Northern Ireland Water could be facing a claim for hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation from a historical Belfast golf club if it is forced to close due to complications with a major sewer project.

Officials at Ormeau Golf Club, which opened in the 1890s, are concerned that proposed “open cut” work on their grounds for the Belfast Sewer Project would lead to the closure of greens, loss of revenue and members.

The Belfast Telegraph has learned that NI Water has already received a claim for compensation from the club for tens of thousands of pounds before work has even begun.

NI Water confirmed it has received the claim but could not comment further.

Officials at the club, which has 350-400 members, say the business has suffered due to impending work around the course.

Billy Lynn, secretary manager of the club, said: “A small claim for loss of business has been submitted.

“People tend to think that Ormeau Golf Club is out of action, which isn’t the case.

“Societies aren’t coming here as much as they have during this time of year.

“It is open and the course is in magnificent order, we have a great greenkeeper and this is just heartbreaking for him.”

Underground drilling was expected to be carried out alongside the club as part of the £100m upgrade of the city’s sewers. However, NI Water encountered problems.

The company then proposed the open cut method to continue the project, sparking major concern among club officials and Belfast City Council. The club has occupied the property by agreement with Belfast City Council since the early 1890s.

“We were told that the work would not affect the grounds then they came across what they call clay boulders,” Mr Lynn said.

Talks have been ongoing between the three parties but a decision has still not been made.

“We are hearing that there is no chance of work starting before October 1, 2008,” Mr Lynn said.

“The golf club is feeling the effect already. That claim is about that, not about if they go ahead with the open dig, that is a different ball game entirely.”

Mr Lynn said if the work does goes ahead he believes it will have a lasting effect on the business which has witnessed 1947 Open Champion Fred Daly and author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle walking the fairways at Ormeau.

The clubhouse, together with the nine hole course, is situated on mature tree-covered parkland which was once part of the Marquis of Donegall's Ormeau demesne.

“Our year ends in September, our member subs are due for the next year from October 1,” he said. “If they start this open dig in October we can’t charge our fees. So the members won’t be paying anything.

“We’ll lose the revenue from that, which is well over £100,000 just from that alone.

“Obviously we won’t have any visitors, which again will affect income and in turn the bar trade will be badly affected.

“If they go ahead with this open dig, we are losing members in the first place, so we have a year’s compensation to get.

“But also it will affect year two because we won’t get members back.

“It could even be year three, year four before we get back to normal.”

A spokeswoman for NI Water said: “NI Water can confirm a compensation claim from Ormeau Golf Club has been received. NI Water will not discuss specific details of individual cases.”

NI Water also said the project team for the Belfast Sewers Project has held preliminary discussions with both Ormeau Golf Club and Belfast City Council about the proposed construction work.

NI Water added that they have provided Belfast City Council with a consultation paper on the proposed construction methods to be used which is currently with the City Council Board for consideration.

In relation to future compensation claims linked to the Belfast Sewer Project, NI Water said: “When appropriate, compensation will be discussed if the proposed construction work causes any inconvenience to either Belfast City Council or Ormeau Golf Club.

“All work carried out will be in agreement with both Belfast City Council and the Ormeau Golf Club.”