Golf in Buckinghamshire has much to offer from famous resorts to excellent members’ clubs.
The Best Golf Courses In Buckinghamshire
Set in the heart of England, the county of Buckinghamshire is one of the most affluent in the country and the golf illustrates that perfectly. With some stunning golf courses to choose from, including three just at Woburn Golf Club, a visit to the county on your next golf break would not disappoint.
In this piece we take a look at nine of the best.
Related: Golf Monthly’s UK&I Top 100 Courses
Stoke Park
A number of holes at Stoke Park are set around a lake
Even those who have never before visited will often recognise Stoke Park’s iconic white 18th-century mansion that serves as the clubhouse. It dominates the landscape and forms a striking backdrop to a number of Stoke Park’s 27 holes.
The Colt nine opens with a fairly friendly par 5 but quickly comes alive on the down-and-up par-3 3rd across a valley to a well-bunkered target. The long par-4 4th is then fully deserving of its Stroke Index 1 status, with OOB right a constant threat.
The 7th ranks among the most famous holes, as it provided the inspiration for Alister MacKenzie’s 16th at Augusta National. You may not ‘get this’ when you play it, but once you learn that the 16th green at Augusta was originally set the other side of the lake, it all falls into place.
The course wends it way through mature parkland and some wonderful arboreal specimens, with the second hole on the Allison nine among the visual highlights – a truly delightful short par 3 across water to a beautifully framed green.
Magnolia Park
Looking down on the par-5 finale at Magnolia Park
After a relatively accommodating start, the testing par-5 8th – where the fairway throws everything towards the M40 from the first of its 537 yards to the last – comes at the end of a tough stretch from the 4th on account of either sheer length and/or testingly sloping greens.
The 12th has a split fairway, but there’s little merit in the left-hand route unless you happen to find yourself there by accident rather than design. The 15th is then a real standout hole playing round to the right and across a lake.
Magnolia Park enjoys a countryside location close to the M40, and the recently opened Best Western Plus Hotel’s 30 rooms mean you can now stay on site in the heart of the countryside.
Buckingham
The downhill par-3 4th at Buckingham demands an accurate mid-iron
The course close to the Great Ouse started life with six holes before growing to a full 18 in the 1970s. A delightful clear-flowing stream crosses a number of holes, including the 1st, 9th, 10th and 18th that all play down and up across its valley.
The 2nd is a shock to the system early on at 463 yards, but the excellent 252-yard 5th playing up and round to a steeply sloping green is living proof that par 4s don’t have to be long to test you.
The 12th and 13th play alongside the Great Ouse, the latter another good short par 4 where birdie aspirations will often be confounded by the ditch running up the middle.
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Buckinghamshire
The par-3 9th at Buckinghamshire brings you back to the grand clubhouse
Water comes into play often in the form of lakes and the Rivers Misbourne and Colne, especially on the way out. The greens are big and the bunkers numerous, with the tough dogleg 15th boasting no fewer than 10 of all shapes and sizes.
The 8th is a memorable risk-reward affair, doglegging sharply to the left over a lake. The lay-up isn’t particularly straightforward either, so bigger hitters may feel taking on the green is sometimes the more sensible option. The 9th is then a delightful par 3 to a green set between the river and the magnificent clubhouse.
Burnham Beeches
Burnham Beeches is the oldest club in the county, a J.H. Taylor creation in 1891
Buckinghamshire’s oldest club was founded in 1891 and designed by the great J.H. Taylor. It plays over free-draining, gently undulating parkland, with mature trees framing many fairways.
Among the standout holes are the 5th, a long par 4 requiring a lengthy approach over a gentle valley to the green, and the mid-length par-3 10th where a deep sleepered bunker guards the front.
The 14th ranks among the tougher tests coming home, a long par 4 where the second shot is played over a bank of gorse and hawthorn bushes down to a semi-blind, and indeed, tricky green.
Related: Burnham Beeches Course Review
Woburn (Duchess, Dukes, Marquess)
The 1st at The Duchess
Carved through pine tress, The Duchess is perceived to be the easiest of the three courses at Woburn because it is the shortest, but one round here will prove that to be a common misconception. Designed by Charles Lawrie, the course opened in 1979 and puts a premium on straight driving and accurate approach play.
In terms of specific holes, the challenge of the Duchess is best shown by the par-5 15th. Measuring only 485 yards it is not the longest and yet anything other than arrow straight shots will lead to your score getting punished. Driver is not always the best option.
Related: Woburn – The Duchess Course Review
The 3rd at The Dukes Course
The Dukes opened three years earlier than The Duchess in 1976 and within three years it became a common course on the European Tour. A regular host of the British Masters, Woburn has seen some of the finest golfers ever win there; such as Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, and Justin Rose.
Accuracy is once again the key and the pick of the bunch is the par-3 third hole pictured above. Close to a 100 feet drop from tee to green, the hole is surrounded by beautiful trees and purple rhododendrons giving a secluded, peaceful experience.
Related: Woburn – The Dukes Course Review
The ninth at the Marquess (Getty Images)
The third course at Woburn is also a gem. In fact Woburn is the only club, aside from St Andrews, that has three courses in our Top 100 list which just shows you the quality of the golf on offer.
Host of the 2015 British Masters with Ian Poulter, The Marquess first opened in 2000 with Ross McMurray, Clive Clark, Peter Alliss and Alex Hay all believed to have been involved in its design.
Measuring over 7,000 yards off the back tees, it is the longest of the three and has the widest fairways and most significant undulations to it. The first is a relatively innocuous start but the course kicks up a gear immediately on the second and third with two tough dogleg par-4s.
Obviously there is considerable debate on which of Woburn’s three courses is the best, but in terms of drama the Marquess is tough to beat.
Related: Woburn – The Marquess Course Review
Beaconsfield
Designed by Harry Colt, Beaconsfield first opened back in 1913 and has several of his most recognisable features, such as spectacular and strategic bunkering. Whilst playing it is also noticeable how unusually large the greens are although it should be acknowledged this is not anything to complain about!
The sixth is a fabulous hole. A left to right dogleg, it measures 421 yards off the back tees and accuracy is critical here. The ideal shot off the tee is a slight fade around the corner which will leave probably a mid-iron in. The longer hitters will probably have to hit three-wood here because going too far leaves an awkward lie and a tough approach to the green.
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