Eagles dare to win at Medinah

Oct 7 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A GLENEAGLES team flying the flag for Scotland has returned home from Chicago with the coveted silverware, writes Gordon Bannerman.

The 12-strong line-up went head-to-head with counterparts from the 2012 Ryder Cup venue at plush Medinah Country Club and won a thriller by a margin of 19-17.

Now their American hosts are counting down to a trip to Scotland 12 months before the Big County venue hosts the 2014 tournament, hoping to wrestle the trophy from Gleneagles’ grasp.

Russell Smith, head golf professional at Gleneagles, said: “We went to Medinah looking to win the Ryder Cup style event and the team was thrilled to come back with the trophy, which will be engraved and put on display in the new-look Dormy House.

“Our hosts were very welcoming. They really gave us the red carpet treatment and embraced the event. It was great to see and to play on the course which will host the big match in 2012. The Ryder Cup was also on show.

“The facilities are magnificent and, like Gleneagles, they have three top notch courses. We were lucky enough to play on the Number 1 course which will host the Ryder Cup.

“Medinah is a members’ club but it was selected for the Ryder Cup because it has the infrastructure to cope with the huge galleries and the corporate hospitality, which is close to being sold out already.

“Just as Gleneagles is accustomed to handling European Tour events, Medinah has experienced a range of big tournaments down the years.”

As the Perthshire team was departing, Europe and USA Ryder Cup captains Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III were arriving to savour the Medinah experience and to assess the captain’s rooms in the sprawling clubhouse, with the main event just 12 months away.

Russell, who was delighted with a personal 5 and 4 win over Mike Scully, the Medinah director of golf and former Washington Redskin, said: “The main thing is that the Gleneagles members enjoyed a trip of a lifetime. But it was also an ideal opportunity to see how Medinah is counting down to next year’s 39th Ryder Cup.”

The Scots team looked the part with gear donated by sponsors Glenmuir, Oscar Jacobson and Footjoy, and one of the enduring memories is being piped up the 18th fairway.

They donated bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue and Gleneagles souvenirs to the host team, with a print of the PGA Centenary Course 16th hole now adorning the clubhouse wall at Medinah.

“We were a team on and off the fairways,” said Perth businessman Stuart Anderson, who donned the kilt for a night out in Chicago. “We played foursomes, four balls and singles. Everyone got a game and it was an amazing experience.”

Russell said: “The Ryder Cup at Medinah will be spectacular, I’m sure. They have a memorable closing sequence which will make for great viewing - and the course is magnificent.”

Russell captained a team which included recently appointed director of golf Stuart McEwen and members drawn from the three Gleneagles clubs, Andy Lothian, Mike Collier, Tony Davidson, Martin Super, Jimmy Hamilton, Austin Carey, Stephen Bull, Ian Campbell, Stuart Anderson and Robert Gordon.