Medinah No. 3
Tom Bendelow routed the original Course No. 3 at Medinah in the 1920s, and the long parkland test northwest of Chicago has been lengthened for the biggest events ever since. A par 72 beyond 7,600 yards, it has staged three US Opens, two PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup, and it hosts the Presidents Cup in September 2026.
Photo: Medinah Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Tom Bendelow laid out the original Course No. 3 at Medinah Country Club in the 1920s, and the long parkland test northwest of Chicago has been lengthened and refined many times since, by hands including Roger Packard, Roger Rulewich and Rees Jones, with a further restoration completed in 2023. It is one of the most decorated championship courses in the United States, a par 72 that now stretches beyond 7,600 yards through corridors of mature oak.
Medinah has hosted three US Opens, in 1949, 1975 and 1990, two PGA Championships, in 1999 and 2006, and the 2012 Ryder Cup, and in September 2026 it welcomes the Presidents Cup. The membership is private and there is no public tee time, so a round here is reserved for members and their guests. For the travelling golfer it is a course to study and to watch rather than to play, unless an introduction can be arranged.
Medinah No. 3 at a glance
- Opened
- 1920s
- Designer
- Tom Bendelow, later revisions
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Beyond 7,600 yds
- Green fee
- Members only
Designer history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Medinah Country Club and leading course databases. Course No. 3 was originally laid out by Tom Bendelow in the 1920s and revised many times since, most recently a restoration completed in 2023, a par 72 beyond 7,600 yards. Medinah is a private members club with no public green fee; play is for members and their guests. Always confirm any access directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Course No. 3 plays long and demanding, the par 4s muscular and several greens guarded by water at the holes that swing back toward Lake Kadijah. The closing stretch, reworked for major championship golf, asks for nerve and a long, accurate carry, and the famous tee shot over the water has settled more than one title.
The 2023 work sharpened the bunkering and recovered green edges, restoring options that decades of tree growth had narrowed. Length is the headline, but it is the angles and the firm, fast greens that make Medinah a genuine examination for the best players in the world.
With the Presidents Cup arriving in 2026, the routing has been reworked again so the match play drama builds across the back nine. It remains one of the great American championship venues, parkland golf on a grand and serious scale.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play is for members and their guests only, generally by introduction |
| Green fee | No public green fee; access is through a member (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Arrange through a member or your trip planner well in advance; visitor play is not generally available |
| Championships | 1949, 1975 and 1990 US Opens, 1999 and 2006 PGA Championships, 2012 Ryder Cup, 2026 Presidents Cup |
| Getting there | Medinah, in the northwest suburbs, about 45 minutes from downtown Chicago and close to O'Hare |
| Best months | May to October for warm Midwest conditions and the firmest turf |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Medinah is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit through a member or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base in downtown Chicago or the western suburbs near Medinah, both within easy reach of the club and full of excellent hotels and dining. A Chicago base also opens up the wider golf of the upper Midwest for a longer trip.
For a tournament visit, book lodging early; the 2026 Presidents Cup will fill rooms across the suburbs around Medinah many months in advance.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Medinah No. 3.
Plan a Chicago golf trip
Medinah is private, but we build championship golf trips around Chicago and the Midwest, pairing the courses you can play with the events worth watching. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Medinah No. 3 questions
Who designed Medinah No. 3?
Course No. 3 was originally laid out by Tom Bendelow in the 1920s and has been lengthened and refined many times since, by architects including Roger Packard, Roger Rulewich and Rees Jones, with a restoration completed in 2023.
What is the par and length of Medinah No. 3?
Medinah No. 3 is a par 72 that stretches beyond 7,600 yards from the championship tees, a long parkland course through mature oak northwest of Chicago.
Can visitors play Medinah No. 3?
Medinah is a private members club. There is no public green fee and play is reserved for members and their guests, generally by introduction.
What championships has Medinah hosted?
Medinah No. 3 has hosted three US Opens, in 1949, 1975 and 1990, two PGA Championships, in 1999 and 2006, the 2012 Ryder Cup, and it hosts the Presidents Cup in September 2026.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.