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The 10 Most Prestigious Country Clubs in the Midwest in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Nov 2026 · 5 min read
Oakland Hills Country Club
Direct answer

Oakland Hills Country Club near Detroit is the most prestigious country club in the Midwest, with six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships on its South Course. Medinah, outside Chicago, is #2 and Olympia Fields is #3. No club on this list publishes its initiation fee.

At a glance

#PickFoundedBest for
1Oakland Hills Country Club1916The deepest major-championship record in the Midwest
2Medinah Country Club1924, by the Medinah ShrinersThree courses and a domed clubhouse near Chicago
3Olympia Fields Country Club1915Two courses and a landmark clock tower south of Chicago
4Scioto Country ClubCourse opened in 1916Golf history in Columbus
5Interlachen Country Club1909The Twin Cities’ championship club
6Crystal Downs Country ClubCourse designed in 1929A remote, top-ranked course above Lake Michigan
7Camargo ClubOpened for play in 1925Seth Raynor’s template par 3s
8Country Club of Detroit1897Grosse Pointe tradition and a Tudor Revival clubhouse
9St. Louis Country Club1892, as a polo clubA rare Macdonald-Raynor course
10Kansas City Country Club1896Kansas City society and Tom Watson’s home course

Pick by what you want

Most U.S. Opens
Oakland Hills Country Club
Biggest club
Medinah Country Club
Jack Nicklaus’s home course
Scioto Country Club
Best lake views
Crystal Downs Country Club
Best Seth Raynor course
Camargo Club

The ranking

1

Oakland Hills Country Club

Oakland Hills Country Club
Photo: GeorgeVezza / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe South Course, known as "The Monster," with Walter Hagen as its first head pro.
Founded: 1916Location: Bloomfield Township, Michigan, northwest of DetroitCourses: Two 18-hole Donald Ross courses: the South Course (1918) and the North Course (1923)Championships: Six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup on the South CourseNext U.S. Opens: 2034 and 2051, announced by the USGA

Oakland Hills, founded in 1916 in Bloomfield Township northwest of Detroit, has two Donald Ross courses. Its South Course has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup, and the USGA has awarded it the U.S. Open in 2034 and 2051.

Go ifThe deepest major-championship record in the Midwest
Skip ifYou want a small, quiet club with no tournament crowds
Why #1 over #2: Its six U.S. Opens are double Medinah’s three.
2

Medinah Country Club

Medinah Country Club
Photo: Dan Perry / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictChicago’s biggest championship stage.
Founded: 1924, by the Medinah ShrinersLocation: Medinah, Illinois, northwest of downtown ChicagoSize: More than 1,100 members, 640 acres and three golf coursesChampionships: Three U.S. Opens (1949, 1975, 1990), two PGA Championships (1999, 2006) and the 2012 Ryder Cup on Course No. 3Latest event: The 2026 Presidents Cup, September 24 to 27

Medinah, founded in 1924 by the Medinah Shriners northwest of downtown Chicago, has more than 1,100 members, 640 acres and three golf courses. Course No. 3 has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup, and the club held the 2026 Presidents Cup.

Go ifThree courses and a domed clubhouse near Chicago
Skip ifYou want an intimate club with a short roster
Why #2 over #3: Its three U.S. Opens and Ryder Cup top Olympia Fields’ two U.S. Opens.
3

Olympia Fields Country Club

Olympia Fields Country Club
Photo: Boscophotos / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFour men’s majors and a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Founded: 1915Location: Olympia Fields, Illinois, about 25 miles south of the LoopCourses: Two 18-hole courses, North and SouthChampionships: Two U.S. Opens (1928, 2003) and two PGA Championships (1925, 1961)Clubhouse: English Tudor-style, finished in 1925, with an 80-foot clock tower

Olympia Fields, founded in 1915 about 25 miles south of the Loop, has North and South courses and has hosted U.S. Opens in 1928 and 2003 and PGA Championships in 1925 and 1961. Its Tudor clubhouse has an 80-foot clock tower.

Go ifTwo courses and a landmark clock tower south of Chicago
Skip ifYou want a club on Chicago’s North Shore
Why #3 over #4: Its four men’s majors edge out Scioto’s U.S. Open, PGA and Ryder Cup.
4

Scioto Country Club

Scioto Country Club
Answrs VerdictWhere Jack Nicklaus learned to play.
Founded: Course opened in 1916Location: Upper Arlington, Ohio, northwest of ColumbusCourse: Designed by Donald Ross; renovated in 2008 by Jack Nicklaus and Michael HurdzanChampionships: 1926 U.S. Open, 1931 Ryder Cup, 1950 PGA Championship and 1968 U.S. AmateurFamous player: Jack Nicklaus learned the game here in the early 1950s

Scioto’s Donald Ross course opened in 1916 in Upper Arlington, northwest of Columbus. It hosted the 1926 U.S. Open, the 1931 Ryder Cup, the 1950 PGA Championship and the 1968 U.S. Amateur, and Jack Nicklaus learned the game here.

Go ifGolf history in Columbus
Skip ifYou want two courses
Why #4 over #5: Its Ryder Cup and PGA Championship add to a U.S. Open that Interlachen also has.
5

Interlachen Country Club

Interlachen Country Club
Photo: Widgetkid / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictBobby Jones won the third leg of his Grand Slam here.
Founded: 1909Location: Edina, MinnesotaCourse: Donald Ross design, opened in 1921; par 72 at 7,201 yardsChampionships: 1930 U.S. Open (won by Bobby Jones in his Grand Slam year), 2002 Solheim Cup and 2008 U.S. Women’s OpenNext championship: The 2030 U.S. Women’s Open

Interlachen in Edina, Minnesota, founded in 1909, plays a Donald Ross course of 7,201 yards. Bobby Jones won the 1930 U.S. Open here on his way to the Grand Slam; it also hosted the 2002 Solheim Cup and the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open, and will host the 2030 U.S. Women’s Open.

Go ifThe Twin Cities’ championship club
Skip ifYou want a course outside the city
Why #5 over #6: Its U.S. Open and Solheim Cup give it a championship record Crystal Downs does not have.
6

Crystal Downs Country Club

Crystal Downs Country Club
Photo: Matthewwlloyd / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA MacKenzie masterpiece far from any city.
Founded: Course designed in 1929Location: Benzie County, Michigan, on the shores of Lake MichiganCourse: Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell design, par 70 at 6,518 yards, with views of Lake Michigan and Crystal LakeRanking: #19 course in the world according to Golf.com

Crystal Downs sits on the shores of Lake Michigan in Benzie County. Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell designed its par-70 course in 1929, and Golf.com ranks it the #19 course in the world.

Go ifA remote, top-ranked course above Lake Michigan
Skip ifYou want a club you can reach after work
Why #6 over #7: Its #19 world ranking tops Camargo’s 48th.
7

Camargo Club

Camargo Club
Answrs VerdictA highly exclusive Raynor course outside Cincinnati.
Founded: Opened for play in 1925Location: On the edge of Cincinnati, OhioCourse: Seth Raynor design, one of his last before his death; restored by Tom DoakRanking: 24th in the USA and 48th in the world (Top 100 Golf Courses)

Camargo, on the edge of Cincinnati, opened for play in 1925. Its Seth Raynor course, one of his last, was restored by Tom Doak, and Top 100 Golf Courses ranks it 24th in the USA.

Go ifSeth Raynor’s template par 3s
Skip ifYou want a club that hosts championships
Why #7 over #8: Its top-25 U.S. ranking edges out the Country Club of Detroit.
8

Country Club of Detroit

Country Club of Detroit
Photo: Hu12 / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWhere Arnold Palmer won his first USGA title.
Founded: 1897Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MichiganCourse: H. S. Colt redesign (1912), restored in 2011 toward the Colt and Alison designChampionships: U.S. Amateur in 1915 and 1954 (Arnold Palmer’s first USGA title); U.S. Senior Amateur in 2021

The Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms was founded in 1897. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1915 and 1954, when Arnold Palmer won his first USGA title, and the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2021.

Go ifGrosse Pointe tradition and a Tudor Revival clubhouse
Skip ifYou want a Detroit club with major-championship history
Why #8 over #9: Its two U.S. Amateurs and 2021 Senior Amateur top St. Louis’s more distant championship record.
9

St. Louis Country Club

St. Louis Country Club
Photo: LittleT889 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictOne of the USGA’s first 100 clubs in America.
Founded: 1892, as a polo clubLocation: Ladue, Missouri, a suburb of St. LouisCourse: Charles Blair Macdonald design with Seth Raynor, the furthest west of Macdonald’s coursesChampionships: 1921 U.S. Amateur (the first played west of the Mississippi) and 1925 U.S. Women’s Amateur

St. Louis Country Club in Ladue was founded in 1892 as a polo club. Its Macdonald and Raynor course hosted the 1921 U.S. Amateur, the first played west of the Mississippi, and the 1925 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Go ifA rare Macdonald-Raynor course
Skip ifYou want a club that hosts modern championships
Why #9 over #10: Its two USGA championships give it a record Kansas City Country Club does not have.
10

Kansas City Country Club

Kansas City Country Club
Answrs VerdictThe club that gave Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza its name.
Founded: 1896Location: Mission Hills, KansasCourse: Tom Bendelow original, redesigned by A. W. Tillinghast; par 70Legacy: Kansas City’s Country Club District and Country Club Plaza are named for the clubFamous member: Tom Watson, who holds the professional course record of 60

Kansas City Country Club, established in 1896 and now in Mission Hills, Kansas, plays a par-70 course redesigned by A. W. Tillinghast. Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza is named for it, and Tom Watson holds its professional course record of 60.

Go ifKansas City society and Tom Watson’s home course
Skip ifYou want a club with a championship record

How we ranked these

We ranked each club on its championship history (U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, Ryder Cups and USGA events), course pedigree and national rankings, using the clubs’ own sites, Wikipedia and Top 100 Golf Courses. Prestige is a judgment call, and no club publishes its initiation fee. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the most prestigious country club in the Midwest?

Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan: its South Course has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and the 2004 Ryder Cup.

Which Midwest club has hosted a Ryder Cup?

Oakland Hills (2004), Medinah (2012) and Scioto (1931) have all hosted the Ryder Cup.

Where did Jack Nicklaus learn to play golf?

At Scioto Country Club in Upper Arlington, Ohio, in the early 1950s.

How much does it cost to join these clubs?

None of these clubs publishes an initiation fee, so no figure is given here.

U.S. Opens hosted at a glance

Scioto Country Club1 Opens
Interlachen Country Club1 Opens
Olympia Fields Country Club2 Opens
Medinah Country Club3 Opens
Oakland Hills Country Club6 Opens
U.S. Opens hosted, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.

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