 The clubhouse andputting green (2008) | |
 Interactive map of Medinah Country Club | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Medinah,Illinois, U.S. |
| Established | 1924 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 54 |
| Events hosted | Ryder Cup: (2012) PGA Championship: (1999,2006) U.S. Open: (1949,1975,1990) U.S. Senior Open: (1988) Western Open: (1939, 1962, 1966) |
| Website | www |
| Golf Course 1 | |
| Designed by | Tom Bendelow |
| Par | 71[1] |
| Length | 6,713 yards (6,138 m)[2] |
| Course rating | 73.2 |
| Slope rating | 134[3] |
| Golf Course 2 | |
| Designed by | Tom Bendelow |
| Par | 72[4] |
| Length | 6,210 yards (5,678 m)[5] |
| Course rating | 70.1 |
| Slope rating | 126[6] |
| Golf Course 3 | |
| Designed by | Tom Bendelow[7] |
| Par | 72[8] |
| Length | 7,657 yards (7,002 m)[9] |
| Course rating | 78.3 |
| Slope rating | 152[10] |
| Course record | 61 -Justin Thomas (2019) |
 Club Logo | |
Medinah Country Club is a privatecountry club inMedinah,Illinois, with more than 1,100 members and 640 acres (260 ha) containing threegolf courses, LakeKadijah,swimming facilities, a golf learning center, golf shop, gun club, racquet center and a mosque-evokingByzantine-style, Moroccan domed clubhouse topped with minarets and classic Moorish architectural aspects. Medinah is famously known for its championship Course No. 3, now at 7,657 yards (7,002 m),[9] which has hosted fivemajor championships: threeU.S. Opens (1949,1975,1990) and twoPGA Championships (1999,2006), as well as theRyder Cup in2012. Medinah will host the 2026 President's Cup.
The club was founded in 1924 by the MedinahShriners (named after an Arabian city) and by the late 1920s had approximately 1,500 golfing and social members. The first golf course was opened in September 1925, followed by Course No. 2 in 1926, and finally Course No. 3 in 1928. During the construction of the courses, Richard G. Schmid, a Shriner and charter member of the club, had designed the clubhouse itself[11] TheGreat Depression brought severe financial hardship and many members left. 94 members paid $3,500, each for a “forever” membership for their family forever aka Perpetual, allowing the club to continue on. In addition, the club responded by waiving initiation fees, lowering dues, holding fundraising events, and (significantly) hosting professional golf tournaments. Eventually, non-Shriners were allowed to apply for membership.World War II exacerbated the club's financial woes and membership fell far below capacity. Course No. 2 was closed and members helped with upkeep on the two remaining courses. During the post war era, Medinah entered a period of gradual recovery and membership growth. The Duke of York once visited the club and remarked, "I've never seen such a place, it is quite strange, yet attractive."
Medinah has three golf courses in a 54-hole complex. Many noted golf professionals have played Course No. 3, beginning with "Lighthorse"Harry Cooper at the Medinah Open in 1930. Other noted players includeGene Sarazen,Byron Nelson,Cary Middlecoff,Billy Casper,Gary Player,Hale Irwin andTiger Woods.Tommy Armour, winner of multiple major championships and the namesake of a well-known golfing equipment brand, was Medinah's headpro for many years. Course No. 3 hosted theWestern Open three times in 1939, 1962, and 1966; it was one of the largest non-major tournaments on the early tour.
Medinah's courses were originally designed byTom Bendelow. In the 1930 Medinah Open, Lighthorse Harry played the course with a 63 (the lowest score ever shot on the course) in the second round. The junior course record of 68 is jointly held by Russell Katz and Kenny Wittenberg. Medinah's board approved a redesign of the course, subject to the availability of funds and the return of adjacent land to the club by Medinah's four founders. The major redesign was followed by several more changes. Roger Packard's 1986 redesign in preparation for theU.S. Open brought substantial changes and was followed byRees Jones' work in preparation for the2006 PGA Championship, which extended Course 3 to 7,561 yards (6,914 m), at the time, the longestgolf course in major championship history. Furthermore, Medinah Country Club is noted for the three waterfront par three holes in numbers 2, 13, and 17.
Medinah's Course No. 3 hosted the BMW Championship on August 15–18, 2019.[12] during which the course record was tied or set four different times. In round 1, bothJustin Thomas andJason Kokrak shot 65, tying the course record previously set by Skip Kendall, Mike Weir and Tiger Woods. On Friday,Hideki Matsuyama broke the record by two shots, shooting a bogey-free 63. In the third round on Saturday, after starting with five consecutive birdies, Thomas shot an 11-under 61, including two eagles, breaking the course record again by two shots.
In advance of the2026 President's Cup, the club chose to remake the No. 3 course and turned to a design firm founded by 2006 US Open championGeoff Ogilvy. The remake transformed the No 3. course into one in the style of Melbourne Sand Belt courses.[13]
Medinah hosted theRyder Cup in2012, its first time in the state ofIllinois, and the first U.S. venue outside theeastern time zone since1971. The full tournament took place between September 25–30 (including pre-match competitions, press conferences and media activities), with the main competition taking place from September 28–30 on Course No. 3.
All held on Course No. 3:
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Margin of victory | Winner's share ($) | Par | Course length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | U.S. Open |  Cary Middlecoff | 1 stroke | 2,000 | 71 | 6,981 yd (6,383 m) |
| 1975 | U.S. Open | Lou Graham | 2 strokes (90) | 40,000 | 71 | 7,032 yd (6,430 m) |
| 1988 | U.S. Senior Open |  Gary Player | 2 strokes (90) | 65,000 | 72 | 6,881 yd (6,292 m) |
| 1990 | U.S. Open | Hale Irwin | 1 stroke (91 holes) | 220,000 | 72 | 7,195 yd (6,579 m) |
| 1999 | PGA Championship | Tiger Woods | 1 stroke | 630,000 | 72 | 7,401 yd (6,767 m) |
| 2006 | PGA Championship | Tiger Woods | 5 strokes | 1,224,000 | 72 | 7,561 yd (6,914 m) |
| 2012 | Ryder Cup | Team Europe | 1 point (14½–13½) | 0 | 72 | 7,657 yd (7,002 m) |
| Tee | Rating/Slope | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 78.3 / 152 | 433 | 192 | 412 | 463 | 536 | 509 | 617 | 201 | 432 | 3795 | 578 | 440 | 476 | 245 | 609 | 390 | 482 | 193 | 449 | 3862 | 7657 |
| Silver | 75.3 / 147 | 383 | 172 | 386 | 432 | 503 | 454 | 585 | 177 | 415 | 3507 | 567 | 389 | 463 | 189 | 550 | 331 | 434 | 156 | 421 | 3500 | 7007 |
| White | 73.6 / 142 | 357 | 151 | 365 | 401 | 488 | 432 | 571 | 153 | 397 | 3315 | 555 | 374 | 452 | 151 | 531 | 308 | 413 | 132 | 398 | 3314 | 6629 |
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 | |
| SI | 13 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 10 |
The club offers various amenities to its members apart from the three golf courses. For example, the clubhouse features six different member dining areas. The Golf Shop is a 3000 sq. ft. building separate from the main clubhouse. The shop includes golf apparel, accessories, and equipment. The Racquet Center has a total of eight tennis courts, four of which are platform courts. The building also features indoor seating arrangements and a firepit.[14]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
41°57′58″N88°02′53″W / 41.966°N 88.048°W /41.966; -88.048
