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Medinah: Grandeur Beneath the Flight Path
Few clubs in the world can match the legacy, scale, and spectacle of Medinah Country Club. Located just west of Chicago in the town of Medinah, Illinois, this is golf grandeur on a different level — a place where tradition runs deep and everything feels just a bit larger than life.
Founded in the 1920s by a group of Shriners, Medinah has become one of the most storied multi-course clubs in the United States. It boasts three full 18-hole courses, with Course No. 3 standing as the crown jewel — a major championship venue that has hosted multiple U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship, and the unforgettable 2012 Ryder Cup, where Europe pulled off its “Miracle at Medinah.”
The architect behind the original designs was Tom Bendelow, known for his prolific work during the Golden Age of golf architecture. Over the decades, Course No. 3 has evolved through renovations by Rees Jones and most recently by Geoff Ogilvy and OCM Golf, who are breathing new life into the classic layout with a modern touch.
And then there’s the clubhouse.
It’s hard to put into words just how distinctive it is — a grand, domed structure inspired by Moorish Revival architecture, with intricate detailing, arched windows, and turrets that feel almost out of a fairytale. From a distance, it’s regal. Up close, it’s mesmerizing. Photographing it head-on, perfectly centered with the symmetry of the course leading into it, I felt like I was capturing the beating heart of American golf history.
And here’s the surreal part: overhead, jets from O’Hare International Airport carve their lines across the sky — a reminder that this timeless haven sits just under one of the busiest flight paths in the country. It’s a striking contrast: roaring progress above, serene tradition below.
At Medinah, the past and present live side by side. And whether you’re walking its legendary fairways or standing in awe before that clubhouse, you know you’re somewhere special.
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Each week, we share a stunning golf image and a heartfelt, hilarious, or inspiring story. While they may not always align, both aim to elevate the game and uplift those who love it. These images aren’t for sale—they’re simply here to be enjoyed, just as the stories are meant to inspire, entertain, and celebrate the spirit of golf.
For me – for us – golf has been the string that ties dreams to reality an inspiration of aspiration
Life resides in golf
It lectures in love and loss and reward and heartache and all that lives in between
It teaches a respect for best efforts in work and play
Who I know, where I’ve been, countless one-of-a-kind experiences and lifelong friendships and relationships
It greets and engages, holding you hostage as it rewards and punishes at a whim, pushing you to embrace the smallest triumphs
But mostly, it allows twin brothers a safe place to learn and grow and be different and accepted to be their best selves, best rivals, best competitors, best friends through a lifetime of “looking forward to’s.”
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