A Prince George resident has been added to a prestigious list of successful athletes and coaches by the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Ann Holmes and the Thunderbirds’ 2000-01 women’s golf team are part of the UBC Sports Hall of Fame 2021 induction class on the 20th anniversary of their record-breaking performance that led to a national championship.
Two years prior in 1999, the T-Birds became members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which caters to small colleges and universities across North America and is one step below the NCAA rankings but comparable to its Division Two level.
Holmes did not hesitate to implement new strategies when she became head coach in 2000.
“We did lots of little things and that team of athletes should be congratulated for all their hard work and all the interesting and new and different things we had instilled into the 2000-2001 program,” she explained in her induction video put together by UBC Athletics.
“They had so much confidence. The air, the atmosphere of the team was just about taking it low. They had a lot of success that day, then the next day to the practice round and then the national championships started right after that.”
The certified PGA of BC professional’s methods were so impactful, that the T-Birds easily won the 2001 title by a commanding 34 strokes in Kentucky.
Holmes’ squad became the first Canadian university to capture an NAIA championship and she was also named Coach of the Year.
“That group of young student-athletes was exceptional because they did everything that I threw at them for that season,” added Holmes.
“As a result, I know that they are proud of themselves and I was proud of them for how they competed and won so handily in Kentucky.”
Holmes has called Prince George her home for nearly two decades and is a professional at the PG Golf and Curling Club, working with its junior program since 2013 and recently joined BC Golf as its nutrition and recovery consultant for the elite junior program.
She’s also the owner of Active Health Solutions in the city, a private fitness studio that includes an indoor driving range local golfers have used for practice during winter months.
Holmes is also an instructor of kinesiology at the College of New Caledonia (CNC).
Prior to winning that national title, she led the UBC Thunderbirds to the silver medal in 2000 and was chosen to coach Canada’s national women’s team at the World University Golf Championships in Northern Ireland.
Holmes’ impact on UBC golf has transcended in the decades following her departure to Prince George, including four more NAIA trophies in 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2019.
