Rookwood Golf Course long-term future secured as a leisure facility

Published: 25 Mar 2026

Rookwood Golf Course

Horsham District Council is pleased to announce that it has renewed the lease with British Ensign Golf Group as operators at Rookwood Golf Course for a further 25 years, securing the site as a key leisure and community facility for the future.

The Council committed in its 2025/2026 Annual Plan to agree an ongoing golf and leisure offering at Rookwood, recognising the importance of the site as a much-valued community leisure asset, whilst protecting green space and ensuring sustainable management.

The British Ensign Golf Group has been the successful operators at Rookwood Golf Course for almost 30 years.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Green Spaces Cllr David Skipp commented: “We are really pleased that we have now secured the long- term future of Rookwood Golf Course as a vital leisure offering and green space area for all to enjoy.

We fully recognise the value of the Rookwood site both for its provision of a high-quality golf course, and its vital green space area for walking and enjoying nature. Both activities go far to improve the general health and wellbeing of local communities.

“Additionally, we are also committed to putting climate change at the heart of our Annual Plan agenda and this site is an exceptional example of how to enhance biodiversity for the benefit of the natural environment.

“Ongoing listening and learning from residents, community groups and local businesses are key to us to establish how we can best use Council-owned land such as Rookwood.”

Edward Blacker, Director of British Ensign Golf Group added: “We are delighted to extend our business’s tenure at Rookwood Golf Course.

“We look forward to continuing to enhance the services we offer the community, through ongoing improvements to the golf course and the quality of other services we provide, such as our bar and restaurant facilities as well as event hire for weddings and parties.”