Passionate members of a 100-year-old golf course have proposed a plan to transform the land into a world-class sports and leisure center after the state government threatened to turn the course into a public park.
The Moore Park Golf Collective on Saturday released plans to adapt about 15 hectares of the iconic 18-hole golf course in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The famous course has been in the spotlight since October 2023 when NSW Premier Chris Minns unveiled plans to carve nine holes and convert almost half of the 45-hectare site into a public park for local residents.
The Moore Park Golf Collective is an alliance of golf industry organizations – the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, Golf NSW and Moore Park Golf Club, and has submitted an eleventh-hour plan to save the course.
Their proposal “enables the preservation of the beloved and always busy 18-hole golf course by maximizing unused and underutilized open space for active and passive recreation and active transportation.”
The plan would reduce the course from par-70 to par-68 and shorten the hi-tech driving range and existing footprint of the course. One existing hole would be removed and seven others would be shortened.
The reclaimed space would be converted into a dog park, adventure playground, nature play area, barbecue and picnic facilities and a fitness trail.
There would also be a football oval, skate park, indoor football pitch, BMX track, athletics area, 3km of walking, running and cycling trails, mini golf course and new environmental spaces for the regeneration of Banksia Scrub’s eastern suburbs.
The famous course (pictured) has been in the spotlight since October 2023 when NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) unveiled plans to carve nine holes and convert almost half of the 45-hectare site into a park for local residents
The Moore Park Golf Collective on Saturday released plans (pictured) to transform about 15 hectares of the iconic 18-hole golf course in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Save Moore Park Golf Course leader Jared Kendler said: ‘We have worked to ensure the alternative proposal aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision to establish Moore Park South as a vibrant recreational destination for all.’
‘By improving existing infrastructure and revitalizing unused and underutilized areas, the initiative aims to create a park that meets diverse recreational interests in a financially sustainable way and that solves the many challenges in the wider area.
‘This exciting masterplan will deliver a minimum of 15 hectares of high quality and connected recreational space for play, exploration, relaxation, walking and sporting activities for people of all ages and as such is a win/win/win for the Government, the people of Sydney and the visitor economy.’
Golf Australia’s Damien de Bohun said the proposal prioritizes the preservation and enhancement of the Moore Park Golf Course, positioning Moore Park South as a park for all and the home of public golf in NSW.
‘Not only does the proposal include innovative features such as protected recreational areas and well-connected walking, running and cycling trails, it also provides a 500-space car park to accommodate the growing influx of visitors and overflow parking for major events in the area. said Mr. de Bohun.
Outraged members of a 100-year-old gold course have proposed a new plan to transform the land into a world-class sports and leisure hub (pictured)
Hollywood A-lister and golf enthusiast Mark Wahlberg pledged his support for Moore Park Golf Club in March.
“I know I am not a citizen of Australia, but I am begging you to save Moore Park Golf Club,” Mr Wahlberg said in a video posted to social media.
‘It’s been here for over 100 years and has given people pleasure and joy for hundreds and hundreds of years.
‘Just that people can come outside and enjoy a healthy walk, spend quality time with family and friends.
“Please, I’ve seen a lot of parks and I haven’t seen so many beautiful public golf courses like this that are open to everyone.”
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said 20 hectares of the course would be upgraded while retaining nine holes, the clubhouse and driving range.
Hollywood A-lister and golf tragic Mark Wahlberg pledged his support for Moore Park Golf Club in a video posted to social media in March this year (pictured)
Both Mr Minns and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore (pictured) support plans to convert up to half of the trail into a public park for residents of neighboring suburbs
“It is an important step in meeting the needs of residents of the city’s most populous suburbs while providing an opportunity for golf in Moore Park,” Mr Scully said.
Both Mr Minns and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore support plans to convert up to half of the track into a public park for residents of neighboring suburbs including Green Square, Redfern, Zetland and Waterloo by mid-2026.
“Given the increasing need for public space, we asked the government: is an 18-hole golf course still the best use of public land in the city center?” Ms Moore told NewsWire on Friday.
“That question is fundamentally a matter of equality and of making the most of our public lands in the interests of the community.
‘The Government has accepted our proposal and has now committed funding to convert the course from 18 holes to nine holes, retaining the larger area of land for golf, the clubhouse, depots, car parking and the popular driving range and up to 20 hectares of land is returned to Moore. Park for public recreation.
“It has been the policy of successive state governments to increase housing in the Green Square urban regeneration area and by 2040 up to 80,000 additional people will be living in the Green Square and Waterloo area within 2km of here.”
The new public park will serve 49,000 residents by 2041, with $2.6 million already earmarked in the NSW state budget to transform the site.