Inverness Club

Inverness was founded in 1903, when many of Toledo's wealthiest citizens purchased a parcel of land and built a nine-hole golf course. The course was eventually expanded to 18 holes. In 1916, the club hired Donald Ross to construct a championship-caliber golf course, which was finished by the end of 1918. In his unpublished book, Golf Has Never Failed Me, Ross discussed the design of Inverness and only six other courses, out of the hundreds he designed.

Before 1920 in the United States, golf professionals were prohibited from entering the clubhouse, as they were once seen as little more than servants to their patron members of the country club. As professional golf tournaments began to appear in the early part of the 20th century, the visiting pros were treated the same as the home pros.[2]

By 1920, attitudes had begun to change. Sylvanus Pierre Jermain, considered "the father of public golf in Toledo",[3] lobbied the USGA and the members of Inverness to agree to allowing all players, including pros, into the clubhouse at the upcoming 1920 U.S. Open. Both parties agreed, and Inverness thus became the first golf club in the U.S. to allow pros in the clubhouse.

As a gift for the boldness and generosity Inverness had shown, Walter Hagen gathered other professional golfers when the U.S. Open returned to Inverness in 1931 so that a gift could be purchased for the club.[4] Together they purchased a grandfather clock for the club house which is still housed there today. On the brass plate of the clock, this inscription was written:

God measures men by what they are

Not by what they in wealth possess

This vibrant message chimes afar

The voice of Inverness

Byron Nelson was the head professional at Inverness Club from 1940 to 1944. He considered Inverness his home course and credits his time there for his record breaking performance, winning 18 of 35 PGA tournaments including 11 in a row, in 1945. Lloyd Gullickson became the head professional at Inverness Club, succeeding Nelson. Gullickson remained at Inverness as the head professional until his retirement in 1965.[5] Herman Lang, who was the first assistant to Nelson in 1941, was the head pro from 1966-1980.

In preparation for championships, the course has been renovated four times. In 2016, Inverness Club engaged golf course architect, Andrew Green, who carefully researched original drawings and historic photography to restore the artistry of Donald Ross's design. In addition, Green modernized tee boxes and bunkering systems that are fitting to today's championship courses. Green's design has restored Ross’s classic championship design, with Inverness Club now playing over 7,700 yards.

Inverness was ranked #47 on Golfweek Magazine's America's Top 200 Classic Courses and #88 by Golf Digest.

Winners of major tournaments held at Inverness Club include:

U.S. Open

• 1920 – Ted Ray
• 1931 – Billy Burke (holds records: winning score 489, 144 holes)
• 1957 – Dick Mayer
• 1979 – Hale Irwin

U.S. Amateur

• 1973 – Craig Stadler

PGA Championship

• 1986 – Bob Tway
• 1993 – Paul Azinger

U.S. Senior Open

• 2003 – Bruce Lietzke
• 2011 – Olin Browne

U.S. Junior Amateur

• 2019 – Preston Summerhays

Future championships

• 2021 Solheim Cup

The club also hosted the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in 1944 and 2009.

• Inverness Club