On February 23, 1903, six Toledoans led by S.P. Jermain, gathered to sign the letter of incorporation for the Inverness Club.
Jermain was unquestionably the father of golf in Toledo, helping to bring the game of golf to the region in 1899 with his design of Ottawa Park (the oldest public course west of New York City). Shortly after, Jermain founded Inverness Club in 1903 and was named its first President. Impressively, he is credited with conceptualizing and developing an international match-play competition soon after the 1920 National Open, what is now known as the Ryder Cup.
A Time of Excitement and Prosperity
The Toledo Zoo was founded in 1900, and the Toledo Museum of Art, in 1901. From 1900 to 1920, the population of the United States and Ohio grew about 38%. During that same period, Toledo’s population grew over 85%, to 243,000. Late in the 19th century, club sports were evolving into professional sports. Golf was introduced to the US in the late 1880s, and its popularity exploded within only a few decades. In 1916, Inverness Club hired Donald Ross, one of the most famous and prolific designer of his time, to design an eighteen-hole championship layout. Today, the story of championship golf in America could not be told without Ross’s architectural influence.
The Completion of the Championship Course
The championship course was completed in the fall of 1918. After its completion, Inverness successfully hosted an Ohio Open in 1919. This new championship test was met with immediate approval and quickly led to an invitation to host the 1920 National Open, now referred to as the U.S. Open. This would be the first of four Opens (1920, 1931, 1957, 1979) that Inverness Club hosted, along with two of the most dramatic PGA Championships (1986, 1993) in history. The 1920 National Open was only the second professional major-sport championship hosted in Ohio up to that point.
Inverness Club: The Gateway to Professional Golf’s Western Expansion
Before 1937, no club located outside of the original thirteen colonies had hosted multiple U.S. Open Championships other than Inverness Club and the Chicago Golf Club. From the 1920 National (U.S.) Open to the 2021 Solheim Cup, Inverness Club has hosted championships over a 101-year span. Take a Tour of Inverness Club’s Major Championships. The grounds and clubhouse of Inverness Club are truly a national treasure in professional sports..
God measures men by what they areNot by what they in wealth possessThis vibrant message chimes afarThe voice of Inverness
Statement of Appreciation
from the 1920 U.S. Open Professionals
A Timeless Addition to Inverness Club
The participants in the 1920 National (U.S.) Open were so appreciative to the members of Inverness Club for opening their clubhouse doors, they presented the club a cathedral clock with the above inscription. For the first time in the history of professional golf, participants were welcomed into the member’s clubhouse; a gesture that has been adopted by every hosting club since.
Reviving the Fairways
In 2016 and once again in 2024, 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. With much consideration to the modern game, Green added length and modified bunkering while paying homage to original architectural drawings with expansion of green complexes to their original intent and shape. Green’s design has restored Ross’s championship majesty, with Inverness Club now playing over 7,700 yards.
Concordia et Fidelitas
The crest of Inverness Club is inscribed with the Latin words, “Concordia et Fidelitas,” which is translated to “Harmony and Faithfulness.” Members of generations past, as well as those today, are committed to service and charity.
We are very proud of Toledo and the people who help make this community a championship city. We will be forever grateful to those who came before us. Even with such a rich history, we believe the best is yet to come for both Inverness Club and Toledo.