THE company that ran the Playgolf centre in Bournemouth until it collapsed in 2014 owed almost £1.9million.

Playgolf Bournemouth Limited was put into voluntary liquidation that February after the floods of the previous winter hit trade at the site, near the Spur Road at Riverside Avenue.

The business was sold as a going concern to another company in the same group, Playgolf Management Ltd, and continues to trade.

In his final report, liquidator Martin Armstrong of Turpin Barker Armstrong said there were 74 unsecured creditors with an estimated liability of £1.893m.

The company’s assets had raised £48,437, but this was not enough to allow payments to any creditors.

Mr Armstrong wrote: “The company had encountered difficulties due to severe drainage problems at the course resulting in it being unplayable for prolonged periods.

“The company’s lease and operating agreement expired on April 30 2014 and there was no prospect of the courses becoming playable and re-opening in the near future. As such the membership numbers declined and turnover was insufficient to facilitate ongoing trading.”

A list of creditors compiled at the time of the liquidation showed the company’s debts included £969,708 in rent to Light Wood Ltd, £432,218 to Playgolf Colchester Ltd and £295,000 to Playgolf London Ltd.

Locally, Harvest Fine Foods Ltd of Christchurch was owed £1,626, Seafresh Seafoods of Hamworthy £409, Templar Wines of Nuffield Industrial Estate £196 and Xadon Ltd of Christchurch £584.

Playgolf Bournemouth was formed in 2005, under joint directors Ali Saud and Isam Soud and company secretary Michael Panayi.

The liquidator sold the business and assets as a going concern for £41,000 to Playgolf Management Ltd. Both companies were owned by Wescom Group Ltd and shared common directors, Ali Saud and Alan Saud.

The liquidator racked up time costs of £30,725 by March 2016.

At the time of the liquidation, the course’s operators said their efforts to boost business had been scuppered when the River Stour, which runs through the course, flooded before Christmas 2013.

Christmas Day saw the river breaching the entrance for the first time, forcing the company to hand-deliver lunch to 40 people who had been due to dine there.