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Home , 2012 Ryder Cup, Medinah Country Club, Peter Hanson

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER EDITION 3

TiMe Line OF eVenTS GREETINGS FROM THE GENERAL CHAIR APRIL 2012: Shift Preference Information Due The rich tradition of championship You have been asked to provide the Offi ce continues at Medinah C.C. with with your volunteer shift preferences for Ryder Cup the greatest event in golf, the Ryder Week (Standard Bearers were not asked for this Cup. I would like to thank you for your information as they will be assigned to their shifts via a dedication and participation in helping Blind Draw.) Be sure to respond to this request by April us stage this world-renown event. 27, 2012 so that your preferred shifts can be considered when the offi cial Volunteer Schedules are assembled. has held multiple Medinah Opens, Opens, Western Opens, U.S. Opens MAY 2012: Ancillary Uniform Items and PGA Championships. Only three other clubs Information will be sent to you about purchasing in the nation have hosted a U.S. Open, a PGA ancillary uniform items at discounted prices (shoes, Championship and the Ryder Cup. We take great belts, sunglasses and more!). pride in joining that short list of fi ne clubs. During EARLY JULY 2012: Assigned Work Schedules our many planning meetings and discussions, it has become apparent that the Ryder Cup will be the You will be notifi ed of your assigned volunteer work schedule for the Ryder Cup. most magnifi cent event ever to be held at Medinah.

AUGUST 24-26, 2012: Uniform & Credential Distribution There is less than six months until the commencement of the 39th Ryder Cup. With hospitality and tickets Mark your calendars! Volunteer Uniform & Credential Distribution will take place at Lake Park High School, sales setting records, the anticipation is building. located at 600 S. Medinah Rd. in Roselle, IL. (Uniforms In Europe, the radio stations are already advertising and credentials will be mailed to all volunteers living 24-hour coverage of this dynamic international event! further than 70 miles from Medinah C.C. Special arrangements will be made for all European Volunteers.) I hope you are looking forward to being a part of Various committee training meetings will take place presenting the Ryder Cup to the world. Your dedication during the weekend of Uniform & Credential Distribution. is deeply appreciated. Watch for details in the next Volunteer Newsletter (May 2012). Sincerely,

SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2012: On-Site Committee Training Several committees will have “on-site” committee training sessions at Medinah Country Club. Look for Donald C. Larson more information regarding these meetings in our General Chairman future Volunteer Newsletters. HISTORY OF MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB In the early 1920’s a group of Shriners from Chicago’s Medinah Temple had a dream to create a country retreat. Their goal was to build the best country club in North America with a golf complex and a variety of other recreational activities.

Over time, more than four hundred acres of forests, farms and wetlands were transformed into three eighteen-hole golf courses, a lake, and park-like grounds. An iconic and impressive Byzantine style clubhouse was also built to grace this beautiful land.

Tom Bendelow, a world-renowned architect from Scotland, was retained to design the golf courses. The courses were completed between 1925 and 1928, and later underwent changes designed by Bendelow and several other golf architects. In recent years, Medinah’s membership appointed to remodel Course #3, which will host the Ryder Cup, in keeping with the spirit of Bendelow’s original intent.

The clubhouse was designed by Richard G. Schmid, and completed by the Schmidt Brothers Construction Company in 1926. The 105,000 sq. ft. structure features an exquisite sixty-foot dome, covered in beautiful and ornate artwork. A German-born artist, Gustave Brand did the interior design, artworks, and decoration to reflect the style of the exterior architecture. When the clubhouse and its interior were remodeled and restored in 1997, extra special attention was given to the cleaning and restoration of all interior art and décor.

In addition to the golf courses and the stunning clubhouse, the club’s first members and their guests enjoyed tennis courts, a gun club, a baseball diamond, bridle paths and an area for equestrian events. Lake Kadijah provided year-round pleasures (fishing and boating in the summer, ice-skating in the winter, and a secure location for the gun club). Medinah was the only country club in the to have its own ski-jump, toboggan slide and a log cabin as a warming shelter.

Today, only the tennis courts, gun club, and lake remain. An Olympic size swimming pool has been added.

Medinah’s wooded areas include many early growth trees as a natural habitat for birds and small animals. One Burr Oak is known to be over three hundred years old. Animals have always played an important role at Medinah. “Miss Medinah,” a camel, was a mascot at special events, but made her home at Lincoln Park Zoo. For a short time, two small black bears had their own enclosed den near the gatehouse, and during WWII, a flock of sheep kept Course #2 in trim. Ryder Cup History: The Start of a World-Renown Competition

The Ryder Cup, one of the great sporting events founded on prestige rather than prize money, began in 1927 at the request of its namesake, Samuel Ryder, a two- term mayor of St. Albans, Hertsfordshire, England, and a prosperous English seed merchant. Ryder’s penchant for overworking himself led his physician to prescribe rest and outdoor relaxation. Ryder chose golf as his release and employed a local club professional for lessons.

Following a 1927 exhibition match in Wentworth between British and visiting U.S. professionals, Ryder was motivated to organize an official match between the two countries. He donated a gold cup, and insisted that it be adorned with a golfing figure in the form of his trusted golf instructor, Abe Mitchell.

With the cup in tow, eight of Great Britain’s finest players journeyed to the United States for the inaugural matches, June 3-4, 1927 at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club. THE TROPHY In 1927, English seed merchant Samuel A. Ryder presented the Ryder Cup to The Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain to place as a prize for an international competition between American and British professional golfers. The Ryder Cup was commissioned for £250. The trophy stands 17 inches high, is nine inches from handle to handle and weighs four pounds. The golfing figure depicted on the top of the trophy reflects the image of Abe Mitchell, a former gardener and British star golfer as well as a friend and instructor of Samuel Ryder. A bout of appendicitis prevented Mitchell from competing in the inaugural Matches in 1927. But he returned to compete for Great Britain in the 1929, ‘31 and ‘33 Matches.

RYDER CUP QUALIFICATIONS

TEAM USA TEAM USA RYDER CUP POINT STANDINGS Last Updated: 04/16/2012

The United States points system will determine the top eight players for the 2012 United States Ryder Cup Team on August 12, Position Name Points 2012 (at the conclusion of the 94th PGA Championship at The 1 4,717.755 Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort). In addition to the eight who qualify, Captain Davis Love III will select four players 2 3,746.624 in September, 2012, to complete the United States Team. 3 3,332.054 Points are based upon the following: 4 3,111.492

• Prize money earned in 2011 major championships (Masters, 5 2,173.667 U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship): One point is 6 2,145.857 awarded for every $1,000 earned. • Prize money earned in 2012 “Official” events from Jan. 1 7 Bill Haas 2,106.071 through Aug. 12: One point is awarded for every $1,000 8 2,060.845 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite 9 Kyle Stanley 2,037.457 . 10 Johnson Wagner 2,013.946 • Prize money earned for 2012 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship): Two points 11 1,998.593 are awarded for every $1,000 earned. 12 1,754.090 • Prize money earned in 2012 events played opposite the major 13 1,703.087 championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between Jan. 1 and the PGA Championship: 14 Kevin Na 1,573.287 One-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned. 15 1,538.402

EUROPEAN RYDER CUP POINT STANDINGS TEAM EUROPE Last Updated: 04/16/2012

The European Team will be selected employing the following Position Name Points criteria: 1 Rory MCILROY 2,584,843.51 • The leading five players on the European Ryder Cup 2 1,598,566.29 Points List at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will make the Team. 3 1,587,688.41 • The leading five players from the Ryder Cup World Points 4 1,483,613.23 List, not otherwise qualified (having selected the five 5 1,353,284.96 players from the European Ryder Cup Points List), at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship 6 Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTAÑO 1,261,297.96 at Gleneagles will make the Team. 7 Sergio GARCIA 1,219,822.68 • European Ryder Cup Captain José Maria Olazábal will choose the remaining two players following the conclusion 8 1,203,446.04 of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. 9 Alvaro QUIROS 1,155,967.13 10 Michael HOEY 1,028,586.03 The Ryder Cup European Points List will comprise points (1 point = 1 Euro) earned by a European Tour Member from all officially WORLD RYDER CUP POINT STANDINGS sanctioned European Tour tournaments on The European Tour Last Updated: 04/16/2012 Race to Dubai from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. Position Name Points

The Ryder Cup World Points List will comprise World Ranking 1 Rory MCILROY 311.83 Points won by a European Tour Member from each tournament 2 215.30 in which he participates from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles 3 Justin ROSE 209.31 in 2012. World Ranking Points are allocated to all officially 4 Lee WESTWOOD 203.70 sanctioned tournaments (on any Federated Tour) by the Official World Golf Ranking and are allocated according 5 Graeme MCDOWELL 149.09 to the Event Rating of the tournament. 6 Peter HANSON 147.61 IMPORTANT REMINDERS! As an official Volunteer for the 39th Ryder Cup, you will be The On-Line Volunteer given a Volunteer Badge. This badge will allow you access to Management System the grounds of Medinah Country Club all six days of the Ryder Cup, September 25-30, 2012. Your Volunteer Badge will also The PGA of America has an on-line Volunteer Management System. You give you access to the International Pavilion (a climate-controlled may access this system to view your and spirited sports themed pavilion offering food and beverage personal Volunteer Profile. Simply options for purchase). Your Volunteer Badge may be used on visit www.rydercup.com/2012rydercup the days you are volunteering, as well as on the days you simply volunteers to view your contact want to enjoy the event. Your Volunteer Badge is non-transferable. information, uniform sizes, past communications and other Ryder Cup information. At this time, all Ryder Cup Tickets are sold out. Unfortunately, tickets for family and friends cannot be purchased. If you cannot remember your login username and password, simply follow the directions under “Forgotten CAPTAINS QUARTERS Password.”

The Mountains or the Shoreline? Captain Love III: The Mountains. Keep Your Contact Captain Olazábal: The Mountains. Information Updated As we plan for the , I always… there will be times when we will need Captain Love III: am undecided. to contact you via telephone, mail and Captain Olazábal: enjoy nice meals with friends. /or e-mail. It is very important for us to always have your current contact Captain Love III information on file. If your contact I never… information changes any time between Captain Love III: quit. now and the Ryder Cup, please make Captain Olazábal: hurt anyone on purpose. the appropriate updates by visiting www.rydercup.com/2012rydercup When I am not playing golf, I am… volunteers or by calling the Ryder Cup Office at (630) 925-7287. Thank you! Captain Love III: boring! Captain Olazábal: either lying on the couch watching sports or going Captain Olazábal to the cinema.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE RYDER CUP

“Nothing in golf, maybe in all of sports, compares to the pressure exerted on players over three days of the Ryder Cup. Grown men cry. Strong men become weak-kneed. Atheists mutter silent prayers. Millionaires cannot buy a smooth swing. Each hole shrinks in direct proportion to the increase in the putter’s heartbeat. Choking becomes an occupational hazard for which there is little or no relief in the rule book of life. Despite this, every American and European golfer wants to make the Ryder Cup Team, and every golf fan wants to watch it.”

Author Colin M. Jarman