Medinah Country Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Medinah Country Club is a private country club in Medinah, Illinois with nearly 600 members and 640 acres containing three golf courses, Lake Kadijah, swimming facilities and a Byzantine-style, mosque-evoking clubhouse with Oriental, Louis XIV and Italian architectural aspects. Medinah is widely known for its Course #3, a 7,508 yard (7,385 m) golf course which has hosted three U.S. Opens (1949, 1975, 1990) and two PGA Championships (1999, 2006).
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[edit] Early history
The club was founded in 1924 by the Medinah Shriners and by the late 1920s had approximately 1,500 golfing and social members. The Great Depression brought severe financial hardship and many members left. 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 #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.
[edit] Golfing
[edit] Course #3
Medinah has three golf courses in a 54-hole complex. Many noted golf professionals have played Course #3, beginning with "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper at the Medinah Open in 1930. Other noted players include Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Cary Middlecoff, Billy Casper, Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Tiger Woods. Tommy Armour, winner of multiple major championships and the namesake of a well-known golfing equipment brand, was Medinah's head pro for many years.
Medinah's courses were originally designed by Tom 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. Even before that, 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 the 1990 U.S. Open brought substantial changes and was followed by Rees Jones' work in preparation for the 2006 PGA Championship, making Course #3, at the time, the longest golf course in major championship history.
[edit] Tiger Woods
Woods' appearances at Medinah have enhanced the club's international reputation. His first win at the course was the 1999 PGA Championship (foreshadowing his "annus mirabilis" in 2000), which brought him much media attention. During the late afternoon of the final round, Sergio García hit a shot on the 16th hole that seemed to have at least gotten the 19-year-old a playoff, but Woods maintained his focus before a raucous crowd and preserved a one-stroke win. In 2006 Woods won by five strokes, becoming the first golfer to win the PGA Championship twice on the same course. In recognition of this achievement Woods was made a member of the club, in what has been said to be an unprecedented decision by Medinah's membership.
[edit] 2012 Ryder Cup
Medinah will host the 2012 Ryder Cup.
[edit] External links
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