An 18-hole golf course in north Kildare is to be auctioned over the Internet for a target figure of £4.5 million.

The privately-owned, 15-year-old course is expected to be sold within the next six weeks once a number of bidders have been registered at the auction website. The owners wish to withhold full details of the course's identity since existing club staff have not yet been informed of the sale.

The course, which will be sold as a going concern, is situated on park land, 25 minutes drive south west of Dublin city centre. As visitors to the site (http:// www.isgwebnet.com/emeraldgolf) register their intention to bid, they will be issued with a password providing access to more details including full pictures and layouts of the course.

A spokesman for the club says the online auction will generate considerable savings in auctioneer costs, and will allow the owners to accumulate details about prospective bidders and the level of interest in the club prior to the auction. So far enquiries have been mainly from the target areas of Dublin and north Kildare, with the queries evenly divided between individuals and groups. The new course is aiming its campaign at private investors and existing societies wishing to migrate and purchase their own golf club.