Medinah Country Club (Course #2)

Medinah Approves $3.6 Million Restoration Of Course No. 2

MEDINAH, Illinois - Medinah Country Club has approved a $3.6 million project to restore the club's 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 - opened in 1927 - to the aesthetic character imparted by architect Tom Bendelow while building state-of-the-art USGA greens, new tees, new bunkers, bentgrass fairways and extensive storm drainage improvements.

The project will begin following the 2015 golf season with the goal of re-opening in June 2017.

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 said. "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 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 4800 to 6400 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."

Medinah Country Club is the Chicago area's best-known and most frequent major championship venue. Home of the 2012 Ryder Cup, Course No. 3 has hosted three U.S. Opens (1949, '75, and '90), two PGA Championships (1999, 2006), three Western Opens (1946, '62, and '66). Medinah's champions include such historic figures as "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Gary Player, Hale Irwin, and Tiger Woods.

Founded in the 1920s by a group of Shriners, Medinah features three golf courses, all designed originally by highly respected Scotsman Tom Bendelow. The massive 120,000-square foot clubhouse designed by Richard Schmid is a unique architectural blend of styles that include Byzantine, Oriental, and Louis XIV influences.