AUGUSTA (AP) – A man who once tried to sell his golf course in an essay contest is now trying a sales approach that’s somewhat more conventional.

Richard Violette will put Capitol City Golf up for auction Friday on the golf course grounds in North Augusta.

Violette, 73, built the 18-hole course himself, starting with nine holes when it opened in 1992 and adding the back nine later.

In 2000 he planned to award the course to the winner of an essay contest. But only about 1,000 people wrote essays, far short of Violette’s goal of 20,000 entries. He eventually called off the contest and returned each $200 entry fee.

The golf course, which is valued at $280,000, is now being auctioned along with a clubhouse, a two-story house, a one-story building, a large shed, maintenance equipment and 12 golf carts.

AP-ES-09-22-03 0216EDT