Dermot Desmond 'leads rebels' as Celtic supremo in middle of almighty row at ultra-exclusive golf club

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond is reportedly leading a “group of rebels” after an almighty row broke out over members’ fees for a new irrigation system at an ultra-exclusive golf course.The Irish billionaire is a member of Queenwood which boasts the likes of golfing legends Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Ernie Els among those who pay £13,000-a-year in annual fees - on top of an eye-watering £175,000 for a share in the club and a one-off “playing privilege fee” of £48,000.

Despite the wealth of the members list, The Times say a row has broken out over a fee of £1800 plus VAT that Gerard Tvedt, the chairman of the Surrey Club, wrote to members in January saying was needed for a new irrigation project, at a total cost of £3.4million, to ensure the lawns, greens and fairways are kept to their usual standard.

And the report states Desmond is the man who is leading the fight. In reference to money swirling around, the say: “In this context, an extra £1,800 a year for a new irrigation system might have seemed a trifling amount.

Instead, it teed up an almighty row between Queenwood and its members. A group of rebels led by the Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond laid siege to the board, demanding answers over Queenwood’s finances and changes to the way it is run.“Fred Green, its octogenarian founder, flew to the UK for crisis talks with members this weekend in an attempt to defuse the situation, promising to listen to anyone ‘who would like to exchange information and express their views on the current dialogue that has consumed so much energy’.