MCWETHY’S GOLF DOME and SPORTSBAR ARE OPEN-But there are Covid-19 restrictions in place. Mistwood pro’s Dan Phillips (L) and Master Club fitter Eric Russell. For more details on Mistwood Golf-Chicago’s Year Round Golf Operation. Visit any of the Mistwood website’s. The golf course in Romeoville, or the golf dome in Bolingbrook, and McWethy’s Restaurants at Mistwood Golf Course or visit MistwoodGolfdome.com. _____________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or friend him on Facebook, Connect on LinkedIn, or Follow on Instagram at RorySpears18.
WHAT’S COMING TO MEDINAH-PART 1.
THE MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB-Clubhouse. The 18th hole and green on Course #3 at Medinah. (During the set up phase for the 2019 BMW Championship).
In what has been a strange year overall, and a crazy year in golf. The year 2020 didn’t end without Chicago’s premier golf club making some surprising news.
Medinah Country Club not only announced an upcoming renovation to it’s famous Top 100 ranked Course #3, but was awarded the 2026 President’s Cup. A championship that is comprised of teams, made up by many of the world’s best players.
Course #3, Medinah’s Championship Course yielded plenty of birdies and a few eagles during the 2019 BMW Championship. As the world’s best players had perfect conditions and not a killer rough like the 2020 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields had, to pick #3 apart.
While Justin Thomas was a deserving champion in 2019, his 25 under par winning score opened some eyes in various areas of the golf community. Fans and media alike wondered how both the score by Thomas, and more low scores by other tour players on #3, would sit with Medinah’s membership.
Well now there is an answer. But maybe it’s not what you would expect it to be.
So about seven weeks after the BMW Championship drove out of town, current Medinah Club President Joe Gattone called a meeting to discuss improvements to Course #3. Gattone started a plan to move Course #3 forward, and part of that plan was to create a master plan for what could or should be next for Course #3.
Part of what’s next, is a renovation with the Melbourne Australia based OCM Golf Design. For those of you asking-OCM-who. Here is your answer. The “O” is Geoff Ogilvy the 2006 U.S. Open Champion at Winged Foot. His partners are Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead.
The answer is Yes, to the question of have they worked in the United States before. How many times you ask, the answer is once. In Texas, where they made changes at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth Texas. A course that had some of it’s design suggested by a former member, some guy named Ben Hogan.
This past week, Golfers on Golf spoke with Medinah immediate past president Michael Scimo. Scimo is part of the Course #3 renovation committee appointed by Gattone. Scimo also served as Medinah’s “Bid Leader” in the clubs efforts to land the 2026 President’s Cup.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR Part 1 of the interview with Medinah’s Michael Scimo. Part 1 looks at the upcoming improvements to Course #3, and how the club arrived at bringing in the OCM design firm.
PART 2 of the interview with Scimo that will focus on the club hosting the 2026 Presidents Cup, will run later this week. So stay clicked in. RS