BY: RORY SPEARS-ASSISTANT EDITOR

IPGA.COM

Jim Holmes has been named the 60th winner of the Illinois PGA Professional of the Year Award winner for 2014. Holmes is in his 29th season at the Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods. The award is the highest award that is presented in the Illinois PGA Section.

” I am completely overwhelmed being named the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year,” said Holmes. “It’s a pretty impressive fraternity of Illinois PGA Professionals on the list of former award winners. I’m honored and humbled to be mentioned in the same light as those gentleman. To do something you love and are passionate about over 30 years is very rewarding.”

Holmes will be honored at a dinner this coming Thursday October 23rd at Medinah Country Club, that starts at 7 PM. The program that night will feature Holmes and all of the other winners of section awards from 2014.

The nine other section award winners are as follows.

Katie Dick-Pius of Palatine, Assistant Golf Professional of the Year                                   Gary Pinns of Wheaton, Teacher of the Year                                                                     Brett Packee of Vernon Hills, Youth Development Award                                                   Tim Buscombe of Champaign, The Bill Strausbaugh Award                                             Todd Sones of Vernon Hills, The Horton Smith Award                                                       Eric Aldrich of Glen Ellyn, The Player Development Award                                               Andy Schuman of Lake Zurich, PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award-Private Facility     Steve Gillie of Hampshire, PGA Merchandiser of the Year-Public Facility                         Wally Hynes of Naperville, The Bill Heald Career Achievement Award

Prior to working at Ravinia Green, Holmes started his career at Park Ridge Country Club under Ken Weiler, who Holmes credits as being the professional who made learn the golf business the right way while growing up. Holmes went on to work at Westmoreland, then Ravinia Green, he left for Highland Park Country Club and spent six years there, before returning to Ravinia Green where he has been the head professional for 29 years. Holmes is in his final year at Ravinia Green and will be retiring and moving to Florida. But will commute north for summer months to his home in Northbrook.

For more information on the Illinois PGA, the 2014 IPGA section award winners and the upcoming dinner at Medinah Country Club this Thursday night. Please visit IPGA.com.