Hole 1 at Medinah Country Club (Course 3)
- Par
- 4
- Yardage
- 436 yds
- Hazards
- 6 bunkers · Water
Hole 1 map
34 yd wide × 41 yd deep · 6.1 ft total elevation range
Light = gentler slope · Red = steeper slope
White lines: 1 foot of elevation. Arrows: downhill. General terrain, not a pin read.
Approach from bottom
Contour source
USGS 1 Meter 16 x41y465 IL_MidNorth_D22 · collection 2022
Map source & reference
Mapbox Satellite composite · capture date not provided. Green at the top; the labeled map reference is below.
Scorecard yardage is for Championship tees. The aerial shows its labeled reference position; distance rings measure to the green.
Championship tees · Par 4 · 436 yards
The plan for No. 1
The members' opener heads south-east from the clubhouse toward Lake Kadijah. A line of three bunkers sits on the left through the landing area, so the right half of the fairway is the cleaner start.
Off the tee
Pick a target that stays right of the left-side bunkers; the tee shot rises and the landing area is partly out of view.
Approach & recovery
The lake lies beyond the green, and the green's bunkers sit on the left, so an approach that finishes short and right is the safer miss.
On the green
The green is deeper than it is wide; judge the flag's depth before choosing the club.
Watch for
- Three fairway bunkers left
- Greenside bunkers left
- Lake Kadijah beyond the green
Hole 1 Green Complex & Slope
USGS 3DEP terrain analysis
Green size: 7,230 sq ft
Course coverage
Tournament and creator videos about Medinah Country Club (Course 3) — shared course coverage, not hole-specific clips.
Featured by these creators
Creator videos about this course
YouTube creators who filmed or featured Medinah Country Club (Course 3). · Stats as of Oct 12, 2026 · 6d ago
Every Hole at Medinah Country Club's No. 3 Course | Golf Digest
How did Hole 1 play?
How did this hole play today?
Frequently asked questions
Yardage reference: Championship tees · 436 yards.
What's the best strategy off the tee?
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For this 433-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.
How difficult is hole 1?
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This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: small green.
How big is the green on hole 1?
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The green is small and requires precision. The green is deeper than wide, so club selection is crucial. Expect challenging pin positions with limited room for error.
What's a good score on hole 1?
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This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.
Research notes
- Golf Course Architecture reported that No. 3 closed in October 2022 for tree removal and demolition, construction began in April 2023, and all shaping and grassing were done by mid-October 2023. (opening paragraphs)[1]
- Golf Course Architecture reported the membership approved OCM's $23.5 million master plan in December 2021, with construction set for 2023 and reopening in 2024. (lead)[2]
- Klein writes that fairways now have a 5-foot collar of 1.5-inch intermediate rough, with 4-inch rough beyond, a change suggested by U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker. ('Golf course provides big playing field')[3]
Mike Cocking told Golf Course Architecture the project is best described as part restoration, part renovation and part redesign.
(Cocking quote)[1]- PGA TOUR lists No. 3's events: the Western Open (1939, 1962, 1966), U.S. Opens (1949, 1975, 1990), 1988 U.S. Senior Open, PGA Championships (1999, 2006), 2012 Ryder Cup and 2019 BMW Championship. ('Storied Medinah' section)[3]
- PGA TOUR reports Presidents Cup matches start on members' No. 5, and matches that go the distance finish on members' Nos. 1-4. The stated reasons: about 80% of matches end by the 16th, so the lake holes arrive at the climax, and the start sits nearer spectator entry. ('Set-up sees sequence changes')[3]
- PGA TOUR's Bradley Klein reports that fairway area doubled from 29 to 58 acres, bunkers rose from 70 to 117, and average green size grew more than 40%, from 6,000 to 8,600 square feet. ('A whole new ballpark' / 'Golf course provides big playing field')[3]
Sources
- OCM completes redesign of Course Three at Medinah — Golf Course Architecture (Richard Humphreys)https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/ocm-completes-redesign-of-course-three-at-medinah
- Medinah gives green light to OCM master plan for #3 course — Golf Course Architecture (Alice Chambers)https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/medinah-gives-green-light-to-ocm-master-plan-for-3-course
- Nine things to know: All about Medinah Country Club, host of 2026 Presidents Cup — PGA TOUR (Bradley S. Klein)https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/needtoknow/2026/09/21/presidents-cup-medinah-country-club-chicago-preview-nine-things-to-know-us-team-international-team