In the early 1980's, the Guilford golf course fell into disrepair. In the mid-1980's, the Town of Guilford purchased the golf course from the Guilford Lakes Association and incorporated this purchase as part of the Timberlands property. In an effort to keep the course open to the public, the town attempted to lease the facility to several outside organizations, to no avail. In 1989, the town closed the golf course. In 1993, the town appointed a five-member committee to study the feasibility of reopening the course. In July, 1996, the residents voted in a town referendum to re-open the golf course and to appropriate a bond issue to finance the reconstruction of the course. The Board of Selectmen created the Guilford Lakes Golf Course Commission to build, manage, and operate the golf course, which this Commission continues to do today.

The golf course re-opened to the public on July 28, 1999. Since it's reopening, the course has been a delight for golfers of all ages, for the residents of Guilford as well as the surrounding communities. Today, the course is a 9-hole challenging par-3 course, just over 1300 yards from the blue tees. It has been recognized by several state and regional industry publications as the #1 par-3 golf course in the State of Connecticut for its playability and its impeccable conditions.