The spirit of Cullan Brown — a son of Lyon County, and governor of golf in the Commonwealth — stirred at Mineral Mound State Golf Course on Monday in Eddyville, emotions running high as hundreds gathered to see his home links officially take on his namesake.
Renamed “The Cullan” now and forever, Governor Andy Beshear was among the many to pay homage to Brown’s legacy — which spanned from his early days of First Region dominance, to becoming a state champion, and to developing into a freshman phenom for the University of Kentucky.
Osteosarcoma, cancer of the knee, stole Brown’s life on August 4, 2020, but not before he became a hero, local legend and passionate advocate for junior golf.
Beshear channeled these thoughts using strong local ties, referencing classic literature contemporary F. Scott Fitzgerald — as heroism and tragedy, so often, go hand in hand.
But it’s also home to the very footsteps Brown took as a young child learning the game, who — alongside his mother Emily, father Rodney and sister Cathryn — grew into a thoughtful, poised and prolific young man whose impact reached far past his golfing exploits.
Russ Meyer, Kentucky’s newest state parks commissioner, certainly knew Brown, as his own son — Fred Allen — starred for the University of Kentucky and is a two-time winner of the local legendary Irvin Cobb Championships in Paducah.
Renaming Mineral Mounds to “The Cullan,” Meyer said, sent a much bigger message than just an honor to Brown. It’s a fitting legacy for someone who believed in the great game.
While the bestowed honor provides incredible perpetuity and prosperity, there’s always going to be a pinch of pain whenever locals take a swing in his name.
Beshear said he’ll be left with a last mark of Brown’s beliefs.
“The Cullan” is an 18-hole course nestled in the heart of Lyon County, just as Brown will ever be, rolling through more than 6,900 yards of difficult terrain, lush forests, and the waters of Lake Barkley lapping its west Kentucky banks.
