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Second Annual Elmore Just Memorial Honors Louisville Golf Founder Contact Josh Fischer LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Golfers usually begin a tournament - even a scramble - with their game faces on, focusing all energies to posting the lowest score possible. That withstanding, the Second Annual Elmore Just Memorial Tournament sponsored by Louisville Golf and benefiting the Bellarmine University Elmore Just Scholarship Fund, began like no other tournament before it - with a live performance by Elmore's favorite entertainer, Billy Mac (www.billymac.com). Singing "Tee it Up", the title song from Mac's golf-inspired CD, golfers were sent to their holes. "It is among the greatest honors of my life to perform at this tournament," said Mac, who traveled all the way from Seattle for the second year in a row to participate. "This is truly a unique tournament for a truly unique man." Elmore Just, who founded Louisville Golf and the Professional Clubmakers' Society (PCS) as well as Persimmon Ridge Golf Course, died of a heart attack two years ago in April of 2001. He is survived by his wife Lawren Just. "Because of Elmore's love for Billy Mac and what he does, his singing is always very special, and it was a great way to send the golfers out to the holes" said Lawren Just. "It brings me back to the day Elmore walked in from the golf conference with Billy's CD in hand, so anxious for me to sit and listen to the words with him." Persimmon Ridge (http://www.persimmonridge.com), the course Elmore helped found, hosted the event for the second straight year. Elmore's original partner in building Persimmon Ridge was Jack Ridge. Ridge's team, which included his son Teague, Randy Scheen and Cory Kaufman, won the Shamble formatted event, dethroning the defending champion PCS team of Bob Dodds, Diane Ogle, Kim Pappas and Mike Lausman. "I feel Elmore's presence each time I play at Persimmon Ridge," said Ridge. "Last year I birdied hole No. 7 and it was the highlight of my round. This year I tried hard, but came up a little short." As is the Persimmon Ridge tradition, golfers who birdie the seventh hole honor Elmore by placing their ball on his grave. Elmore is buried in the Just family cemetery adjacent to the seventh green. In addition to that tradition, golfers who participate in the Memorial Tournament are asked to tee off No. 7 with a Persimmon driver and play the hole in silence. "Most everyone playing in the tournament brings their own Persimmon driver to play with during the round," said Mike Just, PCS member, Louisville Golf president, and Elmore's brother. "It's great to see a tournament where the vast majority of drivers that golfers are using are made of Persimmon." "Playing the seventh hole in silence is one of the most awesome feelings I have ever experienced," said Lawren Just. "Every sound can be heard, from the birds chirping to distant voices on other golf holes. It feels as if you are totally alone with your own thoughts and feelings." "Playing No. 7 in silence and with a Persimmon driver is pretty neat!" said Diane Ogle, PCS director. "The refreshing silence takes you to another place in time and deepens the appreciation of the history of this great game!" PCS member Joseph Barbieri shares his experience playing No. 7, a relatively short par four, in the memorial tournament: It was my opportunity to shut off the world and all of my thoughts and then to stroke a golf ball into it's flight remembering the man who made it possible. As I cleaned my line and read my birdie putt I thought of Elmore, a man who I've only spoken with briefly and yet through our conversation he made me feel important. I had to make this birdie, it was the most important thing for me to achieve in this moment of time. So I made a vow with Elmore that I would achieve the PCS title of professional clubmaker. I hit the putt with a spirit that filled my stroke, and we all watched it fall into the cup for a birdie, AWESOME! Barbieri's team from Rising Sun, IN took second place. Team members included Tom Schneider, Deon Wood and Aaron Koenig. Each participant in the tournament was given a commemorative Heartwood Persimmon Earthwood putter and Billy Mac CD. "The entire event leaves a feeling that Elmore was in the midst of us all," said Lawren Just. "Which makes it very special to me." "I can think of no better way to honor Elmore, who was so special to us all," said Josh Fischer, Vice President of Marketing at Louisville Golf and the tournament's director. "The tournament and its memories and traditions have gotten off to a great start. I hope there will be many more." THIRD ANNUAL ELMORE JUST MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT To participate in next year's event, please contact Josh Fischer at Louisville Golf, toll free 1-800-456-1631 or e-mail ejmemorial@louisvillegolf.com. |