Teed off: golf courses fighting to retain their turf in Australian cities

City golf courses are under pressure to justify their access to large tracts of land. Bill Jennings, who leads the Northcote Community & Golf Hub, plays a shot. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Ruth Liston wants to make something clear from the outset.

“This isn’t about being anti-golf,” the Melbourne woman says. “It’s not that we think the golfers are elitist. We have continually said we know golf on this nine-hole public course is not played by Donald Trump-types.