(Louisville, KY) On April 29 Elmore Just, who passed away in April 2001, was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
Just of Louisville, KY was an accomplished amateur golfer. In 1970 he was captain of Bellarmine University’s first undefeated golf team, which also was the first team of any sport from Bellarmine invited to an NCAA championship. He won Louisville-area club championships at Sleepy Hollow in 1975, Wildwood Country Club in 1984 and Persimmon Ridge in 1989.
Just and his wife, Lawren, opened Persimmon Ridge Golf Course in Shelby County in 1989. It received Golf Digest magazine’s 2007-2008 Architecture Award for Kentucky. The honor was in recognition of the golf course’s “outstanding design.” Renowned course designer Arthur Hills planned the 18-hole championship course, using the natural features of the land to create one of the nation’s most challenging golf experiences. Located on the club’s grounds is a residential golf community.
Just also founded Louisville Golf Company and was considered the worldwide authority on the use of persimmon wood in golf club manufacturing. He was featured in Sports Illustrated in 2000 in a story entitled “Wooden Soldier.” He wrote a book entitled “The Persimmon Story” that detailed the process of manufacturing a golf club from a persimmon tree.
See also www.persimmonridge.com.
