Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground Gets £179,000 Summer Makeover

There's something rather lovely about watching a town's own landmarks turn up in miniature form on a mini-golf course, and that's exactly what's happening at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground this summer. The 69-acre park has had a serious glow-up, with almost £179,000 spent on new and improved facilities that seem to have arrived just as families are looking for things to do in the school holidays.

The star attraction is the new nine-hole mini-golf course, with each hole styled on a piece of Tonbridge heritage - St Peter and St Paul's Church, Tonbridge Priory, Tonbridge Castle and the much-loved Big Bridge all get the mini-golf treatment. It's a nice touch that turns a simple game into a little local history trail, and by the sound of it, it's already gone down a treat with visitors this summer.

Sports fans haven't been forgotten either. New pickleball courts have been added, tapping into a sport that's been quietly booming across the country, while the site's tennis courts have had a proper overhaul with new fencing, resurfacing, fresh nets and bright thermoplastic markings. There's even a new gate system letting players book online through the Leisure Trust - handy for anyone trying to grab a court on a sunny evening. The multi-use games area nearby has also had its football and basketball markings refreshed.

For those more interested in fitness than fun and games, the outdoor gym has been expanded with new equipment and a mobility trail aimed at getting people of all ages and abilities moving - whether that's a full workout or gentler exercises as part of rehabilitation. And for the youngest park-goers, the sand pit has been topped up with fresh white sand, ready for a summer of digging and den-building.

Councillor Des Keers, Cabinet Member for Communities, called the sportsground "one of our most popular parks" and said it was "brilliant to see these improvements which are going to benefit so many people." He added that with the summer holidays in full swing, it was "fantastic to see residents already making use of these facilities."

Around 64% of the funding came from Section 106 developer contributions - money paid by developers to offset the impact of new building - with the rest coming from the council. It's a reminder of how these contributions, often invisible to residents, can quietly reshape the green spaces we use every day.

The sportsground has held Green Flag status for twenty years running, and its paths link out to Haysden Country Park and Penshurst Place, so there's plenty of scope for a longer walk, cycle or run beyond the courts and pitches. Between the 23 football pitches, 12 rugby pitches, baseball diamond, skate park and now a spruced-up mini-golf course, it's shaping up to be a busy summer at one of Tonbridge's best-loved outdoor spaces. Source: Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council