Whitton was born in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, his father Percy Whitton was a senior public servant. The younger Whitton took up golfing at the age of 14, joining his father in the Caulfield Golf Club (later the Metropolitan Golf Club) the next year, and winning the club championships three times.
In 1911, he began working at a wool broking firm which allowed him time off to play golf during the off-season. In 1912, he competed at The Amateur Championship in the United Kingdom, returning to England during World War I to serve with the Royal Garrison Artillery after being rejected by the Australian Imperial Force. He returned to the wool industry as a wool appraiser for the Australian government, but ended up as a general manager for the Spalding sporting goods company.
The Victorian Golf Association established the Ivo Whitton Trophy in 1960 for the lowest average stroke score in designated tournaments held each year.
In addition, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club instituted the Ivo Whitton Cup in Whitton"s memory. One of the streets in Kambah, a suburb of Canberra, is named Ivo Whitton Circuit.
After his death, Whitton was buried in the Cheltenham Memorial Park, Melbourne. A group of local Melbourne golfers regularly play-off in a 9-hole stroke play event for the Ivo Whitton Perpetual Trophy at Burnley Golf Course to honour his memory.
1912 Australian Open, 1925 1926 Australian Open.
1912 Australian Open, Riversdale Trophy 1913 Australian Open. Riversdale Trophy 1919 Victorian Amateur 1920 Victorian Amateur 1922 Australian Amateur, Victorian Amateur 1923 Australian Amateur, Victorian Amateur, Queensland Amateur 1924 Victorian Amateur 1925 Riversdale Trophy 1926 Australian Open, Riversdale Trophy 1928 Queensland Open 1929 Australian Open, New South Wales Amateur 1931 Australian Open.
