Park Mammoth Golf Club Wins 2024 Edmonson County Industrial Authority Business of the Year

Park Mammoth Golf Club receives the Business of the Year Award at the Annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas dinner at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday December 3 in Smiths Grove.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff.
The Annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority dinner was a slimmer version of its usual self at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday, December 3rd in Chalybeate.
 
The slimming was thanks in part to the teamwork of Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander and Edmonson County Judge Executive Scott Lindsey procuring a podium in time before the event began, explained Alexander in his introduction of the night.
 
Alexander opened with introducing some of the guests seated at tables around the softly lit and Christmas decorated room, giving the room a cozier feel despite the large capacity of it.
 
District 19 Representative Michael Meredith attended again this year.
 
Ann Bullock was noted by Alexander for her time and commitment to both the Industrial Authority and Edmonson County for decades. He thanked her for “a lifetime of service to our community,” he said.
 
Then slimming down further, Alexander introduced Edmonson County Industrial Authority Economic Development Recruiter Jon Sanders as his replacement to be master of ceremonies because Alexander had another pressing matter to attend.
 
The final slimming effect was announced the guest speaker became ill and would not be able to attend as well. 
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Edmonson County Industrial Authority Economic Development Recruiter Jon Sanders takes over as MC at the Annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas dinner at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday December 3 in Smiths Grove.

​Before making his exit for the evening he mentioned perennial business contributor to Edmonson County Toshihiko “Tommy” Yamamoto and Yahagi America Motors Inc. (YAMI).
 
There was no skimping or slimming when it came to the dinner or this year’s winner Park Mammoth Golf Club in Park City.
 
After everyone had gotten a plate from the buffet of sliced roasted turkey, bacon wrapped pork, mashed potatoes, green beans with ham, turkey bread stuffing to compliment a mixed green salad already waiting, Sanders took the stage. Rather, the area at the podium.
 
While trying to explain how he couldn’t fill the time as well as his brother Alexander, Sanders did just fine in telling how the course is the number one rated public golf course in the whole state, he said. 
 
Kentucky has around 250 golf courses.
 
“So, it’s a pretty amazing achievement to have the number one rated public golf course, according to several publications, in the state of Kentucky, here in Edmonson County,” Sanders said.
 
Upon a quick search, it was noted as number three on the NBC GolfPass website, with a note from a customer about “excellent course,” “friendly staff,” and how it will only get better as the clubhouse is finished.
 
Sanders said the clubhouse and restaurant are both open to the public now and folks don’t need to play the course to eat there.

Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander introduces the evening for the Annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas dinner at Tayvin Gardens Tuesday December 3 in Smiths Grove.

​According to Sanders, golf earned over 13 billion dollars compared to almost 7 billion before wagering for horse racing in Kentucky.
 
There are 95,000 jobs related to golf and only 24,000 related to bourbon in the state of Kentucky, Sanders added.
 
There are only 30 employees currently employed there, he said.
 
There is still room to grow as demand for attention from the public expands.
 
“There are 17,500 rounds of golf played there annually,” Sanders said. “Think about that. That is a lot of golf.”
 
Another great thing about the course is they support the Edmonson County golf team by allowing them to practice for free and host their home matches, he said. 
 
“I am proud of that golf course even though I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Sanders said.
 
With the new owners, who took over the course in 2019 the days of cement filled, spike surrounded, colored Solo Cup tee markers are gone and everyone from Sanders to Edmonson County and the Industrial Authority and even the state have something to look forward to for years to come.