Golfers out of bounds

THE future of a popular Gold Coast golf club with a “chequered past” remains uncertain after liquidators changed the locks and turned members away yesterday.

The Helensvale Community Golf Club – which is owned by the Gold Coast City Council – has ceased operating after its leaseholder, Jigsaw Community Services, went into liquidation. Jigsaw Community Services chairman John Atkinson said in a statement to the Bulletin the club was no longer financially viable.

“Certainly, it had been our intention to remain until the expiry of our lease in 2019,” Mr Atkinson said. “However, because from a financial perspective the club was no longer viable, I had no other option open to me but to terminate operations.”

The club, which is more than 40 years old, was taken over by the Gold Coast City Council in 2013 after it fell into financial debt.

Jigsaw Community Services were assigned the lease of the club the following year and signed a new lease at the end of last year to keep the land as a golf club until 2019.

The land has previously been mooted by council as a potential new home for the Gold Coast Show, The Queens Park Tennis Club and a pony club.

Division 2 Councillor William Owen-Jones, who fought for the land to remain a golf club, said any future plans for the land will now become “a decision for council”.

Club captain Jake O’Donnell, who has been a member at Helensvale for 34 years, said the closure would affect many locals and members alike.

“It’s a sad moment to see the club closed,” he said.