Inverness Club

There are certain clubs in the United States that exude championship DNA. How many there are is debatable. What’s not is that Inverness is in that number.

As host to four U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships among numerous other important championships, Inverness goes to great lengths to insure not a single blade of grass is out of place, and not a single group is off the pace.

This original Donald Ross has been brought back to life by Andrew Green, who unlocked the vintage presentation of the course that was muddled by the Fazios in the 1970s.

The routing is interesting in that the front nine plays around the outer ring of the property, before the back nine marches back and forth in parkland fashion. It makes great use of a glacially-carved ravine that players must traverse throughout.

Classic bunkering creates raised profiles around greens, resulting in depth perception miscalculations.

I thought the course was very fair off the tee. You could take advantage of strategic slots if you wanted to take on a little extra risk. Make no mistake, however, this is a second shot golf course. Finding the green, and sometimes the correct side, goes a long way toward a clean card. The miss here is always short because there is usually an open Avenue to the green. Pitching or putting up into pins are incredibly easier to navigate than trying to chip and pitch from the sides or from behind.

Just make sure you keep pace - and not with the group in front of you. That is irrelevant. Club policy mandates a four-hour round. You are on the clock from the first tee and the staff will not hesitate to drive out and give you a warning. The only negative of the day is that I have never felt so conscious about pace, and I’m not slow. As a result, I couldn’t ever really get comfortable over the ball. So while I didn’t play terrific, the experience was amazing, and I’m grateful to have had it.

I suspect more major championships are in line for Inverness. It would be a shame if that’s not the case.

This is worth playing for the history of the club alone.

The Inverness Club has history spilling from its seams, which are tight and barely noticeable. Its ostentatious clubhouse is decorated with a century of golf memorabilia and filled with flourishes around every corner. The staff is incredibly gregarious and treats everyone like royalty. Glimpses of the course appear on the walk to the pro shop, creating a little excitement before stepping on the first tee. It’s as if you’ve left Toledo and stepped into a fantasy where the world operates differently. ⁠⁠

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The term “championship golf course” has been thrown around to the point of being diluted, but the Inverness Club has one that fits the bill. It looks like the club could host a major golf tournament tomorrow. It’s a great test of skill and mental stamina. If you don’t play the holes as intended, you can expect some form of punishment in varying degrees of severity. The greens aren’t ridiculously severe, but their subtleties ensure your heart rate never dips. ⁠⁠

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It was eerily peaceful being on the course before the first group, wandering among the lingering skeleton of the Solheim Cup. The tents and stands forced a sense of perspective that was foreign to me. Despite recently hosting enough people to pack Michigan Stadium, every square inch of the course was precise and manicured exactingly. I can’t even imagine how complicated the maintenance battle plan is. It was a joy knowing the feel of the turf wouldn’t differ from swing to swing; pristine is an understatement. ⁠⁠

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In some ways, I think the club takes itself a little too seriously; in others, it exceeds some very lofty expectations. The details mentioned above make it a little less welcoming than other private clubs I’ve visited. There were opportunities for creative golf shots, but I wish fun was a more prominent focus. Not every golf course needs to cater to my needs or desires, but I’m not used to this level of uptight. Nevertheless, it’s one of the very best golf courses I’ve played and an exhilarating adventure. Walking in the footsteps of champions is not something everyone can say they’ve done.

I had the chance to experience Inverness prior to the Solheim Cup. From that impression, this course is going to be a lot of fun to watch, both in person and on TV. There are quite a few spots on the course where you can watch a lot of action. If I was there, I would try and grab a grandstand behind the 10th green, where there are other tees and greens very close.

The course, wow, pretty special, and tactical. I played Oakland Hills South a week before (quite a heater, I know), so it was cool to see how the courses contrast following their respective renovations. Inverness' land is a lot different with some bowls and sharp falloffs in the fairway that lead down to a small creek on both nines. I found the fairway angles tougher to hit here vs. Oakland Hills and the greens are smaller with less going on, generally speaking.

Loved the 18th hole even though i butchered it. Don't let the yardage fool you and try and hit the fairway!

They love their plaques and history here, from Byron Nelson to the Hinkle Tree and a really funny plaque next to the halfway house designating an awful tee shot from a member.

For a club of such high regard I was surprised how mediocre our forecaddies were. Not much hustle in either one and the seemed to just chat with each other more than give us tips on the course.. I felt very welcome in the Oakland Hills locker room by the members and staff whereas at Inverness they kinda shooed us out when we walked in.

In a nutshell, I preferred the total package at Oakland Hills but I could see how Inverness might be a better test post-reno for the game's best players. Both clubs really, really want a men's major again and I'll be eager to see who is awarded one first.

After the Andrew Green restoration this course once again has a Golden Age feel. The restored holes feel like the have always been a part of the course.

The layout uses the creek to perfection and creates a lot of elevation change and course character. The bold Ross greens were quite difficult, but ahoy to putt on.

If given the opportunity make sure to take it.