Winning essay, $200 earns you a golf course

AUGUSTA – For $200 and 200 well-chosen words, entrants around the world are eligible to win Capital City Golf Course in Augusta, the clubhouse, all the equipment, a four-bedroom home, and three other large, insulated buildings on the 100-acre property – all free and clear.

If Richard Violette receives more than 20,000 entries, he also will award other prizes – a condominium overlooking Rangeley Lake and scholarships of $15, 000 and $10, 000.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 5, 2000. However, Violette is considering extending it to allow for more entries. Contest details and rules can be found at the web site, www.winamainegolfcourse.com.

Each essay must open with the words: “I would like to own and operate the Capital City Golf Course because”. The winning essay will be chosen by a panel of judges.

Violette, 70, bought the 100-acre parcel 13 years ago and began converting the cow pastures, rolling hayfields, and two brooks into a public golf course. He started with a nine-hole, par-3 course and later added the back nine, a longer, more challenging, par-36 course. He has a permit and rough design for an additional nine-hole, par-36 layout.

Now he wants to retire, again, and move on to other projects and passions. Rather than approach a real estate to list the property, Violette and his wife of 50 years, Rachel, decided to give anybody a chance to own and operate a golf course. He will return all entry fees if he does not receive a certain level of participation.

The property is located in a growing area of North Augusta near the Civic Center. The golf course is a turnkey operation. But a new owner also would have the opportunity to expand the course, resurrect the driving range, and perhaps add an indoor miniature golf course in one of the large empty storage buildings on the site, Violette said.