Walk the tree-lined fairways, play the greens with their mature backdrops and soak up the ambience and you'll know that the great game of golf belongs at Woburn. So it seems hard to believe that it was JUST OVER 30 years ago that the first of our three championship courses, the Duke's was opened. Since then, golfers from all over the world have pitted their wits against the challenges. Today, Woburn's 54 hole complex is as popular with touring professionals as it is with its members. INCLUDE DATA ON NUMBER OF TORNAMENTS TO DATE?
Three years after opening in 1976, Woburn hosted the 1979 Dunlop British Masters on the Duke's Course. This started a proud tradition at Woburn whereby the club has tested the world's best golfers, young and old, male and female, amateur and professional, on a regular basis. The roll call of Woburn winners reads like a who's who of golf: Graham Marsh, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Justin Rose, Helen Alfredsson, Patty Sheehan, Liselotte Neumann, Catrin Nilsmark, Laura Davies and Karrie Webb have been amongst those who have triumphed.
From 1985 to 1994, the Duke's course was home to the British Masters on the European Tour. The tournament returned to the Duke's in 1999 and 2000 before the event was switched to the Marquess' in 2001 and again in 2002 when it was won by Justin Rose following a terrific final day battle with Woburn's Tournament Professional, Ian Poulter. At the end of September 2004, immediately following Europe's success in the Ryder Cup matches, the inaugural Heritage Tournament was hosted on the Duke's course. The event was underwritten by IMG in recognition of Ken Schofield's retirement after 30 years at the helm of the European Tour. The Tournament was won by Henrik Stenson from Sweden with scores of 69-67-67-66 for an aggregate of 269.
The ladies first tested the Duke's Course in 1982, with the Dunhill Ladies Classic and then from 1990-1996 and again in 1999 the course was home to the Weetabix Women's British Open. The Duchess Course also played host to Europe's best female golfers with the Ford Ladies Classic being staged from 1982 through until 1994.
Woburn hosted the Seniors European Tour from the 31st August – 2nd September for the 7th time with the European Senior Masters. The event was a great success with Carl Mason defending his title with a birdie on the 18th hole, in the first extra hole, of a sudden death play off against Constantino Rocca.
Woburn has also played a part in amateur golf having staged the Brabazon Trophy on the Duke’s course in 1982 and the Prince of Wales Amateur Challenge Trophy for young men since 1978 and young ladies since 1987.
In 2005 Woburn was proud to host the Seniors Open Amateur Championship which was played on the Duke’s and Duchess courses at the beginning of August. The event is a major for amateur golfers aged 55 years and over and this year there were 22 different countries represented in a field of 252 competitors. The winner was Alan Foster from the USA.
Click here for a list of tournament winners.