Cambridge property developer, Mike Smith, is speaking out publicly following a Cambridge Golf Club meeting held earlier this month, where club members voted down the proposal to sell 8.8 hectares of land.

Mr Smith said the meeting was an utter debacle: "I have over 40 years of Director experience with companies such as Fonterra, Lion Nathan and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare. I, in all my years of attending such meetings, have never witnessed a meeting so poorly run.

"The decision was voted down by 10 votes in a meeting that was, in my opinion and the opinion of many other members that my son, Matthew has spoken with subsequently, a complete and utter debacle!"

Mr Smith and his son, Matt, are proposing developing a retirement home complex on the land, as well as investing $4.4.of their own funds to redevelop the golf course.

As part of the development proposal, the father-son team have proposed a plan that includes improving the course by redeveloping holes to create one of the region's best golf clubs. They have already engaged Davey Shearer Golf Design, who redeveloped Wairakei Golf Course, to prepare concept plans.

Mr Smith said, "we believe the potential for our local course is fantastic and something our whole community can get very excited about."

In addition to the redeveloped golf course, Mr Smith and his son have proposed to develop a retirement village and some free hold titles with views over the golf course.

"With a high percentage - 15% - of Cambridge's population now over 65 (and expected to double by 2050) we believe this development will provide a much-needed community facility catering for Cambridge's ageing demographics. The Council also see the Cambridge Golf Club as a strategic town asset into the future," explains Mr Smith.

As part of the acquisition of 8.8 hectares from the golf club, Messers Smith propose to also invest a total of $4.4 million into the club in other ways, including: $2.1 million for course realignment and upgrades; $1 million for new irrigation; $300,000 for a new driving range; $300,000 for new machinery; $100,000 to upgrade the carpark; $100,000 to upgrade the maintenance shed; and $500,000 to be put toward a discretionary fund for the benefit of the club.

The special meeting on 18 November, Mr Smith says, was "nothing less than an insult to its members."

He says the Notice of Motion was a major issue on the night. The Notice of Motion put to the members was only asking people to vote on their wish for the 'Executive Committee to commence formal negotiations for the sale of golf course land.'

"The fact is the proposal is so much wider than just the sale of land. With $4.4 million of investment planned for the course and club, we wanted the opportunity to explain these benefits in full, but were denied the opportunity. When members asked any questions unrelated to the sale of the land, the Committee Chair disallowed those questions or further discussion.

"Another disservice to those members in attendance is they were presented with a biased view on the night. It was evident the Executive had already made up their minds against the proposal. I'm not disputing their right to their opinions. However, they should have had an independent and more experienced chair appointed to run the meeting so that members received a balanced view on the night," explains Mr Smith.

Mr Smith and his son also believe the negative opinion of the Executive influenced the presentations of experts who provided information on the evening.

"The information presented by experts on the night was false and misleading in some instances. My son Matthew personally phoned these experts the day following the meeting and it was evident in his conversations with them that they were not properly briefed on the project. This improper briefing led to their presentations being biased toward the Executive's point of view. Matthew and I were denied the opportunity of a right of reply to the experts views," he says.

Cambridge Golf Club member, Merv Ebbett, supports Messers Smith saying, "the meeting was a ridiculous sham. The Executives role was to present the motion only and not express their personal opinions. By the use of their invited guests who gave presentations that were contradictory, hypothetical and full of unsubstantiated and exaggerated opinion plus with the Executive giving their personal opinion, I believe the Executive have used scare tactics to confuse and influence the vote for the real issue which was the motion as per the agenda.

"The method in which the Executive presented the motion to the members was an abuse of their governing role of the affairs of the Cambridge Golf Club and therefore the result of the vote should be rescinded."

Mr Smith said he believes this one meeting has done irreparable harm to the Cambridge Golf Club.

"And all this harm has been done because the Executive Committee is not working in a manner that has its members' interests at heart.

"My son, Matthew and I are still very interested in partnering with the golf club community on this development. All we ask is for a fair forum where we can fully explain this development to members of the Cambridge Golf Club. Cambridge Golf Club members have been misled and misinformed and they deserve better."