‘Very aware of these issues’: Golf Australia reveals plan to combat re-zoning of public courses

Northcote public golf course in Melbourne, one Australian course to have resisted change in recent years. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Golf Australia is preparing to defend the country’s public courses against re-zoning attempts as part of its five-year strategy released on Friday, even as participation growth skews towards non-traditional venues like simulators and driving ranges.

The sport reported annual growth in adult participation of 10% over the past five years, sustaining a boom that began during the Covid pandemic.