Debate rages over whether golf courses across Australia should be transformed into public parkland
Golf has grown in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but there's now a groundswell of support to change public courses into parkland that everyone can use.
"It's not about being against golfers, it's about being for the rest of the community also having access to this precious public land," City of Sydney deputy mayor Jess Scully said.
Talks are underway in Sydney to shrink Moore Park Golf Course and turn 20 hectares into public parkland.
Debate rages over golf courses across Australia being transformed into public parkland A Current Affair
"This is a debate that's going on around the world at the moment, people are really reconsidering if golf is the fairest use of sometimes really scarce public land," Ms Scully said.
Moore Park Golf Course was first opened in 1913 and Ms Scully said she believes it's time to make it open to all people not just golfers.
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However, not everyone is on board with the proposals. Queensland state manager of Golf Australia Luke Bates is warning the trend of converting golf courses into public land could ruin the sport.
"The industry could be crippled if all public golf courses are changed to parkland," Queensland state manager of Golf Australia Luke Bates told A Current Affair.
Warning issued that the trend of converting golf courses into public land could ruin the sport A Current Affair
Just minutes from Brisbane's Victoria Park was one of Queensland's shining clubs.
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It opened in 1931, but the council-owned course is now no more.
The putt putt and driving range are staying but the 18-hole course will now be transformed into parklands.
"It's just such a shame that those people who were only 10, 15 minutes away from that course now don't have a similar option," Mr Bates said.
In Victoria, locals have been fighting for Northcote Golf Course to be converted to parkland too A Current Affair
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The debate is also raging in Sydney's inner west over the future of the Marrickville course.
In Victoria, locals have been fighting for Northcote Golf Course to be converted to parkland too.
"What we're asking is for these fences to come down and for this public space to be used more fairly," Ms Scully said.
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