Players fear closure of Albany Links Golf Course will lead to land being sold off by Moreton Bay Regional Council

Players at a Brisbane golf course are crying foul, with some suspecting the council which owns it plans to sell it off to developers or the owners of a neighbouring hotel.

There are fears Albany Links Golf Course will be sold off.

Players at a Brisbane golf course are crying foul, with some suspecting the council which owns it plans to sell it off to developers or the owners of a neighbouring hotel.

Last month the Moreton Bay Regional Council announced the 10-hole, par 3 Albany Links Golf Course at Brendale would close at the end of January because it could not find an operator.

One of the organisations that looked at taking over the course said it was not a viable business without a large investment to improve the facility.

Keperra Golf Club general manager Gavin Lawrence said the club evaluated the move “but couldn’t see it adding up” and did not make an offer to the council.

“Sadly we couldn’t make it work. It would have been nice if we could,” Mr Lawrence said.

Since the council announced the course would close at the end of this month, many players have protest the decision, claiming it was viable and some saying the council wanted to sell the land.

50% OFF FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE

Mr Lawrence said: “For an entity like us, we would have needed council to make some financial commitment to their asset.”

“It wasn’t the situation we could go in there and spend a lot of money and try to profit off the back of,” he said.

“It’s a fairly tired asset. And, from what we could see, and we didn’t get a lot of detail, from what I’ve heard and read, participation is pretty low as well.

“If it was going gangbusters the current leaseholders probably wouldn’t be going anywhere.”

Virginia Golf Club secretary manager Michael Crough said his club had been in discussions with the council about taking over the course.

“They decided not to pursue what we offered. That’s fine. There’s nothing untoward,” Mr Crough said.

He would not say if Virginia Golf Club had asked for improvements to be made to the facility.

He said he had no knowledge of any plans for the council to sell the site. “I have no idea what their plans are for the facility,” he said.

Last month current course manager Antoinette Kruger told the North-West News: “It’s sad that it’s got to close but it’s not viable.”

Robert Comiskey, a director of the Comiskey Group which owns the adjoining Eatons Hill Hotel and Eatons Hill Village shopping centre, denied rumours it had talked to the council or anyone else about buying some or all of the course.

Mr Comiskey said he did not know what he would do if it did come on the market.

“I’d need to work out what I’d do with it first. That’s a big if,” he said.

“I’d need to talk to the rest of my family and work out if we were interested.”

A council spokesman said it purchased Albany Links Golf Course in 2012 to preserve the site for recreational use.

“Council remains committed to this and is considering its options for the long-term future of the site,” the spokesman said.