Outrage as historic golf course is cut down for new public park

Published: 03:15, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 03:29, 31 July 2026 A controversial new park has opened in Sydney's eastern suburbs after part of a golf course was carved up to create additional public space. The public can now visit Moore Park Parklands, which was created as part of a broad effort to provide more green areas in one of the city's most densely populated zones. 'Right now there is about 690,000 residents living within five kilometres of this site,' NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said. 'By 2041 that is expected to reach 790,000 people.'  But the redevelopment brought a wave of criticism after it came at the expense of a historic 18-hole golf course, Moore Park Golf, which was established in 1913. The course is due to be reduced to 12 holes, and is currently operating as just a nine-hole course while the work is taking place. But the decision has sparked backlash from both golfers and locals in the suburb. Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the redevelopment had removed a significant amount of golfing capacity from the community.  The Moore Park Golf Course has been carved up for a controversial Sydney park  Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore (pictured) was criticised by fans of the golf course after she published a social media video celebrating the new park 'Moore Park Golf Course is one of the busiest public golf facilities in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the few places where Sydneysiders can learn, play and connect with the game within minutes of the CBD,' he said in an opinion piece. A social media account called 'Save Moore Park Golf Course' also posted a fiery criticism of the changes in the comments of a celebratory video published by Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore about the park. 'Moore Park isn't short of public green space,' they said, referencing Bat & Ball Oval, playing fields, the Moore Park sporting precinct and Centennial Park. 'At the same time, golf is one of Australia's fastest-growing sports. Yet many of the courses referred to as 'nearby alternatives' are private clubs that are simply out of reach for many everyday Australians.' They said the course also generated revenue that helped fund the surrounding parklands, suggesting it was helping support the public space. 'We should absolutely create and improve public green space,' they said.  'But we shouldn't have to sacrifice one of Australia's busiest and most accessible public sporting facilities to do it.' The sentiment was shared by other social media users, who took issue with officials choosing Moore Park Golf Course as the location that would be changed.  NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the changes were needed to create more public space  'Moore Park Golf Course was the busiest course in the Southern Hemisphere, while the 360-hectare Centennial Park sits right next door,' one person said. Another added, 'What about Centennial Park? It's right there! Then there is Queens Park. I don't understand this at all, such a popular golf course you have ruined.' But other social media users jumped to the defence of Moore and the changes. 'Well done Clover. The number of people on a golf course at any on time is considerably less than people informally enjoying open space for a wide range of activities,' one person said. Another added: 'Excellent, now we can build some affordable housing in the park and fix our housing shortage.' The new park, which opened on July 13, includes public access areas, an off-leash dog area, picnic tables and benches, as well as food available from the nearby golf club, according to Scully. The NSW government has committed $50million to redeveloping the park. 'The state government has allocated funding for the 20-hectare park for basics such as equipment, barbecues, pathways and lighting,' Scully said. According to the NSW Government, the new course is expected to be completed and reopened within the next few years, alongside new walking and running tracks.