The PGA of Australia have split with the Coolum resort following a number of skirmishes with its billionaire owner Clive Palmer during the 2012 Australian PGA Championship.

PGA of Australia boss Brian Thorburn confirmed on Monday the Palmer Coolum resort would not be on the tour calendar, with the PGA Championship to move to another course after 11 years at the Sunshine Coast venue.

Hope Island, a Gold Coast links course designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thompson, has emerged as a hot favourite to be the 2013 venue.

The PGA of Australia and Palmer had several disagreements over sponsorship and signage issues leading up and during last year’s tournament.

Despite the tension between the two parties, Palmer remained supremely confident afterwards that his resort – formerly the Hyatt Regency – would continue hosting the prestigious tournament for many more years.

But Palmer, who once owned an A-League soccer club based on the Gold Coast, lost this one.

“Since May last year the PGA has received a number of offers from Palmer Coolum Resort to continue to host the Australian PGA Championship,” said Thorburn.

“For various reasons, including a lack of flexibility of dates for the tournament and signage matters, none of those offers have been acceptable to the PGA.”

Thorburn said the tournament would definitely remain in Queensland with an announcement on a new venue to be made in the coming weeks.