By Chris Vedelago
One of Victoria's most prestigious golf clubs is at risk of losing its endorsement from golfing legend Jack Nicklaus amid allegations of mismanagement and neglect at the championship course.
It is the latest in a string of problems to plague the Heritage Golf and Country Club since control of the sprawling resort-style complex in Chirnside Park was handed over to Xiaoyan (Kylie) Bao by her husband, Chinese billionaire Wang Hua, last year.
Heritage Golf and Country Club.
Club members, former employees and contractors have been waging a bitter battle with Heritage's management over the operation of the club since it changed hands. Thebattle includes claims for unpaid bills and repeated complaints about declining services and standards.
Nicklaus Design has now threatened to cancel its endorsement after its "deep concerns" about the "current unacceptable conditions" on Heritage's prized St John Course have been repeatedly ignored by management.
It is understood the company has asked Heritage to consult a qualified agronomist to assess and repair the course because its condition is "negatively impacting the reputation of the Nicklaus name".
"The current conditions fall well short of Nicklaus Design's typical quality standards and expectations for a Jack Nicklaus Signature™ golf course and raises deep concerns with your continued identification of Mr Nicklaus as the designer unless these problems are resolved promptly," the company has said in a written warning in early September.
Nicklaus Design is responsible for designing, accrediting and monitoring the nearly 400 golf courses around the world that carry the Jack Nicklaus brand.
Heritage has the first private Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course built in Australia, according to its publicity materials.
The letter warns that failure to take immediate action to improve the course will lead to Nicklaus Design issuing a formal notice to terminate Heritage's licensing agreement on September 30. The threat comes after an earlier expression of concern sent to the club in July was ignored.
Nicklaus Design's vice president Ray Ball has told The Sunday Age that Heritage has since been granted a "reasonable" amount of time to correct the problems after receiving a "positive response" from the club's management.
"We will continue to monitor the situation, but have every reasonable expectation that the St John Course will be returned to the condition long associated with the Heritage Country Club in Australia and our Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses worldwide," Mr Ball said.
A representative of Heritage says "winter conditions" rather than mismanagement are to blame for damage to the grasses on the St John Course and plans are underway to repair it.
"We don't want to lose the logo," he said. "We are getting a professional team in next week."