It was like playing golf in 18 individual stunning stadiums.

From the first tee to the last I was surrounded by stunning pine trees, and towering chestnut trees that created secluded theatres in which to perform. It was like playing golf in 18 individual stunning stadiums. Each one presented and manicured to perfection.

The change in elevation, and subtle doglegs ensures the course isn’t in need of water hazards or excessive bunkering. Instead its genius lies in the shape of these more natural hazards that safeguard areas from the tee or some approach shots into gently rolling greens. It’s those very slopes and undulations that also create holes of risk and reward, with a prime example coming on the second shot on the par five, fifth hole or in a strategic approach with an iron, like that found from the thirteenth tee.

That isn’t to say the course doesn’t feature stunning sand traps, the majority of which require steps leading into them and are vast in size and never hidden or deceiving. None appear wasted, nor are they unfair.

Leaving the course I had used every club in my bag. A wedge to the stunning but fun 3rd hole, down a 100 foot drop. A long iron into the 6th hole and a mid iron on the ninth proving variation on all three of the front nine’s memorable par three holes, alone.

The Dukes course is nothing short of a masterpiece and deserving of its ranking in Englands Top 100. There was so many holes I found myself putting out and then looking back down the fairway, for a moment, to see each amphitheater from a different angle, wishing I could play it again. Alas, given my inability to find many of those narrow fairways, there was nobody encouraging an encore.

On a separate note I was fortunate to play the back nine with two very pleasant staff members. One of them, Nathan, is a Greenkeeper on the Dukes course. He spoke with inspiring pride about the course. I obviously picked his brain. He told me his team go around each morning sanding divots and repairing pitch marks by hand after I mentioned I hadn’t seen any un-repaired. He had countless pictures of the course, on his phone, and it was great to see someone so passionate about their role in creating this stunning links.