“A par-69 iron test with monster par-4s that punish everyone but reward the precise.”
Medinah at 7554 yards over par 69 is a brute of long par-4s—holes 5, 10, and 14 all play like reachable-only-by-cannon two-shotters, and the penalty flags stack up on the back nine. This is not a bombers' free-for-all; the elite drive tier still faces 165+ yard average approaches, so it's iron play and long-iron control that separate the field. Target the four opportunity holes (3, 7, 15) for red numbers and build cards around par-savers at the three-plus 200-yard par-3 stretch. Fade the one-dimensional long knockers who can't flag it from 175+.
310+ yard drivers who cut the giant par-4s down to size, leaving just 2971 yards of approach work per round (165.1/shot) versus 184.5 for the short hitters.
Convert the distance edge on 5, 10, and 14 into shorter irons, then flag the opportunity holes 3, 7, and 15 to bank the strokes.
295.1–310 yard tier facing 3153 approach yards (175.2/shot)—right in the awkward long-iron pocket on the beastly par-4s.
Stay patient on the penalty holes (5, 8, 10, 13, 14), take pars, and press only when the opportunity flags come out.
≤295 yard hitters staring down 3321 approach yards (184.5/shot) and long approaches into every big par-4.
Exceptional iron striking and scrambling are mandatory—there's no distance cushion to absorb missed greens here.
| Hole | Par | Yds | Elite | Mid | Bottom | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 4 | 433 | 1189i / 8i | 1319i / 8i | 1438i / 7i | Soft landing spot before the teeth arrive. |
| #2 | 3 | 192 | 1926i / 5i | 1926i / 5i | 1926i / 5i | No distance advantage—pure iron test. |
| #3 | 4 | 412 | 97PW / 9i | 110PW / 9i | 1229i / 8i | One of the few birdie freebies; capitalize. |
| #4 | 4 | 463 | 1488i / 7i | 1617i / 6i | 1737i / 6i | Length gap starts to show; elite have 148 vs 173. |
| #5 | 4 | 536 | 2214i / hybrid | 2344i / hybrid | 246hybrid / 3w | Elite still have 221 in; nobody has an easy number here. |
| #6 | 4 | 449 | 1349i / 8i | 1478i / 7i | 1598i / 7i | Standard two-putt par territory. |
| #7 | 5 | 588 | 100PW / 9i | 113PW / 9i | 1259i / 8i | Only par-5 on the property—all tiers should press here. |
| #8 | 3 | 201 | 2015i / 4i | 2015i / 4i | 2015i / 4i | Bailout smart; big numbers lurk if you go flag-hunting. |
| #9 | 4 | 434 | 1199i / 8i | 1329i / 8i | 1448i / 7i | Elite have 119—another distance dividend. |
| #10 | 4 | 578 | 263hybrid / 3w | 276hybrid / 3w | 288hybrid / 3w | Even the bombers have 263 in; make bogey your worst case. |
| #11 | 4 | 431 | 1169i / 8i | 1299i / 8i | 1418i / 7i | Recovery-hole; steady the ship. |
| #12 | 4 | 469 | 1548i / 7i | 1677i / 6i | 1797i / 6i | Length gap of 25 yards between tiers matters. |
| #13 | 3 | 245 | 245hybrid / 3w | 245hybrid / 3w | 245hybrid / 3w | The single toughest one-shotter; par jumps you up the field. |
| #14 | 4 | 609 | 294hybrid / 3w | 307hybrid / 3w | 319hybrid / 3w | The longest approach on the card by a mile; distance tier is decisive. |
| #15 | 4 | 391 | 76SW / PW | 89SW / PW | 101PW / 9i | Shortest approach on the course; go get it back. |
| #16 | 4 | 481 | 1667i / 6i | 1797i / 6i | 1916i / 5i | Distance matters—191 vs 166 in is a full club-plus. |
| #17 | 3 | 193 | 1936i / 5i | 1936i / 5i | 1936i / 5i | No edge for the bombers—pure ball-striking. |
| #18 | 4 | 449 | 1349i / 8i | 1478i / 7i | 1598i / 7i | Live finish—birdie is on the table down the stretch. |
Long par 4s — 200+ yard approaches for shorter hitters
Wedge approaches + par 5s — birdie targets across all tiers
Even the elite distance tier averages 165.1 yards per approach here, and holes 5, 10, 13, 14 and 16 all demand 190+ yard shots for most of the field. Prioritize players who rank in long-iron and mid-iron proximity over pure clubhead speed.
The distance-only profile can't hide on a par-69 that still leaves brutal long approaches. If a player gains all his edge off the tee but ranks poorly from 175+ yards, this par-3-heavy, long-par-4 layout will expose him.
The only three opportunity flags leave sub-125-yard approaches (7 and 15 down to 76–101). In matchplay, expect birdies here—target players and pairings that convert their wedges, and consider a made-birdie prop on the 391-yard 15th.
Four par-3s ranging 192 to 245 yards, two flagged penalty, with no distance advantage available. A field-wide par-3 scoring metric is your tiebreaker—these are stroke-savers for elite iron players.
Back-nine holes 10 (578y), 13 (245y par-3), and 14 (609y par-4) all carry penalty flags and monster numbers. In matchplay, whoever survives this trio with pars flips sessions—lean into steady scramblers to close out afternoon points.
Medinah is a par-69 mislabeled as a distance course—yes it's 7554 yards, but the real currency is long- and mid-iron precision, because even the bombers face 165+ yard average approaches and a brutal set of 500-to-600-yard par-4s. Back elite iron play and par-3 control, fade the speed-only merchants, and build your cards around the three opportunity holes and the penalty-stretch survivors.
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