Sydney golf fans have hit out at the NSW government’s move to pay nearly $1 million in consultancy fees for design plans to scrap nine holes from the beloved Moore Park Golf Club, a course that welcomes more than 90,000 rounds a year.

As revealed by News Corp, tender documents showed a Sydney-based design firm secured a $938,932 government contract to design and plan the deletion of nine holes from the 18-hole layout in Sydney’s centre.

A spokesperson for NSW government’s Greater Sydney Parklands told News Corp the consultancy was to undertake “planning and design work” for the conversion and “incorporating feedback”.

“The project is complex and involves multiple components that need to be considered together,” the spokesperson said via a statement. “This requires a specialised skill set in landscape and open space design.”

It is unclear how much the NSW government aims to spend the entire conversion.

The proposed removal of nine holes is set to happen after current golf course operating agreements end in mid-2026.

It comes weeks after the Moore Park Golf Collective, formed jointly by Golf Australia, PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Moore Park Golf Club, unveiled plans to retain the 18-hole course but reduce the size and par to 68, while adding public amenities such as new walking, running, and cycling tracks, mini-golf, futsal courts, a BMX pump track, and even a nature reserve.

Jared Kendler, leader of the Save Moore Park Golf campaign, said the government could have avoided the hefty consultancy cost by giving more weight to the proposal from golf industry experts.

“I think it would be silly for anyone to not consider what was put forward by those who are experts in the golf course and who know best how that space works,” he said. “My fear is that external consultants aren’t as familiar with the site and I think any planning work going forward should involve the golfers. There are a lot of constraints with the site and the challenge the government has had from the start is that they’ve made an announcement before trying to figure out what’s possible.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore have supported the scrapping of nine holes despite community opposition, stating open spaces were needed to support the inner city’s growing population. However, when it was put to public consultation, only 30 per cent of respondents supported Moore Park’s conversion while 55 per cent said retaining the golf courses was the best strategy.

When visiting Australia earlier this year, Hollywood star and known golf lover, Mark Wahlberg, went on camera and urged the government to save Moore Park. LIV Golf boss and two-time major winner, Greg Norman, has also spoken on the issue.