LEMONT, Ill., May 20, 2009 – Frank Jemsek, CEO of Cog Hill Golf & Country, will be inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame this fall. He will join his late father, Joe, as the only father-son pair in the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.
Frank Jemsek began working at age 11 for his father, Joe, a Chicago area golf patriarch and charter member of the Illinois Hall of Fame. Through his tireless work and dedication to the game, Frank has carried on the family mission – to provide the public golfer with first class amenities and a memorable golf experience at all Jemsek Golf properties. Cog Hill, Pine Meadow Golf Course in Mundelein and St. Andrews Golf & Country Club are all owned and operated by Jemsek Golf. Cog Hill and Pine Meadow are consistently ranked among the top public facilities in Illinois by national golf publications.
“It is a great honor for me to be in the 2009 class of inductees for the Hall of Fame,” Jemsek said. “Golf is such a great game and it has given me and my family wonderful experiences, fond memories and traditions that we have passed down for generations. Through our continuous efforts at all the facilities, we try to give all golfers the opportunity to enjoy the game and create their own memories.”
Jemsek has worked hard at introducing the game to more players. One of his most successful grow-the-game initiatives is the “No Embarrassment Golf School.” Now in its 18th year, the program is designed to give new golfers a better understanding of the game. The six-week series has been a huge success not only in getting more golfers to play but also keeping them playing.
Junior golf has also been a passion for Jemsek through the years. Cog Hill received the Junior Golf Development Award by Golf Digest for their dedication and commitment to junior golf. Jemsek, has graciously donated the golf courses to junior tournaments, high school golf teams and local junior leagues. Under his direction, each facility has one of the top lesson programs for juniors of all ability levels plus a Junior Tour for competitive players. In addition, Jemsek facilities encourage families to play golf together and offer several family golf programs including family lessons and family golf night throughout the summer.
Among the many contributions Jemsek has made to golf in Illinois is the support of the Western Golf Association Evan Scholarship Foundation. He was instrumental in bringing the PGA Tour’s Western Open Championship and now the BMW Championship to Cog Hill, which proceeds from the tournament benefit the foundation. He has also given his time and financial support to the foundation, which provides college scholarships for caddies. In addition, he generously donated 15 acres of land to the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) to build the Midwest Golf House, which is the hub of Illinois golf, housing the CDGA, Illinois Junior Golf Foundation, Sunshine Through Golf Foundation and other allied associations.
“The Chicago District Golf Association and the Sunshine Through Golf Foundation are deeply indebted to Frank and his entire family as the Midwest Golf House and the three hole Sunshine Course would never have become a reality without their generosity,” said Robert Markionni, CDGA Executive Director. “Frank has touched all levels of the game, from hosting the BMW Championship for the top players in the world to introducing the game to beginners through their No Embarrassment Clinics. One would be hard pressed to find another person in golf that has done more.”
The Illinois Golf Hall of Fame was created in 1989 by the Illinois PGA Foundation in an effort to recognize and honor those individuals who have contributed to the rich history and tradition of the game of golf in Illinois. Joining Jemsek in the class of 2009 is PGA Tour member Chip Beck, golf course superintendent Carl Hopphan and Steven Lesnik, founder of KemperSports.
Cog Hill Golf and Country Club is one the premier public golf facilities in Chicago. Located in Lemont, Ill., Cog Hill features 72-holes of championship golf, a year-round learning center and a newly-renovated 35,000 sq. ft clubhouse. Dubsdread is the home of the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship. For information on Cog Hill call 866.264.4455 or visit www.coghillgolf.com
Contact:
Jackie Beck, jbeck@coghillgolf.com, 860.304.3643.
