Putting the Case?

Mark Twain (probably falsely) is credited with the description of golf being "a good walk, spoiled". Jeff Sparrow has noted that the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have changed people's appreciation (and need for?) nature, especially when they can only gather outside (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/01/a-few-reclaimed-golf-courses-wont-stop-the-arctic-melting-but-its-the-sentiment-we-need). He notes that, although it will do little to address climate change, there have been moves, throughout Australia, to 'reclaim' some golf courses and convert them into parkland. This would give people more space to meet outside in a socially-distanced fashion. He notes, that e.g. in Sydney, 10% of crown land is occupied by golf courses but only 3% of the population play the game. There is certainly some scope, in other parts of the world, to open up land, currently restricted for activities like golf to the public. Sparrow sees the Australian example as evidence of a change in public sentiment, that is needed to to drive environmental recovery. I would also add that, in many parts of the world (such as Donana in Spain), golf courses are an unnecessay drain on the water resources of the locality (they need constant watering). I'm not suggesting that we get rid of all golf courses but, perhaps, we need fewer of them. Some of them, close to city centres, could certainly be repurposed. Land, in the UK, currently devoted to bird shooting, seems another prime focus for creating new parkland.