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| Medinah Country Club | |
|---|---|
| Name | Medinah Country Club |
| Location | Medinah, Illinois, United States |
| Established | 1924 |
| Type | Private |
| Holes | 54 |
| Designer | Tom Bendelow; William Langford; Donald Ross; Herbert J. Fowler; Perry Maxwell; Harry Colt; Rees Jones |
Medinah Country Club Medinah Country Club is a private country club near Chicago, in the village of Medinah, Illinois. Founded in 1924 during the Roaring Twenties, the club is notable for its three championship golf courses, major professional tournaments, and a roster of prominent members from business, politics, and sports. Its clubhouse and grounds have hosted events that intersect with institutions such as the PGA Tour, USGA, and Ryder Cup-level competitions.
The club was chartered in 1924 by a group of investors and patrons including figures linked to Chicago Board of Trade circles and the Great Depression era elite. Early course architecture engaged designers influenced by the work of Donald Ross and Harry Colt, while later remodeling involved architects connected to the American Society of Golf Course Architects. The club closed during parts of the Great Depression and underwent revitalization after World War II, aligning with suburban expansion tied to Interstate 294 and regional growth in Cook County, Illinois. In the late 20th century, major renovations prepared the venue to host tournaments sanctioned by organizations such as the PGA Tour, USGA, and European Tour affiliates, leading to high-profile events in the 1990s and 2000s.
Medinah’s facilities comprise an expansive clubhouse complex, practice ranges, short-game areas, indoor training spaces, and tennis courts, all set within a landscape managed under standards promoted by the United States Golf Association and conservation practices similar to those advocated by the Audubon Society. The clubhouse has hosted dignitaries from United States Department of State delegations, corporate executives from Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Walgreens Boots Alliance, and celebrities associated with Chicago Symphony Orchestra events and fundraisers for organizations like the Robin Hood Foundation. Groundskeeping operations have employed agronomy methods paralleling those used at Augusta National Golf Club and advisory input from consultants linked to PGA National Resort projects.
The club maintains three 18-hole courses—Course No. 1, Course No. 2, and Course No. 3—designed and modified by architects tied to the lineage of Tom Bendelow, William Langford, Perry Maxwell, and Rees Jones. Course No. 3, often used for championship play, features strategic bunkering and green complexes comparable to conditions at Pinehurst Resort and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Renovations have referenced techniques developed by firms that worked on courses such as Oakmont Country Club, Torrey Pines Golf Course, and Whistling Straits to meet standards of the PGA Championship and U.S. Open setups.
Medinah has hosted multiple editions of the Western Open, the BMW Championship (as part of the FedEx Cup playoffs), and has been the venue for the Solheim Cup-style European and American competitions in broader contexts. The club hosted the U.S. Amateur qualifiers and served as a site for international team competitions associated with the Ryder Cup pathway, inviting top professionals from European Tour rosters and PGA Tour fields. Corporate hospitality at Medinah has accommodated major events tied to sponsors like BMW, AT&T, and John Deere and has drawn television coverage from networks such as NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and Golf Channel.
Membership at the club is by invitation and initiation, with governance conducted by a board structure similar to those of private clubs organized under Illinois non-profit corporation statutes and fiduciary practices modeled after boards at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and Augusta National Golf Club. Committees oversee course maintenance, tournament operations, and member services; professional staff includes roles with experience at venues such as Congressional Country Club and Merion Golf Club. Membership categories have encompassed resident, non-resident, corporate, and junior tiers, reflecting practices used at clubs affiliated with the National Club Association.
Throughout its history, the club has counted prominent residents, executives, and athletes among its membership, including business leaders from Sears, Motorola, and Exelon Corporation, civic figures connected to the City of Chicago mayoral offices, and athletes who competed on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. Alumni networks intersect with leaders of cultural institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and educational institutions like Northwestern University and University of Chicago. Guest lists for major tournaments have included Hall of Fame players associated with the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Medinah’s dramatic landscapes and clubhouse architecture have appeared in broadcast coverage by ESPN and featured in print outlets like Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated, and the Chicago Tribune. The club has been a filming location and backdrop for productions involving studios linked to Warner Bros. and regional television segments produced by WGN-TV. Its tournament days have influenced local tourism patterns monitored by Visit Cook County and have been cited in profiles by national media including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Category:Golf clubs in Illinois Category:Sports venues in Cook County, Illinois