LEXINGTON, KY - After selling his company Buggies Unlimited in 2008, Bart Mahan hasn't strayed very far from his game.
This month, Mahan will officially open Mahan Manor Golf and Hunt Club in Winchester, Central Kentucky's newest semi-private golf course and the culmination of a lifelong dream for the Winchester native who built his former Richmond-based business around the enjoyment of the sport he loves.
Under Mahan's leadership, Buggies Unlimited grew to become the world's largest retail supplier of golf cart parts and accessories and was recognized as Commerce Lexington's Small Business of the Year in 2005 and one of only seven finalists for the United States Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Small Business of the Year. Mahan expanded the reach of his company's sales and marketing efforts with an expansive online store, a golf cart showcase event, and even an off-road rally event for golf carts.
In 2008, Buggies Unlimited was recognized among the top 2,500 of the "Inc. 5,000" list of the nation's fastest-growing, privately held companies, and in July of that same year, the company was acquired by Nivel Parts and Manufacturing Company, a wholesale supplier of aftermarket golf cart parts and accessories.
But selling the company didn't mean Mahan was packing in his clubs. He has set himself to developing 230 acres in southwestern Clark County into a semi-private retreat for golfing, fishing, hunting and hiking. Mahan purchased the property in May 2006 and hired Central Kentucky-based golf course architect Kevin Hargrave and the construction company Course Crafters Inc. to carve out a championship 9-hole course design.
"We have elected to create what essentially is a private club that allows limited public access. We know we may not be able to continue that as our membership grows, but in the meantime it blends the best of both worlds - an exclusive atmosphere that is accessible to those who can appreciate it," Mahan said.
The club features a 200-year-old log cabin clubhouse and reproduction log cabin guest quarters, which will be available for meetings and other events, along with complete golf practice facilities. Club members will also be able to take partake in fishing, hiking and some limited hunting, including turkey, dove, and deer, on the property.
To celebrate the club's opening, Mahan has arranged for a 9-hole challenge match between PGA pros John Daly and J.B. Holmes, following a 30-minute golf clinic, to be held on September 27. And Mahan has promised a "fun, golf-rich" ambience for the event, complete with bagpipes.
Tickets for the event will be available at the gate for $30, or they can be purchased in advance for $25 by calling (859) 744-0900. Gates open at noon, and the clinic begins at 2 p.m, followed by the challenge match and autograph session.
For more information, check the Mahan Manor Golf and Hunt Club Web site at www.mahanmanor.com.