Geoff Ogilvy, captain of the International Team at the 16th Presidents Cup, faces the challenge of guiding his squad to an unprecedented victory on U.S. soil. The tournament takes place this week at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, a venue Ogilvy helped reshape during the COVID-19 pandemic through his golf course design firm, Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead (OCM).
Ogilvy, 49, hails from Melbourne, Australia, where his early fascination with golf was evident in his habit of sketching golf holes in his school notebooks. He went on to become an accomplished professional golfer, winning eight PGA Tour titles, including the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Known for his strategic approach to the game, Ogilvy was recognized by peers such as Adam Scott for his detailed analysis of course design and strategy.
In 2010, Ogilvy co-founded OCM with Ashley Mead, an engineer, and Mike Cocking, an artist, blending diverse expertise into their course design work. Their collaborative approach sets them apart in the field, combining engineering precision, artistic vision, and competitive insight. During the pandemic lockdowns, with travel and access restricted, the trio reimagined Medinah’s No. 3 course remotely, creating a significantly altered routing without even visiting the property.
Medinah’s No. 3 course, located about 25 miles west of Chicago, is notable for its storied history. Since opening in 1928, it has hosted major championships, including U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and now the Presidents Cup. Yet by recent years, the course faced a dilemma: it had become too punishing for everyday club members while simultaneously less challenging to elite professionals. This was highlighted during the 2019 BMW Championship when Justin Thomas won with a 25-under-par score, signaling that the course defenses were insufficient.
Charged with reinventing the course, OCM proposed sweeping changes focusing on the back nine, which involved a complete rerouting to incorporate Lake Kadijah more prominently into the playing strategy. This bold redesign was both a risk and a significant opportunity for OCM, as Medinah entrusted them to deliver a transformation unrestricted by tradition.
The renovated Medinah No. 3 reopened in 2024 to positive feedback from members, including some who had initially supported other architects. Now, the course hosts the Presidents Cup, where Ogilvy leads an international team that has not won the event since 1998. His unique perspective as both a former competitor and one of the architects behind the course modifications could provide strategic advantages to the International Team.
Ogilvy’s journey from a boy doodling golf holes in Melbourne classrooms to a professional golfer and golf course designer culminates this week on the competitive stage at Medinah. His blend of playing experience and design expertise offers a distinctive approach as he seeks to guide the International Team to a historic victory on the course he helped reinvent.