Inverness

[Will Haskett]

I recently covered the NCAA Men's Championships at Inverness and got the treat of playing the course in championship setup and was again reminded about how good (and enjoyable) an "old" golf course can be compared to the new designs, plus how much I love Donald Ross designs.

I came on here hoping to find a review and saw that it wasn't in the course listing or in the plans of the next 50. Perhaps I missed something. For a course that is ranked oftentimes in the top 100, I wondered a bit about its perception. I'm sure it's been discussed on here, but thought I would bring it up for those who have played.

[Matt_Ward]

Will:

Inverness is a solid layout that has been hurt by a lack of exposure since the time Azinger won the PGA there in '93. Much has happened with major sites since that time.

It also hurts Inverness that OH/S steals plenty of its thunder since the greater Detroit area is so nearby.

I like the range of par-4 holes there but I have never fully embraced the Fazio dimension or the par-5 and par-3 holes there.

Clearly, in hosting the NCAA Championships the club is clearly looking to raise its profile again.

[Will Haskett]

Trying to lengthen that course to meet the strength of the modern game has obviosuly hurt some of the old charm, which is evident in some par 4s (and a par 5) that doglegs to a point where the sight-lines from the tee shot are hurt compared to what it likely once was. However, it's a good piece of land for a course and the green complexes are wonderful, and tiny. Grow the rough up around them, and you can still test the best.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Matt, I agree that the Fazio holes just don't fit in.  It also has one of the best par fours in the state, I believe it is number seven.

What I didn't like were all the straight par fours.  I thought the routing could have been more imaginative. All the parallel holes made some of the par fours similar to each other.
That being said, it is worthy of being a major tournament site.

[Brian Joines]

I have a friend that played there last weekend. He mentioned that the course has gone through a tree removal program over the past few years, removing as many as 500 tress on the property over a couple years.

Does anyone have more information on this project or some pictures to see how it looks currently?

[mike_beene]

Does any other course of note have as much up and back routing?

[Ed Oden]

Anyone have pictures?

[David Whitmer]

The front nine has no parallel holes, but the back nine has many parallel holes...it reminds me of Firestone South in that regard. I have played Inverness many times, and found it to be a solid, good test of golf. There is nothing tricky about it; everything is pretty much right in front of you. As Will said, the greens are tiny, which emphasizes not only the need for a good iron game, but the need for a good short game.

The history of the place is what makes it special for me. I believe Byron Nelson was the pro there...if I'm correct, that's quite a feather in their cap. I also believe it was the scene of Jack Nicklaus's first ever U.S. Open, and one of Bobby Jones's first Opens, where he was paired with Harry Vardon. Throw in Tway's famous bunker shot, and it's hard not to feel like you're at a place that has contributed much to the history of American golf.