woburn Village, you’ll find The Woburn – a charming 18th-century property under the stewardship of the award-winning Oakman Group. Part of the Duke of Bedford Estates, The Woburn has 48 hotel rooms plus seven stylish, individually decorated cottages that sit just across the courtyard.

The Bell Hotel Woburn - Book now at Booking.com
Located in Woburn, The Bell Hotel Woburn is run by Greene King Inns and provides comfortable accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and a bar.

Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course Gallery

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Woburn Golf Club Duke's Course Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

• 2025/26 - 86
• 2023/24 - 85
• 2021/22 - 86
• 2019/20 - 86
• 2017/18 - 91
• 2015/16 - 97
• 2013/14 - 97

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