The Australian PGA Championship will remain in the state of Queensland but won&apost be staged at the Palmer Coolum Resort in 2013. “We haven&apost been able to reach terms with Palmer Coolum Resort, despite the best efforts of both parties,” Brian Thorburn, PGA of Australia CEO, confirmed on Tuesday. Pressed on where the event will be held next year and beyond, Thorburn replied: “There&aposs been a lot of speculation about the Gold Coast and that&aposs well and truly a possibility and Brisbane&aposs there as well. “We don&apost rule anything out but we&aposre very confident we&aposll find an appropriate venue on appropriate terms. “We haven&apost been sitting on our hands, we&aposve been negotiating for many months and during that period we&aposve had a look at other alternatives. “We certainly haven&apost reached agreement (with another venue) yet, we haven&apost worked too hard because we were very hopeful that we would be able to close an agreement here (Coolum). Asked about the major sticking points that left both parties unable to reach an agreement, Thorburn revealed: “There&aposs a number of factors but particularly commerce. The Palmer Coolum Resort has certainly publicly said that they didn&apost want to continue with the level of sponsorship they previously had, so that was certainly a factor. “And they&aposre quite entitled, we completely understand the fact that the resort makes its own commercial decisions. “It&aposs very sad but we&aposve had a great run at the Sunshine Coast, it&aposs been fantastic but nothing stays forever. “We&aposve got a tournament with an operating budget of $5 million and we don&apost have the facilities to run the thing at a loss. “Commerce plays a part of these things, you&aposve got to make the books balance … but emotionally it&aposll be sad, the PGA&aposs had a great run here and we&aposre sorry to be leaving.” Defending champion Greg Chalmers says he&aposs disappointed the tournament is moving on from Coolum after 11 years at the venue but backed the decision to keep the event in Queensland. “It&aposs a little sad, we&aposve been coming here for a while and from my perspective my family love coming here, it&aposs a chance to meet everybody and catch up with everybody,” Chalmers said. “It&aposs a great place for that and it&aposs a great timing for that, so there&aposs a little sadness that that&aposs not going to happen anymore because for this particular event this has been a fantastic venue. “But I&aposm pleased it&aposs staying in Queensland, I think Events Queensland do a great job … so I&aposm pleased we&aposre staying in Queensland because I love coming up here.”
Author: Steve Orme, Omnisport