The 2026 Presidents Cup runs September 22–27 at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3, bringing an international golf event to the Chicago area. For visitors who are more interested in the overall experience than the finer points of match play, there is plenty to explore: food from Chicago restaurants throughout the course, several ways to watch and socialize, and a premium hospitality experience inside Medinah’s historic clubhouse.
Here is what to know about dining, hospitality and planning a visit to the Presidents Cup.
Chicago Restaurants Bring Variety to the Course
The food program gives visitors a chance to sample dishes from nine Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants concepts during their day at Medinah. The announced lineup spans seafood, sushi, barbecue, Italian food, pizza and casual favorites.
Featured dishes include a lobster roll from RPM Seafood, a Wagyu hot dog from Gus’ Sip & Dip and hand-rolled sushi from Sushi-san. Other participating restaurants are Bub City, il Porcellino, Pizzeria Portofino, The Oakville Grill & Cellar, Summer House and Tallboy Taco. Chicago favorites Billy Goat Tavern and Sweet Baby Ray’s will also be on-site.
That range makes the dining program useful for groups whose guests may want different things from a tournament day. A visitor could choose a quick bite between viewing locations, while another could make trying several Chicago restaurants part of the experience. Specific menus, prices and outlet locations may vary, so check the on-site guide before planning your route around a particular dish.
Chicago Planner Magazine is attending a tour of the food offerings and will share a closer look at the dishes and outlets after seeing them firsthand. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram @ChicagoPlannerMag and LinkedIn for updates!
The Presidents Cup Hospitality Experience
The Presidents Cup hospitality options have different settings for watching the event, dining and spending time with guests. Options include open-air gathering places, including food and beverages, and a full day of premium services.
Captains’ Club featuring Michelob ULTRA is a shared, open-air venue with views of holes 3, 4 and 5. Its two-level sports bar setting makes it an option for visitors who want a place to gather and follow the action throughout the day. Upgraded food and beverages are available for purchase.
International Club sits above Lake Kadijah and offers views of the 9th and 11th greens and the 10th and 12th tees. This open-air hospitality venue includes local and international-themed cuisine and upgraded beverages. Some tickets may still be available, so check the current ticket listings.
The 1924 Club is the event’s signature premium hospitality experience, named for Medinah Country Club’s founding year. Located inside the clubhouse, it combines dining, drinks, entertainment and opportunities to watch the competition. It is designed for guests who want to spend much of the day in one hosted setting while still experiencing different spaces within it.
Inside the 1924 Club: Dining, Drinks and Social Spaces
The 1924 Club is more than a single dining room. Its planned spaces offer different ways to spend the day, from a morning meal to cocktails, chef-led dining and a place to follow matches on screen.
At Fireside Dining & Patio, the morning offerings include a smoothie bar, waffle station and egg station. Afternoon options include salads, themed entrées, a patio pizza oven and a smokehouse station. Guests can also look toward the practice green from the patio.
The Taittinger Champagne Lounge pairs its lounge and table seating with a raw bar and sushi. The Casbah Bar presented by Buffalo Trace Distillery features a whiskey pairing menu and a hosted whiskey and bourbon tasting. A cigar-rolling experience was described as being in development in the club overview, so visitors should confirm whether it is offered.
For a break from the course, The Camel Social turns the clubhouse’s Grand Room into a sports lounge. More than 15 large screens are planned to show Presidents Cup matches and other live sporting events, with cocktails, premium beverages, snacks and lounge seating. NetJets Landing adds a charcuterie display and a game lounge with shuffleboard and a poker table.
The Oasis Grill and Oasis Patio presented by Hendrick’s Gin feature menus with rotating items from guest chefs. Chef Jimmy Kunz of The Truffleist is scheduled for Thursday, September 24; chef David Burke for Friday, September 25; and chef Hannah Flora for Saturday, September 26. The club overview lists Burke’s planned items as a Clothesline BLT, pastrami salmon avocado toast and pork chop with clams and chorizo. Menus are subject to what is served on the day.
For event planners, the 1924 Club offers a look at how one venue can support several guest experiences without asking everyone to spend the day in the same room. Its dining stations, seated service, lounge areas, drinks programming and on-screen viewing give guests room to choose their own pace.
When to Arrive
Tournament gates open at 9 a.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. Friday, 6:30 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Hospitality venues are scheduled to open at the same time as the gates on each of those competition days.
Saturday has the earliest opening and two rounds of matches, making it the longest scheduled competition day. Sunday’s closing ceremony is planned for after the final putt. Tee times, gate times and the format of play can change, particularly if weather affects the schedule. Review the official schedule before leaving.
Getting to Medinah Country Club
Visitors have several transportation options, but parking requires advance planning. General parking passes start at $17 plus taxes and fees and must be purchased ahead of time; they are not sold on-site. The tournament has designated lots in Itasca, Glen Ellyn and Schaumburg, with shuttle rides of approximately 10 to 20 minutes to the west entrance. Parking passes are digital, so have yours ready before arriving.
For visitors coming from Chicago, Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line runs from Union Station to Medinah Station. The tournament is providing a complimentary shuttle from the station to the west entrance. Check Metra’s schedule for your travel day.
The designated rideshare pickup and drop-off point is Eaglewood Resort & Spa, 1401 Nordic Road, within walking distance of the east entrance. Visitors using Pace should check routes in advance: Routes 714 and 715 serve the College of DuPage parking location during the week, but there is no Pace service there on Saturday or Sunday. The tournament’s parking page has the latest transportation details.
Whether the plan is to sample Chicago restaurants, host guests in a hospitality club or spend most of the day walking the course, choosing food and transportation options ahead of time will leave more room to enjoy the experience at Medinah.
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