Hollingbury Park members have fears for the future of their course.

They are worried at how the decision by Brighton and Hove Council to put it out to private tender may affect them.

The short-list of five prospective franchisers will be considered next week after a Leisure Services document was debated by members at Hollingbury's annual meeting shortly before Christmas.

Steve Dixon, the council's contracts manager, heard the concerns for Brighton's flagship municipal course from those who play it regularly.

A complex situation has arisen also affecting Waterhall the other council-run course. Eventually, both will be controlled by an outside agency.

It has emerged that whoever is awarded the contract at both courses must also, as part of the investment, take care of the pensions of ground staff workers.

Such a heavy commitment could, it is argued, mean the council looking for an input of not less than £2m.

Ideally, the majority of Hollingbury's 250 members would like to see management control awarded to Graeme Crompton, the current head professional and boss of the Sussex Golf Centre at the course. Crompton is on the short-list and also provides professional assistance at Waterhall.

For more than six years, Crompton, 33, has run the golf centre offering value for money in a competitive market. But whether or not he would be willing and able to become involved in being responsible for pensions is another matter.

His contract with the council is up in 2007 and the club have an agreement expiring in May 2008 when Hollingbury celebrates its centenary.

Steve Stone, a past captain, who has been involved in negotiations with the council, said the members have a deal with the council to run the clubhouse for the next four years.

He doubts if the council's proposals will be in place by April 1 which is the owner's timetable.

Stone said: "At the moment everything is too rushed, too quick with too many holes in the document. Our members, and there were over 50 at the annual meeting, are realists. They know a private operator will be in place to make money.

"But right now it looks as though an investor would get one golf course, Waterhall, and half-a-course, us.

"Given that April 1 is when the council wants everything in place, what if they are not satisfied with any of the five tenders?

"What would the position be then? How about a partnership with the club continuing to run the clubhouse and the pro running the course? The document only went out three weeks ago. Members are not sure and there is some unrest and scepticism.

"On April 1 Ecovert are due to move out of contract for maintaining the course so there is not a lot of time to play with.

"While we have a ten-year contract with the council which is up in 2008, that is not the case with Waterhall. The council can give them three months notice and a franchise could be in place there by the spring.

"Here it would mean a new operator getting the grounds maintenance with a view to taking over and they would have to pick up the pensions rights responsibility."

Stone and his colleagues have no complaints about the way Dixon has handled a delicate situation.

"He has kept us in the picture. But we are the club. We look after it, enhance it, decorate it and run the pro-ams and we are proud of the job we do. But some members feel unsettled. Ideally, we would like to get the franchise ourselves with our pro but not have the pension rights put down to us."

Over the years, Hollingbury members have often clashed with the council about the state of the course.

But that has not been the case for some time.

Stone said: "Graeme does a fantastic job. Hollingbury has succeeded for donkey's years and is well known particularly for promoting junior golf. We want to know, if there is an outside operator coming in, what guarantee there would be for our reputation being maintained."

Les Allen, the Waterhall secretary, confirmed a new operator would have to offer employment to the outdoor staff and protect their pension rights He said: "Three groups of potential operators have looked round the course and there may have been others. All sorts of rumours are going round, one being that the figure the council have in mind is not less than £2m.

"Our clubhouse was built by the council in 1971. The club added a spike bar in 1983 and the contents of the clubhouse belong to the club. We are basing our negotiations on that. I cannot say we are in any great hurry but, in our case, three months notice is required."

A council spokesman said the date for vetting the five short-listed applicants had been put back from today to next week.

"Among the short-list are some very experienced operators, it's a quality card. There will be a rigorous process to choose a partner that will provide the best value deal for local golfers."

No matter what happens, the courses will remain public and council-owned. Franchising will not necessarily mean dearer play. Prices will be linked to comparable courses, say the council, and control exercised over charges.

At present it costs just under £500 to be a Hollingbury member. The club fee is £110 to which is added £375 for an annual season ticket. The course also does brisk green fee and society business.

The Brighton Open festival attracts a regular stream of summer visitors while the annual charity pro-am is unfailingly popular.

The council spokesman said: "If golfers value the relationship with the council they ought to trust us to find a good contractor to improve the service."