I saw this article today in Australian Paper - https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/half-of-the-moore-park-golf-course-will-be-scrapped-as-80000-residents-are-expected-to-occupy-the-area-by-2040/news-story/c8cc5e7fc35bff012d081cb7804c0fc3
So I did a bit of research and it turns out this is becoming quite common.
- In the US, some cities are turning golf courses into parks and housing to address the land shortages and environmental issues. For example, in Denver, Colorado, a former golf course is being transformed into a 155-acre park with trails, ponds, and wildlife habitats. In Houston, Texas, a 200-acre golf course is being redeveloped into a mixed-use community with affordable housing, retail, and office space.
- In Australia, some golf courses are facing land use regulatory hurdles from local governments and residents who oppose their redevelopment. For instance, in Sydney, New South Wales, a proposal to rezone a 52-hectare golf course for residential and commercial use was rejected by the state government after strong opposition from the local council and community groups. In Adelaide, South Australia, a plan to convert a 60-hectare golf course into a housing estate was challenged by the local council in court.
- In Florida, some golf courses are being repurposed for conservation and recreation purposes. For example, in Palm Beach County, a 27-hole golf course was purchased by the county and turned into a natural area with hiking trails, boardwalks, and observation platforms. In Sarasota County, a 18-hole golf course was acquired by the county and converted into a park with playgrounds, picnic areas, and fitness stations.
- In London, a study suggested that golf courses on public land could provide homes for 300,000 people, as well as other uses such as allotments, sports facilities, or urban farms.
- In Scotland, a former golf course in Edinburgh was turned into a nature reserve with wetlands, woodlands, and meadows.
- In Wales, a golf course in Cardiff was sold to a developer who plans to build 2,000 homes and a school on the site.
- In Ohio, the Ohio History Connection took Moundbuilders Country Club by eminent domain to transform the golf course property, which includes the Newark Earthworks’ Octagon Mounds, into a public park
Of course. Get it?
Anyway, as someone who doesn't golf, I have always thought golf courses take up a lot of space for what they do, and are a bit extravagant. But, not being a dirty fucking commie, I'm not going to tell other people what to do with their land, and lots of people like to golf. Doesn't matter if I think it's a waste of space, I'm not the target audience and, more importantly, it's not my space. Golf on, brothers.
I'll take the opposite approach and say that golf courses often take up prime real estate to squirrel it away for the upper class and will take a disproportionate amount of resources and focus from local politics and taxes to keep them well taken care of and happy.
Because that's when it ceases to be "telling people what to do with their land." When your local government begins project after project to beautify everything near the golf course, while leaving the rest of the town decaying. I live in a town with plural of them. They exist entirely for rich out of townies to use on their vacations, while we get taxed to keep them pretty for when they return.
There is a long valley between "commie who wants to take everything" and "just let the corporations and the uber rich destroy everything for their hedonism."
If the land is so valuable, why aren't they selling it? Or is running a golf course a more profitable use of the land?
You can make anything profitable when your private business gets government projects and kickbacks to offset the costs of its operation and force the town around your land that you do not own to beautify itself.
Also, value has more meanings than purely monetary. Such as extremely limited space due to actual unbuildable land in mountains or swamps surrounding the town.