🏆The Presidents Cup at Medinah: Tips for Families (We Went!)

UPDATE: We Went! Our Family's Day at the Presidents Cup Practice Rounds

We spent the day at the Presidents Cup practice rounds, and it was every bit as fun as we'd hoped! There were plenty of families out on the course and lots of options for them, so if you've been wondering whether this event is kid-friendly, the answer is a big YES. Here's what we learned so your family's day goes smoothly:

• Getting there: The shuttle was a fun part of the adventure for our kids. There are no car seats, so plan to hold little ones on your lap.
• Getting around: Pull up the interactive map on your phone. It makes finding your way so much easier. The grounds are split into "neighborhoods" named after Chicago neighborhoods, and that's where you'll find concessions and spots to rest.
• Clear bag = lifesaver: We brought a clear bag with snacks and the kids' water bottles, and it was so worth it. Water stations sit near the food in each neighborhood for easy refills.
• Food and drinks: You'll find the classic concession favorites, plus some Chicagoland restaurants and a few cocktail lounges for the grown-ups.
• Little ones: The family care center has multiple changing stations and mothers' rooms. Even the bathrooms are the nicer portable restrooms, a small thing that makes a big difference with kids!
• Wear your walking shoes: There's a lot of ground to cover. Some families brought strollers for tired legs, and by the end of the day we were doing piggyback rides.
• Sun safety: First aid stations are located in each neighborhood near the food, and there's even an automatic sunscreen machine. We forgot ours, so this was a win! Remember, you can still burn on a cloudy day.
• Clear your phone first: There are SO many photo ops, from giant trophies to oversized golf balls. Learn from me and don't show up with "manage storage" notifications already popping up!
• The fan shop: There are so many options that it will be hard to say no. Consider yourself warned. 😉
• Friendly faces: Volunteers are everywhere to point you in the right direction.

One last thing: if you try the fan experience that snaps your photo and places you with the Cup or the crowd, let me know how yours turns out! The AI mixed up our family's faces, and my daughter now has my husband's beard. 😂 We're still laughing about it.

We're so proud that such a cool event is happening right in our neighborhood. Are you going? Tell us your favorite moment!

Keep reading below for tickets, dates, and all the details.

🏆 What Exactly Is the Presidents Cup?

Think of it as golf's version of a World Cup: Team USA vs. an International Team, going head-to-head in match play for national pride — there's no prize money on the line, just the trophy and bragging rights. It only happens once every two years, and 2026 marks the very first time it's ever been played in Chicagoland. The action runs Tuesday, September 22 through Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Medinah Country Club's legendary Course No. 3 — the same course that hosted the 2012 Ryder Cup and multiple U.S. Opens. Competition days are Thursday–Sunday, with practice rounds and opening festivities Tuesday and Wednesday.

🎟️ Where to Buy Tickets

Tickets are on sale now directly through PresidentsCup.com, with official resale exclusively through Ticketmaster. Single-day grounds tickets are available for any day of the week, Tuesday practice rounds through Sunday singles (limit of 6 tickets per transaction). Prices start around $50 for practice-round days and climb from there for competition days and hospitality upgrades.

A friendly heads-up: buy only from PresidentsCup.com or the verified Ticketmaster exchange. Anything else — Facebook resale groups, random links — is a gamble the PGA Tour won't help you out of.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Best Part: Kids Get In Free

Here's the detail that makes this an actual family event and not just a bucket-list item for the golf lover in your house: two kids ages 15 and under get FREE grounds admission with every ticketed adult — no pre-registration required. That means a family of four (two adults, two kids under 15) can experience one of the biggest sporting events in the world for the price of two tickets. This is genuinely rare for an event at this level, so take advantage of it.

🎈 Family & Kids' Activities On-Site

We're Checking presidentscup.com/faq daily, to see what kind of programming is going on out there.

👕 What Should Everyone Wear?

You're walking a golf course for hours, likely in late-September Chicago weather that could swing from 50°F mornings to 75°F afternoons. Here's the family game plan:

• Shoes are everything. Comfortable, broken-in sneakers for everyone — you'll easily walk several miles following the action. Skip sandals for the kids.
• Layers, layers, layers. A light jacket or pullover that can tie around a waist by afternoon.
• Hats and sunscreen — you're out in open fairways with little shade for long stretches.
• Neutral, collared, or golf-casual tends to be the vibe (no need for anything fancy, but skip graphic tees with anything questionable — some hospitality venues do have dress codes).
• Small backpack or crossbody bag — check the bag policy on presidentscup.com before you go, as most PGA Tour events restrict bag size.
• Portable phone charger — you will be taking a lot of pictures.

I'm actually pulling together a Pinterest board of family outfit ideas for a PGA Tour event — comfortable-but-cute looks for moms, dads, and kids — so keep an eye on our Pinterest page for that soon!

🤫 Golf Etiquette 101 for Kids (and Honestly, All of Us)

A golf tournament is a different animal than a football game or a concert — the crowd goes dead silent the second a player is over the ball. A few ground rules to walk through with your kids before you go:

• Quiet during the swing. No talking, whispering, or crinkling snack wrappers while a player is addressing the ball. Practice a "freeze and hush" game with younger kids beforehand — it actually works.
• No running or chasing near the ropes. These are working fairways with real hazards, real crowds, and real golf balls flying.
• Phones on silent, always. A ringtone mid-swing will earn some very pointed stares.
• Hold hands or stay close in transition areas — crowds moving between holes can get tight and shuffle-y fast.
• Cheer big, but at the right time — after the shot, not during. Kids actually love learning this "wait for it" rhythm.
• Plan bathroom and snack breaks around hole transitions rather than mid-hole, since crowds can make moving around difficult once a group is playing through.

Set expectations in the car on the way there and most kids do great — this crowd tends to be family-friendly and patient with little ones learning the ropes (pun intended).

📍 Make It a Trip, Not Just a Tournament

If you're traveling in from out of town, you've landed in one of the best pockets of family-friendly Chicagoland — and I happen to know it pretty well. A few things to add to your trip:

Check our calendar. While you're here, browse the Macaroni KID Schaumburg events calendar — there's a good chance we'll have fall festivals, family activities, and local happenings the same week that are worth building into your trip.