Disclaimer: CountryClubMag.com is an independent resource and is not associated with any of the clubs on this website. Club initiation and membership cost information are estimates only and should not be relied upon for making club membership decisions.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Medinah, IL (fun fact: the town is named after the country club!) Medinah Country Club is one of the most well-known clubs in the Chicagoland area, if not the entire country. They have three impressive golf courses, an array of amenities for members and their families, and many famous golf tournaments have been hosted at Medinah Country Club.
Founded in 1924 by the Medinah Shriners (a local Masonic society) it was an immediately popular country club, growing to over 1,500 members by the late 1920s. The most distinctive feature is clearly the clubhouse, which is designed in a Byzantine style with mosque-like domes at the top. Golf.com even rated the Medinah clubhouse as the sixth most iconic golf clubhouse in the world!
In the 1930s the National Tournaments put Medinah Country Club on the map in the golf world, especially the 1937 Chicago Open at Medinah. There have been eight major tournaments hosted at the club, they are listed below:
- BMW Championship 2019
- Ryder Cup 2012
- PGA Championship 1999, 2006
- U. S. Open 1949, 1975, 1990
- U.S. Senior Open 1988
- Notable championship winners include – Tiger Woods, Hale Irwin, Gary Player, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Gene Sarazen
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Medinah Country Club Membership Cost
There are currently around 600 regular members of Medinah Country Club and around 400 members in other categories. Membership is strictly by invitation only. The club offers a wide array of membership types to meet the needs of various groups. These include:
- Regular Membership – provides full access to the Clubhouse (Dining, Pool, Lodge, Golf Learning Center and Racquet Center) and unlimited access to all three golf courses
- Associate Membership – this category is offered in four specific age groups – Ages 21-25, Ages 26-29, Ages 30-34 and Ages 35-39. This category of membership provides full access to the Clubhouse (Dining, Pool, Lodge, Golf Learning Center and Racquet Center). Golf course access is currently unlimited, but subject to periodic Board review.
- Social Membership – this category is offered in three specific age groups – Ages 40 and Over, Ages 30-39 and Ages Under 30. This category of membership affords a Social member full access to the Clubhouse (Dining, Pool, Lodge and Racquet Center). A Social member is welcomed as a guest on our golf courses four (4) times per year. Green fees are applicable to Social members.
- National Membership – this category is offered to those that have their principal place of residence one hundred twenty-five (125) miles or more from the Club. The National category of membership provides full access to the Clubhouse (Dining, Pool, Lodge, Golf Learning Center and Racquet Center) and has access to golf twelve (12) times per year.
- International Membership – this category is offered to those that have their principal place of residence outside the United States of America. The International category of membership provides full access to the Clubhouse (Dining, Pool, Lodge, Golf Learning Center and Racquet Center) and has access to golf twelve (12) times per year.
For estimating the cost of becoming a member at Medinah Country Club, we were able to find a document from 2019 that outlines the initiation fees and ongoing membership costs. In 2019, the initiation fee to join Medinah Country Club was around $85,000. The ongoing annual fees for membership were around $13,446 which includes capital dues. We would estimate that due to inflation and the growing popularity of golf that these numbers have gone up since then.
While Medinah was originally founded by Shriners and for Shriners, that specific requirement was dropped in the 1930s and today Medinah attracts a diverse membership.
Medinah Country Club Amenities
The most well-known amenity at Medinah is definitely the golf, but Medinah has a ton more to offer than just that. In addition to golf there’s the 120,000 square foot clubhouse that makes dining and socializing a treat. Also there’s a racquet center with 4 Har-Tru tennis courts, 4 platform tennis courts, along with a fire pit and warming hut and bar.
No country club would be complete without a pool area, and Medinah is no different with a large pool that includes 2 diving boards and 5 swim lanes. Also, there’s an impressive six different dining areas which include the Fireside Restaurant, Casbah Bar, and a beautiful Viewing Deck. Last, a skeet and trap shooting lodge rounds out the list of amenities at Medinah Country Club.
The three golf courses at Medinah were all originally designed by renowned course designer Tom Bendelow, who also designed Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, IL. The most famous course is the third course (known as the Championship Course) which has been the host of the major tournaments Medinah has hosted throughout the years.
Medinah does host weddings in its large and grand ballroom (seats up to 250 guests), but you must be a member or sponsored by a member in order to host. There’s a few places to have the wedding ceremony itself, but their most popular location overlooks the first fairway of the third golf course.
Medinah Country Club Visitor’s Guide | Dress Code
Although you must be a member in order to visit Medinah, they welcome guests of members with open arms and encourage them to enjoy the club’s facilities.
There is an extremely extensive dress code as outlined on the Medinah Country Club website. Long story short – the dress code is fairly strict and requires a tucked-in collared shirt and khakis or slacks. Denim is not allowed, nor are cut off’s or tank tops. Hats are allowed but only when the brim is forward. There is a long list of requirements based on location at the club and activity, so if you’re visiting make sure to check the aforementioned link before you go.
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Alway been amazing!
I caddied at Medinah in 1967-68-69.
I always felt it an honor to be there. It is the most beautiful place I can think of! I will always hold Medinah in the highest regard. I still tell people today
what a great experience it was and how the course and facilities were always kept.
Disclaimer: CountryClubMag.com is an independent resource and is not associated with any of the clubs on this website. Club initiation and membership cost information are estimates only and should not be relied upon for making club membership decisions.
