Since it appears the renovation being done by Tom Doak is well underway, I wanted to discuss the significance of this project, and the impact I hope it has throughout the area.
http://spears.golfersongolf.com/2013/07/03/medinah-course-1-renovation-with-tom-doak--curtis-tyrell.aspx?ref=rssI have spent most of my life living in two smaller rural communities within 100 miles of Chicago (separated by a 12 year gap of living in Chicago after college), and I think Medinah, more than anyplace else, has influenced golf courses in this region. I can attest that members of the course I grew up on, and members of my two current Clubs view Medinah as the holy grail in the region. As such many clubs and courses throughout the state took every opportunity to plant trees on every inch of their property for many years.
While across the region, higher end clubs have already been adopting the restoration movements discussed here, I think a project like this, along with massive tree removal the club undertook prior to the Ryder Cup can have a huge positive impact throughout the state and region at many of the smaller clubs and courses where many people play the game. While I pine over Chicago Golf and Shoreacres, the reality is their more exclusive nature, combined with the lack of Championship golf mean they barely register with the overwhelming majority of golfers, even solid lifelong club members. However, if Medinah is doing something, it holds weight with our membership, and I know this is the case at other clubs as well. Because many of our members have the opportunity to play there, I've already seen more openness to tree removal since Medinah #3 did it, and I'm hoping the #1 course gives me some opportunities to sell the more natural approach as well.
I'd love to hear renovation updates from any of the Medinah members who post here. I've heard it's made for a difficult year at the club with the amount of play #3 demands this year, but I'm sure by next summer it will have been worth it.