Elmore Just, founder of Louisville Golf Co. and Persimmon Ridge Golf Course, was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame on April 29. Just died in April 2001.
Just, formerly of Lousiville, Ky., was considered an 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.
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.
Just also 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.