The famed Chicago-area club will restore its Course No. 2, which opened in 1927, to its original character while upgrading its infrastructure to modern standards. The latest project will bring the total investment in Medinah’s three courses since 2008 to $14 million.
Medinah (Ill.) Country Club has approved a $3.6 million project to restore its Course No. 2 to its original character while upgrading its infrastructure to 21st Century standards.
Members voted overwhelmingly to undertake the project, which is aimed at restoring the course, which opened in 1927, to the aesthetic character imparted by architect and highly respected Scotsman Tom Bendelow, while building state-of-the-art USGA greens, new tees, new bunkers, bentgrass fairways and also making extensive storm-drainage improvements.
The project will begin following the 2015 golf season, with the goal of re-opening in June 2017.
Founded in the 1920s by a group of Shriners, Medinah CC features three golf courses, all designed originally by Bendelow. The club also features a massive and distinctive, 120,000-sq. ft. clubhouse, designed by Richard Schmid, that features a unique architectural blend of styles, including Byzantine, Oriental, and Louis XIV influences.
Medinah was the host of the 2012 Ryder Cup and its Course No. 3 has hosted three U.S. Opens (1949, ’75, and ’90), two PGA Championships (1999, 2006) and three Western Opens (1946, ’62, and ’66).
With the restoration of Course No. 2, Medinah will have invested more than $14 million since 2008 to upgrade its three golf courses—including the Rees Jones-renovated No. 3 championship course and Tom Doak’s renovation of Course One, which opened in June 2014.
“Having three courses, each with a different character, offers our members and their guests three different golf experiences, and that’s what really separates Medinah from other country clubs,” said club President Matt Lydon.
“We have something for everyone,” Lydon added. “If you want to play a course that has hosted multiple major championships and a Ryder Cup, you can play No. 3. If you want a minimalist-style course that’s more of a members’ course, you can play Course One. And if you’re looking for a family-friendly experience on a classically-designed course, Course Two is a perfect option.”
Curtis Tyrrell, Medinah’s Director of Golf Course Operations, will lead the Course No. 2 project, while Jones will serve as architectural consultant.
Course No. 2 opened in 1927 and has remained virtually untouched since then, except for regular maintenance, and remains a Bendelow original. The course, when complete, will play from 4,800 to 6,400 yards, with varying tee options that are intended to enhance the family-friendly experience.
“Most people don’t know what a special gem Course No. 2 is,” Tyrrell said. “When we restore the design elements and upgrade the playing surfaces, it’s going to bring an exciting new dimension to the overall Medinah golf experience.”
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