Campaign organiser says plans to slash Moore Park Golf Course in half could jeopardise junior golf

The future of junior golf in Sydney is under threat after the state government announced it would slash Moore Park Golf Course in half. Here’s why it could have a ripple effect across the public golfing landscape.

Stephanie Kyriacou playing at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open on Saturday. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The future of junior golf in Sydney is under threat if the NSW Government follows through with its plans to slash Moore Park Golf Course in half.

It could mean the talents of the next Stephanie Kyriacou could go undetected.

The 23 year old was first introduced to golf by her father at Moore Park Golf Club as a thre year old, and played at public courses for most of her junior career.

She later joined prestigious private clubs The Lakes at Eastlakes and St Michael’s at Little Bay, which have entry fees as high as $40,000 and $14,000 respectively.

And just this weekend, Kyriacou finished tied fifth in the Women’s Australian Open.

It comes after NSW Premier Chris Minns announced 20 hectares of the course would become Sydney’s “central park”.

Chris Minns announced plans to transform part of Moore Park Golf Course into parklands in October. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Jared Kendler, who is helping lead the Save Moore Park Golf Course campaign, said public courses were a gateway for junior golfers to get into the sport.

He rejects the notion golf is just for the elites.

“You’ve got people like Clover Moore, who continue to try and paint golf as elite - that’s fine - but that’s a separate issue to look at,” Mr Kendler said.

“But, when I go to Moore Park, there’s a large amount of teenagers I chat to, who have a set of clubs from Vinnies, a garage sale, or hand-me-downs, who are playing there because they can afford it.”

Mr Kendler said Moore Park was convenient for those teenagers, given its proximity to the light rail and its accessibility for the everyday golfer.

“That’s why they’re [playing] there … they feel welcome,” he said.

“And their first experience with golf might be at the driving range, but then very quickly, once they’ve had a couple of nice shots, they want to test themselves on the course.”

Save Moore Park Golf Course campaigner Jared Kendler. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Kathryn Dries’ daughter Hilary is the third generation of golfers playing at Moore Park and said she would not sign her up as a member if the government got its way.

She believes people would follow, given the uncertainty of the remaining nine holes being under threat in the future and the club’s culture fading away.

“There’s so much more vacant land that could be used, it’s really just a cheap shot at golf,” she said.

Mr Kendler, who is also a Moore Park member, said the course was not the stereotypical golf club which required its players to have their shirt tucked in, or wear white socks.

Three generations, Hilary, 13, Kathryn Dries, and Robyn Geoghegan at Moore Park Golf Course.Picture: Justin Lloyd.

It’s why the course is “on track” to have anywhere between 90,000-100,000 rounds played this year, and that’s not counting people who’ve “jumped on the course”.

With it “permanently full” most days, Mr Kendler said “if there was a need for something” it would be to expand Moore Park, rather than cut it in half.

Under current the current plans, Mr Kendler believes people will be shut-out from the sport, especially given Moore Park is the only golf course in the City of Sydney.

“I think it damages the game at multiple levels, the reason why Australia, in many sports, indexes on the world stage is because we decided sport should be accessible,” he said.

“That is why we’re outperforming so many … given our small population (it’s) why we have so many great male, female and all abilities golfers on the world stage.”