Organisers of this week’s Australian PGA Championship are facing a unique problem – dinosaurs.
Australian billionaire Clive Palmer owns the host Coolum Resort course has been at loggerheads with Australasian PGA Tour officials over use of the course.
Dinosaurs create concerns for Australian PGA Championship officials at this weeks Palmer Coolum Resort course. (Photo – Brett Wortman/Sunshine Coast Daily.)
The dispute initially centered around signage about the Queensland course with Palmer initially saying the Tour could not stage because they disagreed with Palmer erecting Titanic II signs.
But since purchasing the resort in February Palmer has faced a range of issues with the local community, including criticism to erect some 150 replica dinosaurs at the resort.
Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, indicated their organisation had “signage concerns” with the resort however he did not address allegations Mr Palmer over the Titanic II signs.
“I’m pleased to say that the issues have been resolved this afternoon and the tournament will remain unaffected,” said Thorburn.
The Australian PGA Championship is due to tee off at the resort on Thursday, a week after it was revealed the Tour was looking for a new home for next year’s event because negotiations to host it at the resort had reached a stalemate.
“The Australian PGA championship has been held at Coolum since 2002 and last year’s event saw more than 36,000 spectators come to Palmer Coolum Resort with at least a similar number expected this time around,” added Thorburn.
“We are very much looking forward to this year’s tournament.”
Starring in this week’s championship is the Open Championship winning duo of Greg Norman and Darren Clarke.
