INVERNESS CLUB
Architects: Donald Ross (1919), A.W. Tillinghast (1931), Dick Wilson (1957),
George and Tom Fazio (1979), Arthur Hills (1999)
Year Opened: 1903
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Slope: 144. Rating: 75.9
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,255
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 395 Yds 10 - Par 4 363 Yds
2 - Par 4 385 Yds 11 - Par 4 378 Yds
3 - Par 3 200 Yds 12 - Par 3 172 Yds
4 - Par 4 466 Yds 13 - Par 5 516 Yds
5 - Par 4 450 Yds 14 - Par 4 480 Yds
6 - Par 3 231 Yds 15 - Par 4 468 Yds
7 - Par 4 481 Yds 16 - Par 4 409 Yds
8 - Par 5 569 Yds 17 - Par 4 470 Yds
9 - Par 4 468 Yds 18 - Par 4 354 Yds
Par 35 3,645 Yds Par 36 3,610 Yds
Key Events Held: U.S. Open (1920, 1931, 1957, 1979),
U.S. Senior Open (2003),
U.S. Amateur (1973),
PGA Championship (1986, 1993),
NCAA Division I Men's Championship (2009),
Inverness Four-Ball Invitational (1935-38, 40-42, 46-53).
Awards Won: Ranked in the top-25 of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses by
Golf Digest (since the rankings began). 17th in 2003-04.
Ranked 51st Best Course in the World by Golf Magazine.
HISTORY: When one talks about golf lore, Inverness Club and its championships
have to be brought up. Here's a course that has hosted four U.S. Opens and two
PGA Championships among other major events. Not to mention that Byron Nelson
was the club professional from 1940-45. The USGA has made six stops to
Inverness Club, including the 1920 U.S. Open won by Edward Ray, which was the
first Open for Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen. During that Open, the
professionals competing in the event were allowed access into the clubhouse
for the first time in golf history. Remembering that gesture, players of the
1931 U.S. Open took up a collection and presented the Club with a huge
cathedral chime clock on the final day of the event. The clock is still part
of the Inverness history. The 1957 championship, captured by Dick Mayer in a
playoff, was where Jack Nicklaus made his debut. The 79th U.S. Open was dubbed
"The Best Open Ever" by the USGA, as Hale Irwin hung on despite bogeys on the
final two holes for his second of three U.S. Open titles. Talk about a
dramatic finish, how about the 1986 PGA Championship that saw Bob Tway holing
out from the front bunker on the final hole to defeat Greg Norman or the 1993
PGA where Paul Azinger defeated Norman on the second playoff hole after the
"Shark" lipped out for birdie on the first extra hole. The Club was originally
founded in 1903 with nine holes designed by Bernard Nichols on 78 acres of
land purchased for $12,000. The site was selected due to its rich, sandy soil,
well-drained by a brook (Inverness Byrne) and its perfect location along a
streetcar line. Sixteen years later, famed architect Donald Ross was brought
in to transform the nine-hole layout into 18 championship-quality holes. Over
the years, some of the finest architect's have come in to tweak and lengthen
the course, such as A.W. Tillinghast, Tom Fazio and club member, Arthur Hills.
The course has been lengthened from 6,229 yards in 1930 to its present yardage
of 7,255. The clubhouse was twice destroyed by fire in 1911 and in 1918 and
has since received extensive renovations, including a major overhaul in 1999.
REVIEW: The course opens with a relatively simple par-four of just 395 yards,
with a series of bunkers guarding the entire left side of the landing area. A
three-metal is all that is needed off the tee, as the fairway runs out to only
285 yards. A severe, steep downslope, covered by rough awaits the big hitter
who tries to chew off too much. The green, just 21 yards in depth is framed by
a pair of bunkers and is well sloped. Another short par-four stands ahead, as
the second hole, 10 yards shorter than the first, is straightaway with three
bunkers guarding the landing area 277 yards out. The green is just five yards
larger than number one, but it is very undulating with sand left and right.
Don't be disappointed with back-to-back pars, that's a good score. The par-
three third presents many challenges for the player, since the putting surface
features three distinct levels, which allow for many hole positions. By the
way, a pond guards the entire right side while a bunker awaits on the bail out
side. After three somewhat easy holes, the Inverness Byrne makes its way to
you by way of the fourth hole. A classic four-par, this 466-yarder bends
slightly to the left and possesses three bunkers along the right side of the
fairway and trees left. A ball landing in the rough will have a tough time
reaching this elevated green and will flirt with the brook trying to find a
layup area. Only one bunker is needed to guard the green, as the surface is
very slick. The Byrne winds its way to the fifth hole, as it cuts across the
front of the tee and runs all along the right side of the fairway to the green
of this demanding dogleg left. Accuracy is needed off the tee, as the fairway
narrows at the landing area. Missing left is no bargain, as trees will block
our attempt to reach the green. At 29 yards, the fifth green is one of the
largest on the course, but don't be deceived, as the surface features a
hogback which slopes towards the water. Just when you thought you could take a
break, the longest par-three on the course awaits at number six. The green is
slightly elevated and is protected right by a pair of bunkers with one left of
the 26-yard deep surface. Take bogey (par if your lucky) and move on. There is
no question that the seventh is the "signature hole" at Inverness. This hole
features beauty and brawn, as the player admires from the elevated tee box.
Once again the creek crosses where the fairway begins and then winds its way
along the right side of the fairway. From the tips, a 240-yard blast is
required just to carry the creek on the right side, as the fairway bends to
the right. A series of 20 or so mounds protect the left side, as players who
miss the fairway will have to negotiate to layup. A long iron or fairway metal
will be needed just to reach the elevated surface, which slopes from back to
front. This hole is a perfect example that sand is not needed all the time, as
no bunkers adorn the hole. One of the most famous holes in golf, the par-five
eighth is next and not because of its beauty or length. During the 1979 U.S.
Open, Lon Hinkle took a shortcut from the tee, as he played down the adjacent
17th fairway in an attempt to reach the green in two. When Hinkle arrived the
following day, he found that the USGA had planted trees to the left of the tee
box, thus forcing the players to place their tee shots towards the correct
fairway. The dogleg left is the longest on the course and requires pinpoint
accuracy, as bunkers guard the corner off the tee with the creek crossing 185
yards from the green. The putting surface is elevated and protected nicely by
three difficult bunkers, as this two-tiered green is no pushover for birdie.
The ninth hole returns to the clubhouse, but provides no rest for the weary at
468 yards from the championship box. This hole was originally built as a par-
five, but has been transformed into a rugged two-shotter with a devilishly
small (24-yards) green with three large guarding bunkers.
The 10th hole shares the same bunker complex off the tee as the first, with no
less than eight traps protecting the right side of the fairway. The two holes
are similar, however the 10th green sits down at the bottom of the hill with
the front of the green protected by the Inverness Byrne. Another tiny green of
just 24 yards is guarded by three bunkers, including a little pot bunker on
the left. Similar to the second, the 11th is a straightaway par four just 378
yards in length with a very deep green. All that is needed is a three-metal
from the tee and a short iron to this narrow, but long surface. One of the
easiest greens, a birdie should be the order of the day. The shortest one-
shotter on the course, the 12th is classic Donald Ross, featuring four bunkers
shaped in a horseshoe around the green. The depth of the surface is 27 yards,
but has a myriad of humps and bumps, making putting a difficult chore. It
always seems that the 13th hole on most courses features a risk-reward type of
play. This par-five can be reached in two by the long hitter, however don't
stray because trouble lurks close by. The player must negotiate a narrow
landing area 250 yards out, that slopes to the right towards a pair of
bunkers. The second shot then must be placed over the creek, either to a
landing area just 100 yards out or towards the green and carrying to a second
plateau, elevated and just 65 yards away. The surface is miniscule at 23 yards
with a large sand bunker left, as the green slopes from back to front. Birdies
should come in bunches. The course closes with five straight par-fours, all in
varying length beginning with the monster, 480-yard 14th. The hole bends
slightly to the right with a large landing area, however don't be deceived as
trees guard the right side and a huge U-shaped bunker, some 50 yards in length
flanks the left. Another small green awaits a long iron, which many consider
to be the toughest at Inverness. Another tester, the 15th shares that same
bunker along its left side with trees and sand on the right. Missing the
fairway will require an excellent layup, as once again the brook of Inverness
awaits, just 100 yards from the green. The second smallest putting surface
features five bunkers surrounding the undulating green, which rarely allows
for a birdie. Another straight-forward hole, the 16th features an S-shaped
fairway as it winds to the green. Trees and sand flank both sides of the
fairway and after a successful tee shot, a medium to short iron is left. Don't
be deceived by the bunker short right of the green, take an extra club as the
hole is visually deceptive. The 17th requires length and more length. At 470
yards and doglegging to the left, a bomb down the left side cutting the corner
will be needed to have any chance of reaching the green. As usual, sand
protects the inside and the outside of the dogleg. The green complex provides
a natural gallery seating, as the surface sits down in a bowl, protected by
sand left and trees right and back. The green slopes drastically to the front
and if your not careful, your first putt just might slide off the surface. One
of the shorter finishing holes in championship play, the 18th is just 354
yards, but is one of the finest closers in golf. The hole requires accuracy,
an iron off the tee, to a fairly wide landing area. This will leave the player
with a short wedge to an elevated and sloping green. With the clubhouse
overlooking, the putting surface is diabolical with many slopes that fall away
to the right and back. Miss right and your in "Death Valley" and bail left and
your gobbled up by deep bunkers which sit well below the green.
As you drive through Toledo on your way to the course, you start wondering...
where is it. Not in a ritzy, glamorous area, Inverness Club is located right
off the road, with no long driveway flanked by trees or gorgeous landscaping.
When you pull in, your surprised that the pool is in the front of the
clubhouse and that the driving range features a huge net to the right guarding
apartment buildings. However, that is where the averageness ends. The course
features beautifully contoured, tiny greens with no putting surface over 30
yards in depth. The holes are sculptured up and down and around sand and trees
with no less than nine holes affected by the Inverness Byrne. The chances of
playing this course are slim and none, as play is restricted to participating
with a member. But, if the opportunity arises, treat yourself, as this is a
gem. If there are drawbacks, then it's the similarity of some of the holes and
the practice facility. The clubhouse is so memorable with its amazing history
of Opens and PGAs, that you'll spend hours inside admiring the decor. The last
five champions of events at Inverness reads like a who's who with Craig
Stadler, Hale Irwin, Bob Tway, Paul Azinger and most recently Bruce Lietzke.
The inscription on the clock reads: "God measures men by that they are. Not
what they in wealth possess. This vibrant message chimes afar. The voice of
Inverness." This course represents the finest in American golf, designed by
one of the most revered architects with beautifully sculptured and undulating
greens and immaculate conditioning. A must if given the chance.
