Parklands and green space is a part of the redevelopment of Moore Park.
IT can hardly be termed a massive win.
But three more holes is probably better than none.
The plan to cut Sydney’s busiest course, Moore Park, from 18 holes back to nine appears to have been put on the backburners.
And in its place will be a 12-hole revamped layout.
This follows sustained pressure from golfers and golf bodies all around the country to maintain a course that has been a staple for public golf in this country for more than 100 years.
The State Government has now released a new final design plan for Moore Park.
Moore Park will become just the second 12-hole course in Sydney after a similar plan saw much of Chatswood Golf Club sold off for housing and that course reduced from 18 holes to 12.
NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully last month explained that the open-plan space would act as a backyard for thousands of people in one of Australia’s most densely-populated communities.
“We’re re-imagining Moore Park South and delivering a new 20-hectare park with everything from a new community sporting field, walking, running and cycling paths and trails and relaxation and picnic areas,” said Scully.
In the past year or so Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and the Moore Park golf club have come up with their own plans for Moore Park in response to a draft plan released in 2024.
Their new plan was to use “under-utilised” land at the northern end of the course while retaining 18 holes.
The golf course is on public land but has been operated privately under successive lease agreements with the NSW government.
The State Government’s new final design plan for the land currently occupied by the
Moore Park golf course.
This current lease expires in the next few weeks.
Responding to the latest plan, Golf NSW chief executive, Stuart Fraser said: “Golf NSW acknowledges it has been consulted by the NSW Government, advising the preference has always been to retain 18 holes – however, this was physically not possible.”
Fraser said the 12-hole layout, designed by leading golf course architect Harley Kruse, would still offer a challenge for golfers.
Despite the compromise, critics within the golf community continue to argue the redevelopment unnecessarily reduces affordable public golf access within inner Sydney.
Vice-president of Moore Park GC Jared Kendler, said an 18-hole golf course alongside new parklands had always been possible.
“It’s still baffling that the government would not consider our alternative approaches,” he said.
“While any additional hole above nine helps to add capacity for people wanting to access this great game, we still have big concerns that the people who will be most impacted by cutting the course down from 18 holes will be those in our community who can least afford alternate options.”
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