months.

Officials involved in the deal are confident the planned golf course, 50 villas, 12 guest rooms and restaurant will become a reality, despite little recent movement.

Contents of the now closed Belmont hotel are being sold off and general manager Gordon Slatford said there was work being done behind the scenes toward closing the deal.

"Hopefully, it is going to come to fruition in the next couple of months,'' he said.

Wrecking crews will not move on to the Warwick estate for at least six months, but once work starts it will move along fast.

The golf course, which is going to be redesigned by Greg Norman, will take at least 14 months to create.

The hotel itself closed in November.

At present, the furniture and other equipment of the property are being sold off in readiness for demolition work.

The company behind the project, Elbow Beach Hotel and Development Company, is being financed by one main investor from Canada, together with a number of other Canadian backers.

Although the firm has links to Elbow Beach, the money is not coming from the resort's Saudi Prince owner.

Mr. Slatford said the developers were separate from Elbow Beach resort, but would have links. Elbow guests would use the golf course and possibly stay in some of the villas on a lease back basis.

The property will also have a golf shop, recreation spaces and new swimming pool.

The villas will be sold on a leasehold basis, with owners having the option to lease them back to be used as upmarket holiday homes.

Elbow Beach will market the golf course for use by their guests, said general manager Bill Shoaf.

Approval still has to be sought for the demolition.