
#1
Medinah Country Club

About this course
Medinah Country Club's Course #1 represents Tom Doak's contribution to a property already famous for its championship Course #3. Doak's design occupies terrain on the Medinah grounds that offers a different character from the club's more celebrated layouts, providing members with variety within the same facility. The course reflects Doak's design philosophy of working with natural landforms and creating strategic options rather than penal hazards. The routing takes advantage of the rolling topography characteristic of the western Chicago suburbs, with elevation changes that influence both shot selection and visual presentation. Doak's approach typically emphasizes width off the tee with challenge concentrated around the greens, rewarding thoughtful approach play and short game skill. Medinah Country Club itself dates to the 1920s and was developed by the Shriners organization, with the original courses designed by Tom Bendelow. The property features distinctive Mediterranean Revival architecture in its clubhouse and has long served as a private club for members in the Chicago area. Course #3 has hosted multiple major championships, including U.S. Opens and PGA Championships, establishing Medinah as one of American golf's significant venues. Course #1 provides members with an alternative that contrasts with the championship demands of #3, offering a different pace and strategic emphasis while maintaining the high maintenance standards and playing conditions expected at a club of Medinah's stature.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in IL
Quick facts
- Location
- Medinah, IL, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1924
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Tom Doak
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,895 yards
- Difficulty
- 76/136
- Course Vaults score
- 8.1
Getting there
Medinah Country Club sits just twenty miles northwest of Chicago's downtown core, making it accessible via Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International (MDW), both roughly forty-five minutes to an hour away depending on traffic patterns across the metropolitan sprawl. For those arriving by private aircraft, Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in nearby Wheeling offers a considerably more intimate entry point, situated mere minutes from the club's gates. The drive from O'Hare traces a gentle arc through the northern suburbs, transitioning from interstate commerce to tree-lined residential streets before arriving at Medinah's stately entrance - a journey that feels less like a departure from the city and more like a retreat into one of the Midwest's most storied private enclaves, where championship golf has been quietly refined for over a century.

FAQ
Common questions about #1 at Medinah Country Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
#1 at Medinah Country Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.1 out of 10 based on 42 logged golfers.
#1 was designed by Tom Doak.
#1 at Medinah Country Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at #1 is 71.
#1 plays 6,895 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at #1 is 136.







