Open Search -

Like us on Facebook


Course Atlas -

Course Atlas


Please consider supporting our efforts.

Amount: 


Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold, Sussex. (1970s - 2002)

The course first appeared in the early 1970s. 

The initial nine hole- course was laid out by the then owner Major the Hon. Ben Wilson, before he inherited the title of Lord Nunburnholme. The course was open to the general public on a pay as you play basis.

There are several mentions (example below) of Max Faulkner being attached to Shillinglee Park in the early 1970s.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Mention of M Faulkner in June 1971.

Nottingham Guardian Wednesday 23 June 1971. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

The later course was designed in 1980 by Roger Mace the former owner and professional.

Entry from the 1988 Golfer’s Handbook; Membership 350; Secretary and professional, R Mace; 9-holes, 2,400 yards, par 32; Fees, £3.75p.

Roger Mace served as professional for 15 years.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Advert for Roger Mace club professional.

Horley and Gatwick Mirror Thursday 16 July 1992. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

Advert for the golf course in July 1993.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Advert for the golf club in July 1993.

Surrey Herald Thursday 8 July 1993. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

Advert for the golf club in July 1994.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Advert for the golf club in July 1994.

Surrey Herald Thursday 14 July 1994. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

From the 1998 Golf Course Guide; Public undulating parkland course; 9-holes, 2,516 yards, designed by Roger Mace; Professional, David Parkinson; Green fee £8weekdays, £9 weekends; Bar and restaurant: Societies welcome, terms on application.

Advert for Chiddingfold Golf Club in April 1998.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Advert for the Chiddingfold Golf Club in April 1998.

Daily Mirror Thursday 16 April 1998. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

In Golf World 2002 the professional was Mark Dowell.

Description of the course from 2000 – “The club shop has a relaxed attitude to the booking of tee-times and will nearly always manage to find you a spot on the course if you turn up unannounced. If you like to unleash your Driver at the first opportunity then I'm afraid this is not the course for you this is a course for the tactician and rewards patience and accuracy. You will discover this from the very first tee as it is a very tight fairway with out of bounds very close to your left and fir trees and the ninth to your right. The greens are immaculate and the fairways too, it even plays well in the wet. As it says on their brochure, Shillinglee a golfing challenge amidst the undulating hills of the Sussex countryside."

Shillinglee had a fairly successful start, Unfortunately things went downhill and eventually the receivers were called in, together with the recession the club was struggling to break even. The club closed in 2002. 

Recollections of Shillinglee from Michael Oldfield – “I played there very many times with my dad and his mates. You give the startdate as 1973/4 but we played there well before that, there was no clubhouse/pro-shop/bar, just a building site so not officially open. I think my dad's accountant had some interest/investment in the place so we got to play as often as we liked before it was officially opened.

The first hole you had to drive over a fairly large pond at about 100 yards and tradition had it that my father's mate Mike always put his first ball into the pond and my dad's went into "the Major's garden," which required a horrible shank. I was beating the pair of them by the age of twelve, lessons helped. Very happy times.”

Course scorecard.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Course scorecard.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Course scorecard.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingfold. Course scorecard hole profiles.

 

Shillinglee Park Golf Club, Chiddingford, Susex. Shillinglee House.

The former golf course was in the grounds of Shillinglee House (above), now a private residence. Grid reference SU96910,32610, co-ordinates 496910,132610.