The Duchess was the 2nd course I played in my quest to play all 3 of the Woburn courses.

On stepping onto the 1st tee, I knew that I was in for a round that requires accuracy and strategy off the tee. The tight pine tree lined fairway, dipping out of sight and the white tees of the day requiring a straight tee shot or draw from the get go. Not an easy 1st tee shot and certainly not a gentle handshake of a hole. The undulating land fully comes into play, leaving an all carry approach, given the false front to the small green complex.

There is a serenity to wandering the fairways of Woburn, the perfectly manicured fairways and greens, despite the hot dry weather the UK had had this Summer, making each footstep taken a pleasant one.

The tall pines and ferns located beneath them add to the sense of seclusion. They also add to the jeopardy on each shot, as anything straying into the under growth will cost you a shot as a minimum but more likely a lost ball. And the same goes for hitting a tree.

The tightest tee shot awaits you on the 2nd, a par 3 measuring 185 yarfs, playing through a narrow chute of trees, to a small hour glass green that is two tiered and slopes right to left and is protected by 3 bunkers, leaving only a narrow entrance. Playing short and relying on an up and down may be your best chance of par!

And this theme continues throughout the round. Some of the small greens are offset, with ridges and slopes and plotting your approach into them is vital to landing in the correct part of them to score well.

As the round progresses though the memorability of the holes starts to be challenged. Tight and tree lined becomes the stand out feature and off the tees many of the holes start to feel similar, which is unfortunate as the greens are excellent.

There are some standout holes, both for good and bad reasons. The 8th I felt was the weakest hole, an awkward dog leg right par 4, that will not suit alot of golfers given the distance to reach the dog leg and present a reasonable approach to the green. The par 5 4th isnt much better in terms of a dog leg which runs out of fairway at around 220 yards.

The back 9 delivers a better routing and a strong set of holes, especially holes 15 and 16, the former being a par 5 that utilises the same land as the 1st, albeit in reverse,  playing across a valley, and then an approach to another uphill green, with tiers and slopes.  The 16th is a delightful full carry short par 3. The 17th offers both good and bad. A blind tee shot in that the fairway disappears from view over a rise in the land. The best line is actually blocked by a sentry pine. I'd rather see this removed. Aim at it and hope you miss. Once you wander down the hill to your ball you have one of the best approaches on the course. A green above you, sloping back to front, protected by bunkers.