BMW Championship: Ranking the best courses in tournament history
No matter what you think of the golf course, the singular word “Medinah” has been scorched in the brains of Ryder Cup fans. Maybe you remember Medinah as the site where the U.S. choked on Sunday, or you fondly recall Europe’s massive comeback.
Or, if you want to turn the clock back some more, maybe Medinah means Sergio García scissor kicking his way down the fairways at the 1999 PGA Championship in contention with winner Tiger Woods.
However you slice it, the Medinah Country Club No. 3 course in Medinah, Illinois, is no stranger to the big stage.
The 7,657-yard, par-72 Tom Bendelow track is the highest ranked on Golf Digest’s list of the best U.S. Course at No. 48. Originating in 1924, Medinah’s membership went through tough times during the Great Depression, but thankfully emerged on the other side.
Unfortunately Medinah’s polo field and toboggan run that graced the property in its early run are long gone.
The crown jewel golf course, which has undergone changes by AW Tillinghast, Roger Packard and Rees Jones, has stood the test of time, though. Its rolling hills and views of Lake Kadijah supplement a long, narrow test of golf carved out of the towering oak trees.
Medinah projects to be a reliable newcomer to the BMW Championship rota and could get more host years if majors aren’t on the immediate horizon.