37 Members of Medinah Country Club near Chicago, Illinois, have voted to approve a renovation of its #3 course by OCM Golf, the Australian design firm led by Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead. Their proposals aim to ref lect the best elements of the course’s history and current layout, while widening fairways and significantly rerouting the closing stretch. Four of the final six holes will play along or across Lake Kadijah. These include an entirely new par-three thirteenth hole (pictured) alongside the lake, a short par-four sixteenth where golfers will cut off as much of the lake as they dare, and new seventeenth and eighteenth holes. This work will also free up space for a six-hole short course, The Camel Trail, close to the clubhouse. OCM will also address the course’s infrastructure, with the aim of enhancing playing conditions and supporting professional tournament operations. The renovation “encapsulates a continuing vision to provide compelling tournament play and a world-class golf experience for members, guests, and the professional tournament player,” said William Kuehn, club president. The #3 course was originally designed by Tom Bendelow and redesigned by Rees Jones. It has hosted three US Opens, in 1949, 1975 and 1990, two PGA Championships, in 1999 and 2006, and the Ryder Cup in 2012. “We feel incredibly humbled and honoured that the Medinah Country Club membership voted in favour of our plan,” said Cocking. “It’s a huge sign of confidence that the members are as excited with our concept as we are, and we can’t wait to get planning started in 2022.” Construction work will begin in late 2022 so the course can reopen in 2024, allowing the club to prepare for its hosting of the Presidents Cup in 2026. OCM gets go-ahead for Medinah #3 renovation Photo: Harris Kalinka A visualisation of OCM Golf ’s proposed par-three thirteenth hole
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