Medinah Country Club

Back in 1999, it was the scene of one of golf’s most unforgettable moments when Sergio Garcia, then a fresh-faced 19-year-old, gouged a six-iron from behind a tree during the PGA Championship The excitable Spaniard sprinted down the 16th fairway to follow the flight of the ball as he pushed Tiger Woods all the way.

The American ended up winning by one stroke to claim his first PGA title and his second major, leaving Garcia without a play-off but with lots of new friends who admired his raw enthusiasm.

“It was my second major as a professional, and to be able to play the way I did at 19 against a guy like Tiger was a great experience,” reflected Garcia.

Woods, himself only 23, had become the fifth youngest holder of the title in history. Fast forward to 2006, and Woods again celebrated a PGA triumph at the Medinah Country Club, this time by a more comfortable five strokes over Shaun Micheel.

The Chicago course last hosted the US Open in 1990 when Hale Irwin pipped Nick Faldo by one shot to become the oldest winner of the tournament at the age of 45.

So, as you can tell, Medinah is made for writing unpredictable scripts and we wonder what tales will be told when the USA and Europe gather for the 39th edition of the Ryder Cup from September 28-30.

The competition will be played over the famed Course No 3, a par 72 which measures 7,657 yards. All three courses at the Medinah complex were designed by Scottish golf architect Tom Bendelow in the 1920s when the Medinah Shriners who met there decided to set up their own club.

The distinctive Byzantine-style clubhouse provides one of best known backdrops in golf and extensive work has recently been carried out on the greens, 11 of which were completely renovated.

Six other greens were re-grassed and the 15th hole was dramatically changed under the supervision of Rees Jones who has overseen all architectural design aspects of Medinah’s three courses since 2000.

The 15th has been reduced in length by 100 yards and now offers players a great risk-reward opportunity with a drive-able par 4. A two-acre lake borders the right side of the fairway and green. The new forward tee means the hole can be set up as short as 280 yards.

The green was moved to the left making way for the creation of a new back tee for Medinah’s famed tree-lined 16th hole which plays around 480 yards.

Perhaps the best known hole is the 17th which has played a big role in deciding some of the major events held on the course. This treacherous par three is all over water with the front of the green sitting hard against Lake Kadijah.

In 2010 there were incredible scenes at Celtic Manor in South Wales as Europe wrestled back the Ryder Cup from the US. Now the focus of attention is about to switch to Medinah, a course with a pedigree for producing classic sporting moments which are forever etched in the memory.