Medinah No. 3 Recompiled: A Course Rebuilt for Match-Play Protocols
Medinah Country Club's No. 3 course has undergone a full system reconfiguration. From 2023 to 2024, the Australian design team of Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking, and Ashley Mead executed a near-total deconstruction of the layout, removing hundreds of trees and restoring the open, strategic complexity of the original 1920s design. The result is a course optimized for the 2026 Presidents Cup, shifting from a stroke-play gauntlet to a match-play puzzle built on angles, options, and risk-reward calculations.
The old Medinah No. 3 was a legacy system: tree-lined, water-laden, and demanding unerring accuracy. Tiger Woods won two majors there. But the new architecture, known as OCM, has rewritten the source code. Wider fairways, prairie-style bunkers, larger greens with short-grass runoffs, and reoriented holes around Lake Kadijah now define the experience.
What changed in the Medinah No. 3 redesign?
The redesign removed thousands of trees, including an official count of 4,161 lining the fairways before the 1999 PGA Championship. The south side of the property has been returned to its pre-1930s pasture state. OCM resequenced holes, eliminated redundant par 3s, and introduced new strategic layers.
The par 3 second hole remains but with an expanded green set naturally against the hillside. New back bunkers and stone bulkheads replace the old corrugated metal. The par 4 third now allows drives either way, with bunkers at 290 and 340 yards forcing a choice between conservative and aggressive lines.
How does the new routing optimize for match play?
The 505-yard fifth now serves as the first hole for the 2026 Presidents Cup, ensuring groups reach the dramatic lakeside closing holes. The par 4 eighth, formerly the 11th, is potentially drivable for long hitters but demands a calculated line over bunkers. The new par 3 13th runs parallel to the lake, offering a shorter, flexible alternative to the deleted 240-yard crossing hole.
The 14th is a new par 4 that tumbles down with a seductive low green, blurring the line between fairway and putting surface. The 15th, now the longest par 4, features a blind chevron-shaped green with high and low segments. The 16th crosses the lake diagonally, setting up a choice between safe carries and gambling lines.
What is the strategic philosophy behind the new holes?
OCM's approach is algorithmic: maximize options, minimize redundancy. The par 4 16th assumes heroic proportions when tees are forward, but a false edge short and right ricochets balls into the hazard. The par 3 17th crosses back over water on the diagonal, with left-side flags appearing to hover in space, punishing stray misses.
The 18th tee sits on the far side of the lake, allowing the hole to be lengthened by over 40 yards. It plays through previously unused property, with a crowning fairway and a low, slinky green reachable in two for many players in match play.
Why did Medinah No. 3's ranking decline and rebound?
Medinah No. 3 was a perennial top 25 course on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest list but slid to No. 93 as architectural tastes changed. Following the OCM transformation, it rebounded to No. 74. The course that once demanded unerring length and straightness now rewards strategic thinking and crafty short games.
As more golfers discover its nuances, the ranking is expected to continue ascending. The redesign is a case study in adaptive architecture: a legacy system recompiled for a new era of play.
FAQ
Who designed the Medinah No. 3 redesign?
The redesign was led by Australian designers Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking, and Ashley Mead, known collectively as OCM. They worked from 2023 to 2024.
How many trees were removed from Medinah No. 3?
Hundreds of trees were removed, including a critical number from the south side of the course. An official count before the 1999 PGA Championship tallied 4,161 trees lining the fairways and greens.
What is the most significant change to the course?
The most significant change is the shift from a tree-lined stroke-play test to an open, match-play puzzle. The routing was resequenced, new holes were added, and the lakeside holes were reconfigured for diagonal play rather than frontal assaults.