The Council has announced a new partnership with Iford Golf Centre to run Haste Hill and Uxbridge golf courses
Hillingdon Council has confirmed a long-term partnership with specialist golf operator Iford Golf Centre, ensuring the future of the borough’s two council-run golf courses, Haste Hill and Uxbridge, through a new 65-year lease agreement.
The move, approved by the council’s Cabinet last week, marks a significant step towards preserving affordable access to golf for local residents while saving the council money. The partnership is expected to deliver a £500,000 benefit by eliminating the public subsidy previously required to operate the sites, alongside income from annual rent.
The new operator, Iford Golf Centre, is well-established in the sector, currently managing an 18-hole course, driving range, and adventure golf site in Dorset. With this new agreement, the company has committed to investing approximately £4 million across both Hillingdon courses. Planned improvements include enhancements to the course layout, better clubhouse facilities, and new features aimed at making the venues more inclusive and appealing to players of all skill levels.
“By commissioning specialist operators like Ilford Golf Centre and our recent leases for our early year’s centres and the Beck Theatre, we’re ensuring that services are run more sustainably on our behalf.”
-Eddie Lavery, Community and Environment
The council’s decision to enter into the lease follows a period of uncertainty around the future of the two courses, particularly Uxbridge Golf Course, which was temporarily closed in January while the search for a new operator took place. A combination of declining visitor numbers and prolonged wet weather in 2024 had made the operation of both sites financially unsustainable under the previous model.
Councillor Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said the deal ensures the future of these green spaces as public sporting assets. “We are delighted to be joining with Iford Golf Centre to futureproof our borough’s unique golfing offer for residents by them taking on these facilities with their expert knowledge,” he said. “We’ve been single-minded in our intent to safeguard these courses as golfing facilities for future generations. I hope this new partnership reinforces with residents our commitment to putting them first and continuing to deliver value for money.”
Cllr Lavery added that the move is part of a wider strategy by the council to work with specialist operators for key services, such as recent similar leases for early years centres and the Beck Theatre, aiming to ensure services are run sustainably while continuing to meet local needs.
“The potential restoration of Uxbridge, combined with our plans to develop Haste Hill as a community hub, will create a network of accessible, sustainable facilities that serve everyone in the borough.”
-Luca Del Bianco, Director at DBB Sports
Luca Del Bianco, Director at DBB Sports, the parent company of Iford Golf Centre, shared his vision for the sites’ transformation. “We are thrilled to be entrusted with these historic Hillingdon venues. Our vision goes far beyond traditional golf – we’re creating inclusive community hubs that will transform how residents engage with these valuable green spaces,” he said.
Del Bianco emphasised that the aim is to make the courses not just sporting venues but places where the wider community can gather for recreation, learning, and wellbeing. “It’s about creating spaces where everyone in the community feels welcome, whether they’re picking up a golf club for the first time or using our facilities for education and wellbeing activities,” he added.
Once legal formalities are completed, Uxbridge Golf Course will reopen under new management, marking a fresh chapter for golf in Hillingdon. The council and Iford Golf Centre both expressed confidence that the partnership would enhance the borough’s green leisure offer and deliver lasting benefits for local residents.
