Members have decided to begin a process which could wind their golf club down and see them collect £12 million.

The membership of the West Bowling Golf Club has been divided over its future ever since an agreement was made to sell its land to developer ProLogis.

As previously reported, some members wanted the money from the sale to be put towards the acquisition of a new club, but others wanted to take the cash - which was thought could amount to a £35,000 handout for each member.

At an emergency meeting at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford around 240 members of the club - which has about 350 members in total - made the first steps towards a decision.

Almost 60 per cent of the group opted not to relocate and, instead, chose to initiate a postal ballot which will decide if handing out the money is the best way forward.

More than 75 per cent of voters will need to opt to take the money for the committee to start winding down the club.

If less than threequarters of the membership makes that choice, club president John Minchella said the future of the club, above, would be handed over to a legal team for assessment.

He said it was unclear how much money members would receive on closure because of the costs involved in ending a business.

And he said it was uncertain how quickly members would get their money.

"We could be in limbo for the next 12 months," he said.

Mr Minchella said haggling over the club's future had been happening for almost a decade.

"It's individual opinion - you are never going to please everybody. At the time I thought compromise might be the key but unfortunately some people don't like working it that way," he said.

A postal vote is expected to take place within the next month.

The course, off Rooley Lane, Bradford, is expected to be developed into a business park.

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said the future of the club was up to its members.

He said what was important was that golfing facilities in Bradford remained accessible and that the land was used wisely by developers.

"Its the gateway to the city," he said.

e-mail: rebecca.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk