Two of the Chicago area’s most respected golf operators have been selected as members of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.
Frank Jemsek, whose family has owned and operated the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club and other golf properties for decades, and Steve Lesnik, who helped build KemperSports into one of the world’s largest management companies, will be honored at induction ceremonies in October.
Jemsek has followed in the footsteps of his father Joe in promoting quality public golf. He currently is owner of the company. Lesnik, along with James Kemper Jr., bought KemperSports from the Kemper Corp. in 1983. Today, he serves as chairman of the firm, which has more than 80 courses in its portfolio.
They will be joined as Hall of Fame inductees by Carl Hopphan, longtime superintendent at Aurora Country Club in Aurora and Evanston Golf Club in Skokie. Four-time PGA Tour winner Chip Beck also will be inducted.