If plans are approved, East Sussex National Golf Club in Little Horsted, near Uckfield, will overhaul its leisure offer.
The club says leisure tastes have changed since it first planned an artificial grass football pitch and a par-three course.
East Sussex National Golf Club (Image: Google Maps)
Planning document said: “The hotel and local community would be better served by the provision of a golf driving range, padel courts and an adventure golf course.”
Padel has rapidly grown in popularity in the UK, with the Lawn Tennis Association reporting 400,000 adults played it at least once a year by the end of 2024, up from 89,000 in 2021.
The golf club said turning the football pitch area into a flatter grass driving range will make it easier to use and better for golfers.
It would flatten ridges and drop-offs, spread balls more evenly and make maintenance easier.
“East Sussex National intend to use the latest robotic cutters and ball collection units,” planning documents said.
Raising the lowest parts of the pitch would improve sightlines so golfers can see where their shots land across the range.
The changes follow findings that the original outfield was not suitable for a modern driving range.
Previously, the outfield had mounds, ridges and drop-offs that blocked visibility.
The club said its architects, Weller Design, drew up the changes and the redesigned outfield will not affect trees, ecology or drainage.
The new layout would also include a dedicated short-game area.
Michael Taylor, senior planning officer at Wealden District Council, said: “We hope that you might now be in a position to approve under delegated powers, allowing us to programme the main start of works over the coming months.”
The club, once called Little Horsted Golf Course, got permission in December 1987 to change the land from agriculture to a golf course.
The golf club staged the European Open in 1993 and 1994.