The council is forecasting an operating loss of $82,846 in 2009-10. This follows on from the net cost to council of more than $210,000 in 2008-09 as estimated in March.

The council took over management of the troubled course in April 2008 after it ejected the long-term lessee.

The course was the subject of strong criticism in this year's budget process.

Warilla resident Diane Quinlan said it was a "tragic" decision of the council to sell the former public Shellharbour Golf Course.

"Over many years and with thousands of volunteer hours the public golf course was created for the benefit of all ... young, old, male and female," Ms Quinlan said.

"The council saw the original course as a commercial opportunity and to create a course which was to be a selling point for the Shell Cove development ... this may have been tenable if it was and is self-sufficient. It is not."

Ms Quinlan said the degree of difficulty of the course made it unappealing to women and the elderly. "A contention supported by the fact there are only 15 regular female players," she said.

Shellharbour City Council administrator David Jesson said the golf course was a council asset "worth some $16 to $17 million on current estimates".

In 2004 the course was valued at $17.6 million.

Mr Jesson said the main reason for the operating loss in the 2008-09 financial year was a "one-off cost" for maintenance to bring the course up to a proper standard.

He said a consultant would be engaged to bring a "fresh set of eyes" to the course's financial arrangements.