Medinah Country Club No. 3
One of America's great championship venues, Medinah No. 3 has staged three US Opens, two PGA Championships and the unforgettable 2012 Ryder Cup. Tom Bendelow laid out the original in 1928, and successive architects have shaped it into a long, tree framed test northwest of Chicago.
Photo: Medinah Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Medinah Course No. 3 is one of the most storied championship courses in the United States. Tom Bendelow drew the original routing and it opened in 1928, set among towering oaks and elms northwest of Chicago, with Lake Kadijah cutting across the property to frame some of the most famous holes in American golf. Over the decades a roll call of architects, from Roger Rulewich to Rees Jones and most recently the firm of Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead, has reworked the course to keep it ahead of the modern game, and it stretches to a formidable length for major championship play.
Its history is the heart of the appeal. No. 3 hosted the US Open in 1949, 1975 and 1990, the PGA Championship in 1999 and 2006, the US Senior Open in 1988, and the 2012 Ryder Cup, where Europe completed the Miracle at Medinah. For the traveling golfer it is a bucket list members club, a course you angle to play through a connection rather than a public tee sheet, and a walk among the oaks that carries the weight of nearly a century of championship drama.
Medinah No. 3 at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Tom Bendelow, later revised
- Type
- Parkland classical
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,600 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. No. 3 was originally laid out by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1928, since revised by later architects, a par 72 that has stretched to about 7,600 yards for championship play. Medinah is a private members club with no published public green fee; access is generally through a member or a reciprocal arrangement, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
No. 3 is defined by its trees and its water. The oaks and elms turn many holes into demanding driving tests, where the line off the tee dictates whether the approach is a mid iron from the fairway or a recovery from the rough. The premium is on driving the ball straight and long, and on the discipline to leave the approach in the right spot on greens that have been firmed and contoured through successive renovations.
Lake Kadijah supplies the most famous moments. The short holes that carry the water, including the celebrated par 3 over the lake, are among the most photographed in the country and have decided championships. The par 4s ask for two precise shots through the tree lined corridors, and the long par 3s are a particular hallmark, demanding a confident long iron or hybrid into well guarded targets.
The finish is built for drama, a run of holes that has produced famous swings of fortune in major championships and Ryder Cup singles alike. The conditioning is immaculate in the championship tradition, the rough is grown punishing for big events, and the greens run firm and fast. It is long, demanding and historic, a course that rewards every part of a strong player's game.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; No. 3 is not generally open to public play, with access usually through a member or a reciprocal club arrangement |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest rate is arranged through the club and a host member (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Contact the club well in advance through your member host; a golf travel specialist can help with introductions |
| On the day | Caddies are part of the experience on the championship layout; collared shirt and traditional members club dress code expected |
| Getting there | At Medinah in the northwest suburbs, about 35 minutes from downtown Chicago and close to O'Hare Airport |
| Best months | May through October, with late summer offering the firmest, fastest championship conditions |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Medinah is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors base themselves in downtown Chicago, about 35 minutes east, where the full range of luxury hotels, dining and the attractions of one of America's great cities make a rewarding base for a golf trip. A city base also puts the other great Chicago area courses within reach for a multi day itinerary.
Closer to the club, the suburbs near O'Hare offer plenty of comfortable hotels for golfers who want to be near the first tee for an early round. It is an ideal region to build a Chicago golf pilgrimage around, pairing Medinah with the other classics of the area. We can build the lodging and the routing around the round you want to play.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Chicago.
Build a Chicago golf trip
We help arrange access where we can, pair Medinah with the best of Chicago golf and book the lodging and transfers around your rounds. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Medinah questions
Who designed Medinah No. 3 and when did it open?
Medinah Course No. 3 was originally designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1928 at Medinah, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. It has since been reworked by architects including Roger Rulewich, Rees Jones and most recently OCM, ahead of a return to major championship golf.
What is the par and length of Medinah No. 3?
Medinah No. 3 is a par 72 that has stretched to about 7,600 yards for championship play, a long, tree lined test framed by Lake Kadijah and the club's distinctive doglegs.
What championships has Medinah No. 3 hosted?
Medinah No. 3 has hosted the US Open in 1949, 1975 and 1990, the PGA Championship in 1999 and 2006, the US Senior Open in 1988 and the Ryder Cup in 2012, and is slated to host the US Open again in the future.
Can visitors play Medinah?
Medinah Country Club is a private members club and No. 3 is not generally open to public play. Access is usually through a member or a reciprocal arrangement, so contact the club well in advance.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; championship history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.