The Duchess is the shortest and prettiest of the three courses at Woburn Golf Club. Major competitions, accolades and honours are heaped on the Duke's and Marquess courses, but the Duchess is lovely in its own right...
Woburn Golf Club (Duchess)
The Duchess is the shortest and prettiest of the three courses at Woburn Golf Club. Major competitions, accolades and honours are heaped on the Duke's and Marquess courses, but the Duchess is lovely in its own right...
4.5
The three courses at Woburn offer a subtle variety in terms of the questions they ask, but a quality they all share is that they provide a special atmosphere that defines a round of golf here. The sense of solitude and peacefulness is good for the soul and that peace is only punctuated occasionally by the distant cry of ‘fore’ or the deep tone of urethane impacting wood. One of the prettiest inland golf courses you will play, the test of the Duchess is one that bucks the trend and modern leaning towards width and angles and a plethora of short grass. This is an exacting test of accuracy and character that isn’t immediately apparent as you assess the scorecard, where you will need to consistently find the slithers of short grass that weave amongst the avenues of trees that define the line of play, to produce a decent score.
The first tee shot perfectly sums up the test that awaits you for the rest of the round. The fairway lays over a rise obscuring the rest of the hole, but you know where it is you need to play to, as the rest of the vista is a sea of trees. The reveal as you crest the rise is a fabulous one, as a tumbling fairway that dives and rolls before climbing towards the green site is laid out before you. Required is accuracy of line from the tee and accuracy of distance on your approach. The overriding theme for the round ahead is clear.
The 2nd hole is a par 3 that must play as one of the hardest for its length of any par 3 in England. The tiny hourglass green site is encircled by bunkers on 3 sides and played through the narrowest of chutes between the trees. There aren’t many pleasant places to miss and a mindset of minimising the compounding of mistakes will stop you compiling a card wrecking score here.
The 3rd was my favourite hole strategically on the front half. This short 4 asks a simple question; where would you be best placed to attempt your approach shot to this deceptively well protected green? With a cavernous bunker short and a green site placed at and angle that means it is narrow front to back, the answer is that it isn’t necessarily as clear as it may first appear. The theme continues for most of the front side with attractive green sites nestling amongst amphitheatres of trees, improbably narrow corridors marking the line of play, and accuracy of line and playing approach shots from the right areas being the key ingredients to ensuring the scorecard keeps ticking over.
The weakest hole on the front side was the 8th hole, where I felt it wasn’t necessarily set up to play in a way that would be pleasurable for all. This almost 90 degree dogleg right requires a shot from the tee that carries far enough to take the corner out of play. I’m not convinced that is achievable from the standard tees for all levels of golfer, and the shot that is left if you don’t make the distance is a chip with a wedge to an area beyond said corner, as the inside of the bend is marked by trees that cannot be cleared vertically. I also felt trees down the right of the approach impinged the line to the green site, even from certain areas on the fairway. If I had free reign to make changes to the course, I would start with the 8th and an assessment of what could be done to make what could be a strong hole, more playable.
I felt the back nine was the stronger of the two sides, with the run 12-17 offering the best sustained run of quality holes on the course. I particularly liked the 12th, where the testing tee shot requires you to play to a spot which allows the best view of the partially obscured left to right sloping green. The 14th boasts the only true fairway bunker on the course, a fact that hadn’t immediately struck me until I reviewed overhead images of the course after the round. The reality is that the course doesn’t need fairway bunkers. Accuracy is a prerequisite to success on every tee shot and bunkers would only add excessive pressure to the test off the tee and make the golf here go from the consistently testing to bordering on the nightmarish.
The 15th marks a change of vibe as the trees change in type and character from being almost universally firs and evergreens to a rich tapestry of of deciduous and native species. Like all of the par 5’s on the course, 15 plays as a half par hole, offering a solid chance of a birdie (IF you find the short grass from the tee).
17 is the most attractive approach shot on the back side but follows what I would term an awkward tee shot, where the best line of play is not clearly apparent. A lone evergreen lurks on the near side of this slight dogleg left, obscuring what we subsequently found to be the natural line to the sunken fairway. The approach is then revealed as you crest the hill, with the short grass weaving up to a green located well above the fairway. I loved this hole but feel it could be improved further with the removal of the tree on the corner of the dogleg. It punishes the long handicap player excessively while detracting from the aesthetics of the tee shot and ultimately, I think it detracts more than it gives to the hole.
For me the Duchess is the toughest strategic test of all on offer at Woburn, and if you allow the ball to wander into the tree line, you are in for a long day. I respect the examination this golf course offers however and believe there is a place for golf courses like this in modern day architecture, where plotting and placement will routinely out perform pure power and you don’t necessarily need to reach for your driver on every tee shot. For our visit, the playing conditions were exemplary, some of the best early season parkland conditions in the country for sure and although only a side story, this level of presentation certainly adds to the whole experience. My advice to someone playing this course for the first time would be to buy a course guide, study it closely and only play enough length from the tee to put you in position to make a comfortable approach to the centre of the small greens. Other that that, enjoy the walk and drink in the peacefulness of this special place.
Alex Frolish
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
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Top 10 Golf Courses in Buckinghamshire 2015 Buckinghamshire Best in County rankings updated The chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills is an area of outstanding natural beauty and it dominates the southern portion of Buckinghamshire, where many of the residents commute to work in London. Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes was where Britain based its codebreaking centre during World War II and the Paralympic games originated in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury Vale. There you have it, all you need to know about Buckinghamshire in a couple of snappy little sentences. But what about the county’s sporting facilities and its golf offerings, in particular? Well, they’re also dominated by one golf club, Woburn, which is blessed with three top rated courses, though another forty clubs provide a sterling supporting role around the region. We’ve recently surveyed all the golf clubs in this area and have now processed the returns, formulating the latest edition of our Buckinghamshire Top 10 rankings. The top five positions remain exactly as they were two years ago, so we reckon that’s a fairly good indication that we’ve at least got the top half of the table ordered in the correct manner. At number 1, Woburn’s Marquess course only opened in 2000 but it has since hosted two British Masters tournaments and the English Amateur Championship in 2011. Now matured way beyond its youthful years, the course has also been used for recent Final Open Qualifying and it’ll stage the British Masters again next month. At number 2, The Duke’s course at Woburn has also seen its fair share of top amateur and professional tournaments, including the English Strokeplay Championship, the British Masters and the Women’s British Open. Designed by Charles Lawrie, it has been delighting golfers on a daily basis since ever it first opened in 1976. Woburn’s Duchess course occupies the number 3 position in our regional chart. Overshadowed to a large extent by the tournament exploits of the other two Woburn courses, the Duchess is still a golfing treat in its own right. One reviewer has described it as the “shortest, prettiest and arguably the tightest golf course you’ll find anywhere in the world… the definition and visual aspect of the Duchess is breathtaking.” At number 4, the tree-lined Colt and Alison nines form the premier layout at Stoke Park and this impressive old course was fashioned by Harry Colt back in 1908, opening a year later when an exhibition match was played between James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Arnaud Massy and James Sherlock, the club’s professional. The Buckinghamshire is at number 5 and it’s a John Jacobs design from the early 1990s. Fairways are laid out on a 226-acre parkland estate, with the Misbourne and Colne rivers coming into play at seven of the first twelve holes on the card. The course enjoyed a 5-year stint of hosting top tournaments soon after it opened, when the Senior Tournament of Champions was held there between 1996 and 2000. Lambourne is the only new entry at number 8 and it’s another early 1990s design. This time the architect was Donald Steel and he set the eighteen fairways out within a well-drained 180-acre wooded estate, routing the holes around six sparkling lakes. We’re in debt to the clubs and professional golfers who helped with our re-ranking process for this county. To view more information about the courses in our Buckinghamshire Top 10 rankings click this link. If you have extensive experience of playing across the southern region of England and would like to contribute to our next re-ranking exercise then please email Editor-in-Chief Keith Baxter at keith@top100golfcourses.com. Top 100 Golf Courses never claims to publish definitive golf course listings but we do like to think they’re the most informed. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses
Woburn Golf Club is the only club in England with all three of its courses continuously ranked in the Top 100, and all three sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. For any golfer visiting the area, whether for business or leisure, that is an offer that simply does not exist anywhere else in England. ⛳️ Top 3 Golf Courses in Milton Keynes 🥇 Best Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Marquess) #59 England · #1 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min Set within 200 acres of majestic mature woodland on the Woburn Abbey estate, the Marquess opened in 2000 as the youngest and most expansive of Woburn's three courses. Fairways are wider and more undulating than its siblings, featuring oak, yew, chestnut, rowan and beech rather than dense pine, measuring well over 7,000 yards from the back tees. It has hosted the British Masters four times and the Women's British Open twice, cementing its place as the standout course of one of England's finest golfing venues. 🥈 Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Duke's) #73 England · #2 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The original Woburn course, opened in 1976, is classical rather than modern in its design. Subtle dog-legs and holes played in magnificent isolation from one another define the layout, with the famous downhill par-three 3rd standing out as one of the most memorable short holes in English parkland golf. It has hosted the Dunlop Masters, the British Masters and the Women's British Open. A must-play. 🥉 #3 Golf Course in Milton Keynes — Woburn Golf Club (Duchess) #100 England · #3 Buckinghamshire Access: Visitors Welcome — Weekdays Only Best Time to Visit: Apr–Oct Distance from City Centre: 15 min The tightest and most intimate of the three Woburn courses, opened in 1979. At 6,651 yards it is the shortest of the three, but towering pine trees make every hole appear exceptionally narrow. Use your driver sparingly on a course where keeping the ball in play is everything, and one many members quietly regard as their personal favourite. 🔁 Can't Play the Top 3? Best Alternative Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Northamptonshire County Golf Club #96 England · #1 Northamptonshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 45 min Designed by Harry Colt in 1909 on the borders of the Althorp Estate in Church Brampton, this is a traditional layout that carries a distinctive heathland feel despite its parkland setting. Donald Steel described it as offering a test of inland golf that, of its type, is as good as any. Exceptionally well-drained and playable year-round, it is a genuine hidden gem within easy reach of Milton Keynes. Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club #2 Bedfordshire Access: Contact Club Prior to Visit Best Time to Visit: Year-round Distance from City Centre: 10 min Sandy Herd's 1914 parkland design sits just ten minutes from Milton Keynes town centre, making it the most accessible alternative when Woburn is unavailable. Extended from nine to eighteen holes in the 1970s, it is a mature and well-regarded layout that hosted the 2009 County Championships and drains well throughout the year. 📋 More Golf Courses Near Milton Keynes Milton Keynes borders three counties, giving travelling golfers a wide choice of verified courses within 60 minutes of the town centre. In Buckinghamshire: Bedfordshire Golf Club, Buckinghamshire Golf Club. In Bedfordshire: Bedford & County Golf Club, Millbrook Golf Club, South Beds Golf Club. In Northamptonshire, north and east of Milton Keynes: Brampton Heath Golf Centre, Collingtree Park Golf Club, Kettering Golf Club, Kingsthorpe Golf Club, Northampton Golf Club, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, Wellingborough Golf Club and Whittlebury Park. Full rankings and reviews for all courses are available at top100golfcourses.com. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Golf in Milton Keynes How many Top 100-ranked golf courses are near Milton Keynes? Three — all at Woburn Golf Club. The Marquess (#59 England), Duke's (#73 England) and Duchess (#100 England) are each independently ranked and all sit within 15 minutes of Milton Keynes town centre. Is Woburn Golf Club open to visitors? Yes, but on weekdays only. All three courses welcome visiting golfers from Monday to Friday throughout the year. Advance booking is required and a handicap certificate is recommended. Woburn is closed to visitors at weekends. What is the best golf course in Milton Keynes? The Marquess at Woburn Golf Club is ranked #59 in England and #1 in Buckinghamshire, making it the highest-ranked course within reach of Milton Keynes. It is the recommended first choice for any travelling golfer visiting the area. ✈️ Getting to Milton Keynes for Golf Milton Keynes Central station sits on the West Coast Main Line with direct services into London Euston from 32 minutes. London Luton Airport (LTN) is the nearest airport at 40km (25 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, approximately 35 minutes by car to Woburn. London Heathrow (LHR) offers the widest international connections at 70km (43 miles) from Milton Keynes town centre, around 55 minutes by car to Woburn. Car rental is available at both airports and is strongly recommended for reaching Woburn, Northamptonshire County and the wider area. 🌤️ Best Time to Play Golf in Milton Keynes May through September offers the most reliable playing conditions, with temperatures ranging from 15°C (59°F) to 22°C (72°F) and monthly rainfall averaging 50–60mm (2–2.4in). October brings superb autumn colour through Woburn's pine and beech woodland. Northamptonshire County and Aspley Guise drain exceptionally well and are playable through winter. The Woburn courses play best from April onwards. Plan Your Milton Keynes Golf Trip Full rankings, reviews and course details for every course listed on this page are available at top100golfcourses.com.
England is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and its five highest-ranked layouts can be played without being a member. From a 15-time Open venue on the Kent coast to some of the finest heathland golf in Surrey and Berkshire, plus a spectacular links course in Cornwall, these are the five highest-ranked courses in England that welcome visiting golfers. Royal St. George’s Golf Club (Kent) World Ranking: 19th | England ranking: 1st | Green fee: £430 Royal St George’s offers the chance to play one of England’s most historic and challenging links courses. Founded in 1887, it was the first English course to host the Open and has staged the championship 15 times, including the most recent edition in 2021. Routed through towering dunes in a loose figure of eight, Royal St George’s has undulating fairways, uneven lies and plenty of elevation changes that can make even seemingly straightforward shots difficult. The fourth hole is particularly memorable, with a huge bunker carved into a towering dune guarding the fairway. Despite its reputation as a demanding championship test, the course is as enjoyable to explore as it is difficult to score on. Wildflowers and dune grasses line the fairways, while views stretch across Pegwell Bay towards the white cliffs beyond. Add in distinctive features such as the thatched shelters and St George’s flags, and there is plenty to keep you entertained between the inevitable moments of frustration. Sunningdale Golf Club - Old Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 22nd | England ranking: 2nd | Green fee: £485 The Old course at Sunningdale is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful inland courses in the British Isles. Opened in 1901 by Willie Park Jr, it was one of the first great courses to emerge from the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt, with Harry Colt later reshaping the layout and giving it the intimate, tree-lined character it has today. Pine, birch, oak and heather frame the fairways, while the firm heathland turf makes Sunningdale a joy to walk and play. The course has hosted plenty of memorable golf, too, including Bobby Jones’ remarkable 66 in Open qualifying in 1926 and Nick Faldo’s 62 at the 1986 European Open. The 10th is a particular highlight, with its elevated tee offering a spectacular view before the halfway hut provides one of golf’s more welcome rewards. The 15th, a 226-yard par three, is another standout. For golfers visiting England, Sunningdale Old offers a classic heathland experience in one of the country's finest golfing regions. Sunningdale Golf Club - New Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 41st | England ranking: 3rd | Green fee: £485 The New course at Sunningdale provides a rather different experience to its famous older sibling. Opened in 1923 and designed by Harry Colt, it is more open and rugged than the Old, with elevated tees, heathery terrain and long carries placing a greater emphasis on driving. At 6,700 yards and par 70, the New is no pushover, with narrow fairways and plenty of undulation making it a particularly demanding test from the back tees. Even the professionals have struggled to make it look easy: Jack Nicklaus once held the course record with a 67 before Graeme Storm carded a remarkable 62 during Open qualifying in 2009. The course has also benefited from an ongoing tree-management programme, allowing more heather to return and restoring views across Chobham Common. The fifth, a picturesque par three played across the heath, is one of the highlights. The result is a course that rewards good driving without becoming a purely distance-based test, with the heathland setting providing plenty of visual interest along the way. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £190 St Enodoc is unlike almost any other links course in England. Overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock, with views across to Padstow, the Church Course takes its name from the 13th-century church that sits beside the 10th green. Remarkably, the building was completely buried by sand in the 19th century before being excavated in 1863. Founded in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1907, St Enodoc is defined by its towering dunes and constantly changing terrain, where no two holes feel quite the same. The sixth is the course's signature hole, demanding two blind shots over the towering 'Himalayas' dune to reach the hidden green. The 10th, played across a natural valley to a narrow fairway below, is another memorable challenge. If your ball strays towards the churchyard, you'll also find the grave of Poet Laureate John Betjeman, whose poem Seaside Golf was inspired by the course. The combination of huge dunes, unusual holes and views across the Camel Estuary makes St Enodoc a particularly distinctive addition to any English golf trip. Swinley Forest Golf Club (Berkshire) World Ranking: 52nd | England ranking: 5th Swinley Forest offers a quieter, more understated version of heathland golf on the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt. Set among mature pines and heather, it has a wonderfully quiet atmosphere and an old-fashioned character that is increasingly difficult to find. The firm, fast-running fairways and purple heather in summer give it all the hallmarks of classic heathland golf. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1909, Swinley measures around 6,400 yards and plays to a par of 69. The short holes are particularly strong, with a varied collection of one-shotters that require careful club selection. Around the greens, false fronts, run-offs and subtle slopes provide plenty of opportunities for a good round to unravel. For much of its history, Swinley was an intensely private club where visitors were few and far between. It now welcomes green-fee golfers, although the club retains much of its distinctive character. The result is a course that feels removed from the modern world, with little of the glamour associated with some of its better-known neighbours. For golfers who enjoy traditional heathland golf, that simplicity is a large part of Swinley's appeal. Green fees quoted are summer 2027 rates where available.
