1931 U.S. Open Billy Burke 292
1957 U.S.Open Dick Mayer 282
1973 U.S. Amateur Craig Stadler
1979 U.S. Open Hale Irwin 284
1986 PGA Championship Bob Tway 276
1993 PGA Championship Paul Azinger 272
2003 U.S. Senior Open Bruce Lietzke 277
2011 U.S. Senior Open Olin Browne 269
For the golf aficionado, a round at Inverness is highly anticipated. The history associated with this prestigious club is matched by very few others in America. Host of the upcoming 2019 U.S, Junior Amateur and the 2021 Solheim Cup, Inverness has positioned itself for a future men’s major championship.
(The first and tenth holes share a tee box with a cluster of bunkers separating the fairways...
...the first green is atop the ridge above the valley. It’s a classic Donald Ross opening hole.)
Inverness occupies a terrific piece of property. Two valleys cut across with the one nearest the clubhouse having the biggest impact. Ross routed seven holes across it, placing the greens in different places so that it affects shots in a variety of ways. The valley on the opposite side of the property houses two of the best holes at Inverness, the sixth and seventh.
(Inverness is not afraid to tinker with the course. The fourth is a new hole with a sinuous creek sliding down the left before crossing the fairway...
...a good drive leaves this view and uphill approach. The green has two tiers with the lower level on the left. It’s very different in nature to the other greens. It’ll be interesting to see how it’s received by members and other gca buffs.)
Besides the routing, Inverness is praised for having wonderful greens. The slopes and ridges found throughout offer a magnitude of pin placements. The bunkering is awesome and allows the superintendent the flexibility to tuck the pin whenever the challenge needs to be increased.
(The sixth is a fantastic par four! A good drive is a must to have any chance to hold this green that sits on the plateau above the valley. It has a false front and slopes front right to back left. Any ball hit too aggressively can go long.)
(The all world seventh is the number one handicapped hole. The way it positions around the hill on the left gives it a dogleg appearance. The sinuous creek again weaves it’s way into action forcing players to carry the drive to the right side of the fairway or fading it off the left rough...
...the green sits uphill with a forward pitch and left to right slope. It’s the only hole at Inverness without a bunker.)
Inverness has an unusual set of holes. There’s only two par 5s against three par 3s. This adds up to thirteen par 4s! They are a varied group as long par fours are mixed in with short par fours. One must be able to hit shots with every club in the bag.
(The tenth green is artfully placed down in the valley with the hazard just short of the putting surface. It’s the smallest green on the course. I particularly like the wall of rough.)
(This pic of eleventh hole shows the beauty of the bunkering at Inverness. Also note how the fairway grades into the green. Front pin positions can be gained by hitting several yards short and bouncing on.)
(The par five thirteenth offers golfers a chance to get a stroke back but the undulating fairway coupled with the green elevated atop the plateau can make this a tough hole to birdie. The hazard in middle of pic can be a real nuance especially if one has to lay up to it. Tillinghast designed this green for the 1931 U.S. Open.)
The last five holes are affectionately called “Murderers’ Row”. The key to any good round is to play them well. These five par fours have had such an impact on major championships throughout the years. Golfers must be able to place their drives and be accurate with their approaches. Being below the hole is crucial.
(The fifteenth hole drops down to the green. The putting surface slopes hard toward the front. The view of the eighteenth can be had as one walks to sixteen tee.)
(Seventeen doglegs left with trees and sand guarding the left, and a severe drop off for those running through the fairway. Inverness rewards straight hitters who can place their ball off the tee. It’s no wonder Greg Norman challenged in both ‘86 and ‘93.)
(The eighteenth green is a small target surrounded by bunkers. It has seen its share of history as the best players have all challenged for a birdie three. The green is severely sloped and one must shape his shot to get a chance at three.)
Inverness has a good chance at hosting a U.S. Open in the near future. The remodel added plenty of extra yardage and the course now plays at a stout 7,563 yards from the tips. With two big time events in the next few years, it only makes sense that the USGA comes to the Midwest sometime in the late 2020s.
(The twelfth is the shortest hole on the course, but the green is surrounded by a necklace of bunkers. They hide the putting surface, adding a bit of uncertainty to the tee shot.)
Inverness is one of the must play courses in Ohio. It’s a a great experience on both an architectural and historical level. I give Inverness an 8 (excellent)(worth a weekend visit).
#44 TOP 100 USA (Golf Magazine)
#98 TOP 100 WORLD (GolfMagazine)
#89 TOP 100 USA (Golf Digest)
#179 TOP 100 WORLD (Golf Digest)
#44 TOP 100 USA CLASSIC (Golfweek)
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