THE owner of Blacknest golf club has strongly denied rumours that the club is up for sale, saying an anonymous letter sent to The Herald claiming unrest among members was from someone "with an axe to grind".

The unsigned letter, headed "unrest continues amongst members of the Blacknest golf club", claims that the owner of the Blacknest-based club, Ian Sherdley, is planning to sell up.

It also states: "...members are now even more incensed at the removal of their club professional and director of golf, Ian Benson, who has been asked to leave by the end of October."

Responding to the letter, Mr Sherdley said this week: "I can tell you that as we speak the club is not for sale.

"It is fair to say that in the past it has been considered but I can say categorically that there are no plans to sell at the moment."

"I think people are trying to create problems. As far as I'm concerned the future of the club is rosy and nothing is going to change.

"We are not really a members club, more of a pay and play. But some people have set up there own club, for handicap purposes, which is not part of the club as a whole."

The letter plays heavily on the fact that Mr Benson is leaving, stating: "Ian Benson has been working here since I joined and running the place for the last few years.

"There is a good team here, but without Ian, I and many others will leave - he is Blacknest Golf Club."

Mr Sherdley said that Mr Benson was leaving because "he wants to further his career.

"He has been looking to leave for some time and I found out about this and let him go sooner than I think he expected.

"When he leaves someone else will come in," he said.

"To say that he is Blacknest Golf Club is unfair - we have 22 people employed here and Mr Benson is one of four professionals.

"Letters like this can be dangerous. It's likely that it's from someone with an axe to grind but who hasn't got the courage to sign it.

"As far as I'm concerned there isn't any unrest at the club."