This Article was in the local tasmanian paper today. wh6at impact will it have on the second course?
A LEGAL stoush has erupted among directors of Tasmania's world-renowned Barnbougle Dunes golf resort.
In an application lodged on Wednesday in the Federal Court of Australia in Victoria, course developer Richard Sattler faces a statement of claim from course operator Links Golf Tasmania, of which he is chief executive and a director, over the funding.
The funding involved is a $900,000 loan from the Bacon Government, an additional $4.5 million loan in May last year by the State Government and a $360,000 grant from the Federal Government.
It is understood there is a dispute over who is entitled to the funds.
Links Golf Tasmania, which operates Barnbougle Dunes, near Bridport in the state's North, is seeking to have shares registered in Mr Sattler's name cancelled.
The company is seeking a finding that it and not Mr Sattler is entitled to the state and federal funds.
And it is seeking orders requiring Mr Sattler to transfer his interest in the second development at Barnbougle Dunes to Links Golf Tasmania.
The Barnbougle course opened in late 2004 and within a week was rated one of the best links courses in Australia and the world.
It is now rated as Australia's top public golf course, the world's seventh-best public-access course and the 35th-best course in the world.
The course has been attracting about 20,000 golfers a year and at the launch of a second stage of development last year Mr Sattler said the second course was expected to treble business.
Work on the $12 million second stage, which includes a new 18-hole golf course, additional accommodation and a wellness centre, was launched by former premier Paul Lennon in May last year.
The State Government loaned the second-stage development $4.5 million.
Mr Sattler refused to comment when the Sunday Tasmanian contacted him about the matter.
It is understood Links Golf Tasmania's other directors are Peter Wood and Hobart property developer Justin Hetrel.
Attempts by the Sunday Tasmanian to contact them were unsuccessful.
Course co-developer Greg Ramsay resigned as a director of Links Golf Tasmania in August 2005.
Mr Sattler once owned the Innkeepers hotel chain and developed Hobart's Woolstore Hotel.
The Barnbougle matter is listed for hearing in the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne on August 4.