Woburn Duke's
Charles Lawrie carved the Duke's out of dense Buckinghamshire forest in 1976, the first course at Woburn and for years its tournament stage. A par 72 of 6,971 yards lined by towering pine, chestnut and silver birch, the Duke's asks for straight, committed driving down narrow corridors, a championship test that hosted the British Masters and the Women's British Open.
Photo: Karin Maritz via Google.
The verdict
Woburn opened with the Duke's in 1976, and it remains the course that made the club's name. Charles Lawrie routed it through mature woodland on the Bedford estate, each hole sealed off from the next by walls of pine and chestnut so that you play in your own private corridor of trees.
For more than two decades the Duke's was a fixture on the European Tour, the host of the British Masters, and it staged the Women's British Open as well. That pedigree shows in the demand it places on driving. There is little room for error off the tee, and the premium on finding the short grass makes the Duke's a stern but thrilling examination for the better player, less than an hour north of London.
Woburn Duke's Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1976
- Designer
- Charles Lawrie
- Type
- Woodland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,971 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Woburn Golf Club and leading course databases. The Duke's was designed by Charles Lawrie and opened in 1976, a par 72 of 6,971 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
The Duke's is defined by its trees. The fairways are framed so tightly that the tee shot is everything, and a drive that drifts even a few yards offline is gone into the pines. This is target golf in the truest inland sense, where placement and shot shape matter more than raw length.
The par 3s are a highlight, played across dips in the woodland to greens guarded by bunkering and overhanging branches, and they demand a precise carry with no bailout. The closing stretch keeps the pressure on, asking for one last straight drive and a controlled approach to a green ringed by trouble.
What lingers is the atmosphere. The Duke's plays in near silence under a high canopy, the holes unfolding one by one with no sight of the rest of the course, and that sense of seclusion is exactly why it has drawn tournament fields and visiting golfers for half a century.
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 150 to 250 pounds depending on course, season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Woburn golf office well ahead; the Duke's and Marquess are in steady demand |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the woodland walk is gentle but long |
| 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
Woburn is a destination in its own right, and many visitors build a day or two around its three courses with lodging in or near Milton Keynes or the surrounding Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire countryside.
The Duke's pairs naturally with its siblings the Marquess and the Duchess for a full Woburn itinerary, and the position close to the M1 makes it an easy add to a wider trip through the heathland belt southwest of London.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Woburn Duke's Course.
Build a Buckinghamshire golf trip
We arrange tee times on the 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 Duke's Course questions
Who designed the Duke's Course at Woburn and when did it open?
The Duke's Course was designed by Charles Lawrie and opened in 1976, the first of the three courses built at Woburn.
What is the par and length of the Woburn Duke's Course?
The Duke's is a par 72 of 6,971 yards, a tree lined woodland course that places a high premium on accurate driving.
Can visitors play the Woburn Duke's Course?
Yes. Woburn welcomes visiting golfers, often through green fee or stay and play packages; book well in advance and confirm the current rate before you travel.
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.