Tilgate Forest Golf Centre

The Tilgate Forest Golf Course, renowned for being one of the UK's best and most popular pay-and-play golf courses, likely opened in the early 1980s, as indicated by its advertisement in the East Grinstead Observer in 1982. This 18-hole, par 72 course, extending over 6,238 yards, is set in the scenic Tilgate Park, providing a picturesque woodland escape. The course is notable for its mature woodland setting, which creates a tree-lined labyrinth of holes, offering a challenge to golfers. The course although pay and play, is home to Tilgate Forest Golf Club, a small but enthusiastic club with playing rights on the course.

In April 1992, the Tilgate Forest Golf Centre opened a driving range, inaugurated with a clinic by 1991 Masters Champion, Ian Woosnam. The recent history of the golf course includes significant investment and improvements, particularly in 2021 when Glendale Golf, the course's new managing company, embarked on a major upgrade project. This project, costing over £100,000, involved the complete reconstruction of three greens and a major upgrade to the course's irrigation system, enhancing the overall quality and playability of the course.

The green reconstruction, led by turf care professionals at J Mallinson, aimed to address challenges caused by the dense woodland. The work included removing the top layer of turf and rootzone, restoring core and drainage systems, relocating irrigation systems, and making contour changes for better playability. These upgrades, along with the irrigation system overhaul, are intended to provide high-quality, all-year-round playing surfaces, reducing the need for temporary greens and maintaining quality tee areas throughout the seasons.