In 1983, Elmore Just had a dream to build a championship golf course in the Louisville area. But he didn't want it to be just another golf course--it had to have certain qualities, it had to be natural and fit into the lay of the land. He searched for just the right piece of property until he came upon it and purchased 765 acres in western Shelby County, Kentucky in December, 1986.In the spring of '87, Elmore decided the land was so good that a golf course architect should be hired to lay out the course. Several were interviewed before meeting with Arthur Hills out of Toledo, Ohio. The master plan was completed in the fall of 1987, comprising of 36 holes of golf, 23 acres of practice facility as well as many homes and retail properties. Construction began on the first 18 holes of golf in January, 1988 and was completed that same fall. The golf course opened for play on June 16th, 1989. It was described by its members to be the most challenging test of golf they had ever experienced.