Something unusual is happening at one of Sydney’s most beloved golf courses. For decades, Moore Park has been a quiet green escape just minutes from the city center. But now, it’s at the center of a fierce public debate that could change it forever

Tensions are rising over a $50 million plan to cut Sydney’s iconic Moore Park Golf Course in half. Mayor Clover Moore supports converting nine holes into public parkland, but Golf Australia fiercely disagrees. General Manager Damien de Bohun insists the 18-hole course is vital for a sport that’s booming nationwide. He says they “won’t rest” until the full layout stays intact.

The standoff reflects a growing clash between supporters of urban green spaces and Australia’s expanding golf community. Supporters argue that Moore Park hosts 100,000 rounds a year and generates strong local revenue. Critics, however, want more open land near Sydney’s city center. As talks progress, both sides claim to serve public interests.

De Bohun joined the Talk Birdie to Me podcast with hosts Nick O’Hern and Mark Allen to discuss the controversy. O’Hern opened, saying, “Yes, Moore Park is going to be in the news today. I’ve been following this closely. It’s an iconic 18-hole golf course with a driving range at the moment. Clover Moore, the mayor, has probably been the one pushing hardest to reduce that and open up some parkland for other people. Golf Australia doesn’t see it that way.”

Responding, de Bohun said, “The latest is that there’s been a report published today by the Sydney Parklands group responsible for the parkland. They’ve changed their wording a bit to say a minimum of nine holes, but most listeners will know that the focus has been on potentially reducing Moore Park from 18 holes to nine.”

De Bohun defended Golf Australia’s stance with detail and conviction. He revealed a new proposal designed to satisfy both sides. “What we’ve come up with is a really clear and simple proposal that will actually give the premier everything he wants, enough parkland while also retaining 18 holes of golf,” he said. He added that Golf Australia would soon meet the Premier’s office to ensure their plan was understood, expressing confidence it would prove “the best path forward.”

He emphasized the course’s value to the community. “Moore Park hosts 100,000 rounds of golf a year, and around half a million people use the driving range.” Participation is surging, he said. “There are now more than four million adult Australians playing golf. It’s grown from 2.7 million just a few years ago. The game’s booming.”

De Bohun warned that halving the course would hurt Sydney’s golfers. “The biggest issue is that if you cut Moore Park in half, you don’t just halve the rounds, you reduce them by more than half. Then where do people play golf?” he said. He cited Melbourne’s Elsternwick course as a warning, calling it “a wasteland.”

He also stressed golf’s broader social value. “The last few years have really shown the strong economic, physical, and mental health benefits of golf, and maybe ten years ago, you couldn’t tell that story as clearly.”

De Bohun closed that segment with conviction. “We are absolutely clear that Moore Park staying 18 holes is the right answer. We’ll continue to work on that, and we won’t rest until that outcome is achieved. We now have a new proposal that we believe meets everyone’s expectations.”

Nick O’Hern questioned the logic behind reducing the course. “When I used to stay near Centennial Park, I’d walk out in the morning and see all these open parks and ovals and no one was on them,” he said. He argued that the demand for new parkland seemed exaggerated. “Now they’re saying we need to take half the golf course for more parkland? It doesn’t make sense.”

He added that nearby areas already had ample green space. “There are parks everywhere around that area, and they don’t seem to be used,” O’Hern noted. Then, with irony, he asked, “What do they think  that if you rip down nine holes of Moore Park, suddenly a thousand dog walkers will appear every day?”

De Bohun agreed that the real issue was better use of existing parks. “There’s enormous opportunity to use other parks in the area that aren’t fully utilized at the moment,” he said. He explained that Golf Australia is collecting data to prove the point. “We’re working on data to support that,” he added.

He also reminded listeners that Moore Park is not an exclusive venue. “Moore Park is a public access course, council-owned, and run by three councils together,” he said. He underlined its financial role too. “It generates significant revenue that’s reinvested into the community, whereas parklands actually cost millions to maintain.”

As the debate intensifies, de Bohun believes golf’s rising popularity strengthens their position. “Golf is growing and flourishing so strongly right now that it’s given us a much stronger voice in this debate,” he said. He ended with a promise: “We won’t rest until there’s a fair outcome for Moore Park.”

The Moore Park dispute now symbolizes a larger battle between urban expansion and sporting heritage. Both sides refuse to back down. Yet, Golf Australia’s determination remains clear as it pushes for a balanced solution. The final decision will reveal how Sydney values its green and recreational spaces.

Golf courses and the environment

As cities keep growing, well-managed golf courses are becoming surprisingly important to the environment. They help cool urban heat, support wildlife, and handle stormwater in ways few other green spaces can. The U.S. Golf Association notes that turfgrass on courses not only lowers city temperatures but also filters runoff and recharges groundwater.

Golf’s connection to nature isn’t just about beauty, it’s practical. Critics often argue that courses waste land and water, but studies show they make up less than 0.1% of U.S. land while providing outsized environmental benefits. Many in the industry are taking that responsibility seriously. Courses are switching to drought-resistant grasses, using recycled water, and planting native species to cut back on chemicals and energy.

Even course designers see golf as a way to protect what’s left of the planet’s green spaces. As The R&A’s Chief Development Officer put it, golf helps preserve the “natural environment, ecology, and biodiversity” that’s being lost to concrete and construction. Tiger Woods has said the same, emphasizing that courses “should be integrated with nature and designed in a more sustainable way.”

In the end, golf can be a powerful ally for the environment, if it chooses to be. With better awareness and smarter practices, the sport can lead by example. As Woods put it best, golf must respect “the course, the weather, and nature.”