ERIC RUSSELL (L) AND MATT CARTER (R) MAKE UP THE Mistwood Golf club fitting team. Currently both Russell and Carter are doing fittings in the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. So visit the events schedule at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600 to book a hitting bay. While there eat at McWethy’s-Sportsbar.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram
Geoff Ogilvy of the Australian course design firm OCM at TPC Deere Run during the John Deere Classic.
THIS SUMMER Geoff Ogilvy of the OCM golf course design firm, took time to speak with Tim Cronin of the Illinois Golfer, and Golfers on Golf about the Medinah Course 3 renovation his firm is conducting.
Ogilvy the 2006 U.S. Open Champion at Winged Foot works with Michael Cocking and Ashley Mead which forms OCM.
Medinah Course #3, will reopen in 2024-at some point around the 4th of July, pending how much work was completed this fall. Plus the grow-in time needed after what a harsh or soft winter does to the course in the cold months ahead. So stay tuned. RS
IG: TELL US ABOUT THE MEDINAH PLAN: OGILVY “As historic as Medinah is, there is not a real attachment to any famous architect. So it was all about making it as good as you can. We found evidence that (AW) Tillinghast had been there, but it was still about making it as good as you can. Which is fun, because Course #3 is an amazing piece of land. So we took our principals and tried to maximize the appeal of the land. One of the shots against Medinah has always been that three of the par-3’s (2-13-17) were the same.”
OGILVY” So for the first 12 holes we really didn’t change anything. We just tried to improve what’s there. The last six holes are quite different. The 16th hole is still there, but it’s going to be 15. Which is a great hole, it’s the Sergio (Garcia) hole. But it’s going to be a little bit straighter, but it’s going to feel like 16.”
IG: OVER THE LAST SIX HOLES-DID YOU SEE ONE HOLE YOU HAD TO HAVE, THEN BUILD THE OTHERS: OGILVY ” 16 is a pretty cool hole, so we were a bit scared about suggesting that, since it’s a big change. There is fantastic drama there around the lake, and we thought what could we do to maximize it. So I think it will turn out pretty well. It’s really exciting and pretty cool.”
GOG: HAVE YOU BEEN ON PROPERTY LATELY: I have and I’m going back. Medinah has been a fantastic club to work with. Pulling the trigger like that which such a large membership is difficult. Trying to get the membership to approve can upset the applecart with a big group of people. But the communication as been great with the membership, us, and the PGA Tour because of the Presidents.”
OCM at Medinah this past July-photo courtesy of Ryan Potts MCC. L-R Geoff Ogilvy-Ashley Mead-Michael Cocking.
GOG: TELL US ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE 18TH HOLE, WHICH IS NOW A GOLF HOLE THAT RUNS TO MEDINAH ROAD WITH HUGE BUNKERS-INSTEAD OF THE CLUBHOUSE, A PUTTING COURSE, AND PAR 3 COURSE. OGILVY, “The bunkers are big, but our research showed that 18 used to run up that corridor next to the first hole. The flag pole is still next to the green, which makes the hole feel the same and in time people will forget the change of direction. The second shot will still feel the same, but the tee shot is more interesting. What’s flashy is the big bunkers on the left and the big one on the right. I’m not sure where people will tee off from, but the drive on 18 will become an exciting shot.”
IG-HOW ABOUT ELIMINATING THE CURRENT 15TH HOLE: OGILVY “I don’t think anyone was enamored with the 15th hole and the pond on the right. I don’t anyone loved that one. I don’t think anyone at Medinah will be sad to see that 15th hole go. When the the club said it could go, it gave us room to fix up that entire corner of the property. The first 12 holes should still feel like Medinah to everybody, with the last six holes being different. There will be a touch of native grass, but not much. Which adds some texture to the golf course. I know over the last 15 years the club will now have redone all three courses, hopefully now they will be done.”
OGILVY: “The Short course will be fun, everywhere you put them people love them. The Himalaya putting greens are still hit and miss, people really love them or hate them. But they are good for kids or the senior players. I just felt the one thing that could not go on the 18th hole or in that area was the flag pole.”
Golfers on Golf will continue to follow the progress of the Medinah Course #3 renovation. RS