Medinah's Best Hole

[Dan Moore]

As winter finally settles into Chicago today I am thinking back to August and the PGA Tournament.  In the original World Atlas of Golf Medinah's 12th hole is described as less than noteworthy.  In Geoff Shackelford's preview for the PGA the 12th was named as one of Chicagoland's Best 18 holes.  This divergence of opinion led me to ask what is the best hole on Medinah #3.  Is it the 12th, the 16th made famous by Sergio Garcia or the massive 245 yd 13th?  After walking the course both weekend days of the tournament and playing the course in Septemeber I have my opinion, but I'd like to hear from others.  I will illustrate with photos.

[Adam Clayman]

Dan, That preview also had a hole from Waveland. (the fifth, I think?) So, consider the source. I like the second at Medinah as possibly the best hole.

[Dan Moore]

A vote for #2, a 191 yd par 3 that ranked as the12th most difficult in the tournament with a 2.9464 ave.  The first of three par 3's requiring a carry over  water and probably the most elegant of the three.

A view of 2 on a rather dark morning.

[JR Potts]

I vote 13...followed by 12....followed by 16....followed by 4.....followed by 2.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Dan,

I trust you are factoring in the renumbering after the Packard redo a few years ago?  If not, that might explain the discrepancy, since 12 was a 389 Par 4, while the new 12 is a pretty good hole.  Also, is this a trick question in that many people feel the No. 1 course contains some very strong holes?

I always liked the long par 5 7th on No. 3 the best, with its ultra deep greenside bunkers as being both hole appropriate and symbolic of what Medinah was supposed to be.

[cary lichtenstein]

Ok, I'll bite. I have played the 2nd hole numerous times, why is it any better than any other hole of the same length over a big body of water?

I always thought it was a forced piece of architecture.

[Dan Moore]

Jeff,

Not intended as a trick question. I am not familiar with 1 & 2 and was only thinking of Course #3.

You may be right about the renumbering, I'll have to double check my World Atlas which is in the office which I cited without looking.  It's possible it has the old routing where the current 15th was the 12th which would explain the discrepancy in views.

Here is the par 5 7th.  On Sunday Tiger blocked it way right into the trees off the tee after a birdie on 5 and draining a long birdie on 6 pull away from the field.  



 

[Michael Dugger]

The 19th, perhaps?

[Dan Moore]

Ryan,

Why do you think 12 is better than 16?  

Here is your choice for best hole, the 13th.  

[Eric_Terhorst]

Dan, I've never played it, but from my walk around I liked the look of #14, the par 5 with the heroic tee shot over water, followed by a blind (for most golfers) second shot, or for the longer hitters who can get the tee shot to the top of the hill, an interesting choice on how to approach the green.

I like both 17 and 2 of the par 3s, but 17 would be my preferred choice as I recall the elevation drop is more dramatic.  As it is near the end of a round, I imagine that hole has played havoc with many members' wallets over the years!

[Dan Moore]

What does it say about medinah that evry choice so far is for a different hole.  

The 14th was revised when the routing was changed to accomodate new 17th and 18th holes.

[JR Potts]

If you look at that last picture, in the final round of the 06' PGA, Tiger bombed a drive.  Then took out a two iron/5 wood attempting to get home in two.  He cut blocked the thing about 35 yards right.  It hit the right side of the big trees just short of the green and kicked back and to the left.  It ended up in the 50 yard fairway bunker that you see short right.  Then he did one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.  He took out an eight iron...opened it flat...and hit a 50 yard 8 iron blast to about 15 feet.  He made an easy two putt, preserved his 25 shot lead, and moved onto 15 like what he just did was routine.  

I, for one, didn't even know a 8-iron 50 yard blast was even in the realm of possible shots.   Amazing!

Dan: to answer your question, I think #12 is just a great parkland par 4.  There isn't one trick on the hole, "it is all right in front of you" and plays exceedingly tough despite the fact that there is not one bunker on the hole.   Moreoever, depending upon where you hit your drive, you can be required to work the ball numerous ways to the green...left/right, high/low.  Also, the green is an absolute blast to putt on.  Any pin placement on the left side is just pure terror - both in the approach shot and on the green. (ironically enough, the pin was never put on the left side during the PGA).

I love the 16th hole too but I think that it doglegs about 10 yards too early.  That's my only probem with it.  In sum, 16 is great....but 12 is just better.  

[JR Potts]

Dan, I've never played it, but from my walk around I liked the look of #14, the par 5 with the heroic tee shot over water, followed by a blind (for most golfers) second shot, or for the longer hitters who can get the tee shot to the top of the hill, an interesting choice on how to approach the green.

I like both 17 and 2 of the par 3s, but 17 would be my preferred choice as I recall the elevation drop is more dramatic.  As it is near the end of a round, I imagine that hole has played havoc with many members' wallets over the years!

Eric:  I destroyed 3 career best rounds last year on 17...it is now my least favorite hole!

[Dan Moore]

Ryan,

I am in agreement with you on 12 vs. 16.  Sixteen played the hardest, but hardest does not mean best in this case.  To me it seems a little unnatural as you point out regarding the placement of the dogleg and I will add the second shot also seems a little forced.  

Twelve in comparison flows extremely well with the contour of the land.  It uses a left to right sidehill whereas most of the holes are routed perpendicular to the flow of the small hills.  The semi-blind drive into the flow of the hill complements the left to right movement of the hole and the sidehill lie on the second forces attention to be played to the water on the right.  It has a large beautifully perched green that has more slope and natural internal contour to it than the other greens.  The absence of bunkers adds a subtle touch.  Given how this holes flows with the land down around and back up to the greensite I was not surprised to learn that Langford redesigned the hole in the 1950's by moving the green 30-40 yards to the right and farther up the hill from Bendelow's original greensite (in the trees to the left of the equipment carts in the 2nd photo) near the back of 13 tee.  This move also allowed the tee on 13 to be moved back.

Twelve gets my vote for best hole.  





Bendelow's 12th


Langford's 12th

[SL_Solow]

Its hard for me to consider number 2 after the last redo by Rees.  The old green had fewer flat area for a hole but it was a much more interesting surface, fit the grioubd better, and demanded more off the tee.  

[Dan Moore]

Shelly,

Don't know the old 2nd green, but on Saturday I watched there for about 30 minutes.  Everyone made aggresive runs at the hole and nothing broke more than few inches.  

Thoughts on the best hole?  

[Anthony_Nysse]

Looks like the course has recovered nicely after the PGA.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club

[tlavin]

12 is the best hole on the property and probably the best par-4 in Chicago.  It has length, characteristic tight and winding fairway with groves of oaks on either side, an undulating fairway and a spectacular greensite.

Shiv, I like #9 on the 1 course, but it's only better than the par 5's on #3, not the par 4's.

[Dan Moore]

Jeff,

I checked my World Atlas and it has the 1975 version of the course where the current 12th was the 16th.  I was correct however in that they described the 16th (current 12th) as "uninteresting."  Other than an additional 20 or so yards I don't think the hole has changed much since then.  Quite a divergence of opinion between the World Atlas then and 12 receiving most votes here as the best hole and Terry Lavin's pariaise as the best par 4 in Chicagoland.