Steve Smitherman will be holding onto the Valley Grande Golf Course for at least a little while longer, and that’s just fine with him.

The course was listed as part of an online auction run Saturday by Micoley.com, but did not sell. The course, which is located at 1009 Warrior Drive in Valley Grande, had a list price of $750,000 and did not receive a bid during the auction.

“I didn’t look for it to sell, but you don’t ever know until you try,” Smitherman said.

Even if the course had sold, Smitherman had hoped to stay involved with the course in a superintendent or course management role.

The course has already been relisted on the Micoley.com website and will be involved in an auction Dec. 2.  Just like the last time it was put up for auction, the newest listing includes the 103-acre course, a one-story pro shop building and a warehouse for cart storage. The website lists the suggested opening bid at $600,000 for the newest auction.

“I will just continue to relist it and see if something happens,” Smitherman said. “If it’s a good number I like, we’ll do business, but if it ain’t we’ll keep on plugging at it and keep on working at it.”

The course was also put up for auction some time in 2014, according to Smitherman, but also didn’t receive an offer in that auction.

“I don’t look for it to sell unless something changes around here,” he said. “We probably need more industry to move in and more people to come in before anybody would even become interested in it. That’s what my feelings are as to why there’s not much interest in it now.”

When Smitherman purchased the course, he said the greens and fairways weren’t in good shape. After working it for years, the course is in much better shape and hosts numerous tournaments throughout the year.

Smitherman said business has picked up this year and in recent weeks visitors from out of town have stopped by to play a round.

“It’s actually a little ahead as to how much we did round wise and money wise, we are a little ahead of where we were last year and it’s due to some little things we have done to pick up play a little bit out here,” Smitherman said.

He’s also got several projects planned in the next several months.

Smitherman said the course’s sprinkler system needs to be improved. He had someone analyze the system in recent days and is currently waiting on a proposal to have it fixed.

“The sprinkler system needs some upgrading done to it,” he said. “The sprinkler system works right now but it takes a lot of babying … you have to tend to it a good bit instead of turning it on and forgetting about it.”

Another project he’s considered in the future is building a clubhouse. Right now the course has a 1,430 square foot building that essentially operates as a clubhouse.

In the spring, Smitherman is planning a tournament where players would qualify by playing 50 rounds.

He said the tournament will include thousands of dollars in prizes, but no date has been set yet.