The Dukes Course
Having tested many famous names in golf it is still the course most people associate with when they think of Woburn.
Hole 1 The Dukes Course
This hole is often played in Professional Tournaments as the 18th. Lee Trevino claims on his website that his best tournament shot was his second here, when he hit a 3 wood 253 yards to within inches to win the 1985 Dunhill British Masters.
Hole 2 The Dukes Course
A slight dog leg left. Once past the corner take time to admire the panorama towards the Aylesbury Plain. The distant houses are the only ones that you will see from all three Woburn courses.
Hole 3 The Dukes Course
Voted into the World's top 500 holes. The slope on on this green puts fear in the hearts of seasoned professionals. Austrailian Brett Ogle adopted the policy to attack an 18 inch down hiller. He went on to hole a 25 yard return putt for this par. Shown on BBC's What Happened next?
Hole 4 The Dukes Course
One of the most challenging holes.Efforts to cut the corner from the tee usally result in being unable to see the two tier McKenzie green. There is plenty of room for a drive to the right.
Hole 5 The Dukes Course
The combination of the natural ravine to the left and the position of the trees protecting the green made this hole the favorite of Nick Faldo, the winner of the British Masters in 1989.
Hole 6 The Dukes Course
Ladies appreciate the benefit of their forward tee position, nevertheless whichever tee is used underclubbing is simply not an option.
Hole 7 The Dukes Course 7
A Norman Church and its tiny cemetery lie beyond the green of this Stroke One hole and many a good medal round has met its end here. Par here is like making a birdie.
Hole 8 The Dukes Course
There is feeling on this tee of having come inland, away from the boundaries, ravines and forests. Now is the time to open the shoulders and enjoy the freedom.
Hole 9 The Dukes Course
A straight forward par 3 and the final hole of the 'easy nine' for the back nine here are two shots harder.
Hole 10 The Dukes Course
The comparatively gentlr hole is the last 'breather' so enjoy it. It is straight and you can open up once again with the driver.
Hole 11 The Dukes Course
Many suggest that this is the easiest par 5 on the course but the combination of a few strategically placed trees, a couple of bunkers and fiercely sloping green suggest that accuracy and not power is the key.
Hole 12 The Dukes Course
It looks straight forward but the combination of some 'dead' ground and the front of a green that slopes upwards finds most guilty of underclubbing.
Hole 13 The Dukes Course
Not uncommon to hear this hole descibed as one of the best anywhere. A view subscribed to by Nancy Lopez when playing in the televised Men V. Women series. Her second shot, a 5 wood to a flag tucked behind the right bunker finished inches away.
Hole 14 The Dukes Course
Ladies enjoy the benefit of a generous start at this long Par 5, a hole which Ian Woosman described as one of the finest 5's in the country. You need to be long and you need to be straight. His good friend Peter Baker, on his way to the British Masters win in 1993 scored a 3 here.
Hole 15 The Dukes Course
The closing stretch begins to tighten. Nevertheless there is another opportunity to let fly. Seve thought so during his first British Masters win and found himself in the forest on the right, from where he made a birdie 3.
Hole 16 The Dukes Course
A back tournament tee was created here to add strength to two fierce on the left, forcing professionals to play safely right. Greg Norman, using a permission driver and a wound ball flew straight over. Best not to think about it.
Hole 17 The Dukes Course
An accurate drive at this demanding hole is essential. Karrie Webb who won her first professional tournament here, The Womens British Open, pulled her drive behind the massive Pine then played one of the greatest shots of her illustrious career, through the fork to the green.
Hole 18 The Dukes Course
Bravado tempts many long hitters to drive over the trees on the right in an attempt to get to the green, however more 6's are scored that way. The wise often use a lesser club and plot a path up the left side.
The Duke's course was created one of the finest inland golfing settings in Europe. It was the location for the British Masters for 20 years and, as from 2008, will be home to the Travis Perkins Group Senior Masters and other top men's and women's professional events.
Designed by Charles Lawrie in 1974, when the late 14th Duke of Bedford decided to bring golf to the Woburn Estate, the 6,983 yard Duke's course sports fairways lined with pine, silver birch and chestnut trees. Heather, bracken and gorse add to the charm of the course as well as providing some of the natural hazards of each hole. The famous third hole, framed by rhododendron bushes, has recently been voted into the 'World's Top 500 Holes' by Golf Magazine.
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