Woburn Duchess
Charles Lawrie followed the Duke's with the Duchess in 1978, woven through the same towering Buckinghamshire forest. A par 72 of 6,555 yards, it is the most playable of Woburn's three courses, a little shorter and more forgiving off the tee yet still asking for straight golf down corridors of pine, chestnut and birch.
Photo: Karin Maritz via Google.
The verdict
The Duchess arrived two years after the Duke's, a second eighteen carved by Charles Lawrie through the wooded Bedford estate. It shares the Duke's character, tight tree lined fairways and a hushed, secluded feel, but it plays a touch shorter and kinder, which makes it the choice for many visitors and for mixed ability groups.
Do not mistake gentler for easy. The Duchess still demands that you keep the ball in play between the trees, and the greens reward a thoughtful approach. As one third of a three course resort it is the ideal partner to the championship Duke's and the modern Marquess, rounding out a Woburn day that has few rivals for inland golf within an hour of London.
Woburn Duchess Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1978
- Designer
- Charles Lawrie
- Type
- Woodland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,555 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Woburn Golf Club and leading course databases. The Duchess was designed by Charles Lawrie and opened in 1978, a par 72 of 6,555 yards. Woburn welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by course, season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Like its siblings, the Duchess is all about the trees. Each hole runs its own avenue through the forest, so the round has a calm, one hole at a time rhythm, and the tee shot sets up everything that follows. The slightly more generous corridors give the Duchess its reputation as the friendliest of the three.
The short holes stand out, played through gaps in the canopy to well guarded greens, and they ask for a clean strike rather than brute force. The par 5s offer a genuine chance to score for the player who drives it straight, a welcome contrast to the relentless demand of the Duke's next door.
The pleasure of the Duchess is in the setting and the variety. It is a course you can enjoy off the back tees or the forward markers, which is exactly what a resort needs in its more approachable eighteen, and it leaves a buddies group or a couple equally content at the end of the day.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members and resort club that welcomes visiting golfers, often as part of a green fee or stay and play package; advance booking is essential |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 130 to 220 pounds depending on course, season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Woburn golf office ahead of time; the Duchess often has more availability than the Duke's |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; an easy woodland walk |
| Getting there | Bow Brickhill near Milton Keynes, about an hour north of London and close to the M1 |
| Best months | May to September for the driest fairways and the fullest woodland setting |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors treat Woburn as a two or three day base, playing all three courses and staying in or around Milton Keynes or the quiet Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire countryside nearby.
The Duchess works well as the relaxed round of a Woburn trip, set alongside the testing Duke's and the long Marquess, and its position by the M1 makes the club an easy stop on a broader tour of southern England's wooded and heathland courses.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Woburn Duchess Course.
Build a Buckinghamshire golf trip
We arrange tee times across the three Woburn courses, pair them with the best of the southern English heathland and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Woburn Duchess Course questions
Who designed the Duchess Course at Woburn and when did it open?
The Duchess Course was designed by Charles Lawrie and opened in 1978, the second of the three courses built at Woburn.
What is the par and length of the Woburn Duchess Course?
The Duchess is a par 72 of 6,555 yards, the shortest and most playable of Woburn's three tree lined woodland courses.
Is the Duchess easier than the Duke's at Woburn?
The Duchess is generally regarded as the more forgiving of the two, a little shorter with slightly wider corridors, though it still rewards accurate driving between the trees.
Where is Woburn Golf Club?
Woburn is at Bow Brickhill near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England, about an hour north of London and close to the M1.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.