Big changes at Medinah

Medinah Country Club has transformed the 15th hole of its famed No. 3 course into a driveable par 4, reducing its length by 100 yards and adding a new two-acre lake that borders dangerously on the right side of the fairway and green.

The dramatic new hole was designed by golf course architect Rees Jones in an effort to present a strong risk-reward challenge both for Medinah members and contestants in the 2012 Ryder Cup to be played in just over two years on the historic layout in west suburban Chicago.

The redesign of No. 15 took place concurrently with a major greens renovation project in which 11 of Course No. 3's original 18 greens and its main putting green were rebuilt to U.S. Golf Association specifications.