Fred Deichert, John Zimmers and J.J. Weaver are all Pennsylvania natives who are now working in various leadership roles at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Deichert is serving as the club’s Vice President, Zimmers as Superintendent and Weaver as Director of Golf. “The leadership at Inverness has a unified belief in what greatness is, and they have a tremendous respect and trust in our entire staff,” says Weaver, who works primarily as a Head Professional at Augusta National.

A passion for the game of golf has brought three local men together at one of the top golf courses in the country, Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, the Altoona Mirror reported.

Founded in 1903, Inverness Club has hosted four U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, a U.S. Amateur and the 2021 Solheim Cup, the Altoona Mirror reported. The club will also host the upcoming 2027 U.S. Women’s Open and 2029 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Over the past decade, three of the men helping to lead this club have bonded over their similar upbringing, the Altoona Mirror reported.

Inverness Club Vice President Fred Deichert was born and raised in Altoona, course Superintendent John Zimmers is from Tyrone and Director of Golf, J.J. Weaver, is a Penn State University graduate who grew up in the Lancaster area, the Altoona Mirror reported.  Deichert graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1974 and began his college studies at Penn State Altoona. After graduating from PSU’s main campus four years later, Deichert’s business career led him to Toledo in 1985, where he settled and raised a family.

“I attended the 1986 PGA Championship at Inverness and fell in love with the place right away,” Deichert said. “Later, I was fortunate to become a member and eventually took on some responsibilities at the club. It’s such a wonderful place, plus you get to work with some of the best professionals in the business, like J.J. and John.”

Zimmers, one of the most highly-respected course superintendents in the country, was born and raised in the Tyrone area, the Altoona Mirror reported. He earned his stripes in the business working under legendary superintendent Paul Latshaw at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware. Zimmers later garnered rave reviews when he oversaw the opening of Sand Ridge Golf Club in Chardon, Ohio and eventually earned the top spot at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh.

While there, he helped oversee two highly successful U.S. Opens, a Women’s U.S. Open and a U.S. Amateur and was named Golf Superintendent of the Year in 2007, the Altoona Mirror reported.

After 18 successful years at Oakmont, Zimmers was named Inverness’ course superintendent in the spring of 2017.

“The membership here at Inverness is fantastic. It’s a family-oriented club that has a very strong desire to maintain a world-class, championship golf course,” Zimmers said. “Plus, you work alongside guys like [Director of Golf] J.J. Weaver, who’s the best in the business. We have an absolutely great working relationship.”

Weaver, 46, grew up near Lancaster and also graduated from Penn State University, earning a professional golf management degree with a minor in business management, the Altoona Mirror reported. An early highlight in his career was his time spent as the head professional at the Boston Golf Club, which opened in 2005.

Weaver was instrumental developing the highly successful Drive, Chip & Putt junior golf competition and came to Inverness as a teaching professional in 2014. He eventually took over the reins as the club’s Director of Golf in 2019.

After spending the summer months at Inverness, Weaver returns to spend the remainder of the year performing his primary duties as head professional at renowned Augusta National Golf Club, home of the annual Masters tournament, the Altoona Mirror reported.

“Inverness is a great place. It’s a club that has a desire to be relevant in the game of golf,” Weaver said. “The leadership at Inverness has a unified belief in what greatness is, and they have a tremendous respect and trust in our entire staff.”

Despite the seriousness of their work, these three Pennsylvania natives truly enjoy each other’s company, and their families have created a special bond over the past several years, the Altoona Mirror reported.

“It’s great being able to talk about DelGrosso’s Park or the Altoona Curve with someone else who knows all about it,” Deichert said with a smile. “Plus, J.J. and John are big Penn State football fans, so that’s always a big topic for us.”

The bond between these three men is also the result of a solid mutual respect, the Altoona Mirror reported.

“John is one of the best superintendents in the country and one of the hardest working men I know,” Weaver said. “And he really cares about the people who work for him. They’re like family to him.”

“J.J. has experienced golf at the highest level,” Zimmers reciprocated. “He gets it. We have so much respect for each other. He’s absolutely great to work with.”

The ongoing quest for greatness at Inverness only continues as the club will undergo additional course renovations and restoration under the watchful eye of course architect Andrew Green starting next year, the Altoona Mirror reported.

All the while, Deichert, Weaver and Zimmers will be closely involved in all aspects of club operations, including preparation for hosting the U.S. Women’s Open in 2027 and U.S. Amateur in 2029.