The Riviera Country Club

No need for details, I don't think. It's The Riv. What can you say, really? Beautiful location, beautiful setting, beautiful course design and layout, the history, the legends, the challenge! They have made some changes to the course lately, as with all California courses that need to cut back on water usage, as well as the trees starting to overgrow killing the turf in the shade, even The Riv have opened up some of the bush and made it more open. The right side of #1 has been cleaned up a bit, and therefore the right side of #2, has been made to be a playable 2nd fairway. You'll notice it on TV the next time you see it. The layout is still fantastic, the clubhouse is amazing of course, and the experience cannot be beaten. Of course I will never get to play the far back tees on some of the holes, they're for the Tour and I will never be able to score well from back there anyways! If you get the chance to play it, you will be in awe.

Riviera is a classic George C. Thomas design. There are so many unique holes to get to experience. The par 3, 6th hole has a bunker in the middle of the green. You can play your shot halfway up the hill to the 7th tee and the ball will roll back down to the pin on the 6th green.

In addition to 6, you have the famous par 4, 10th hole. There is no where safe to drive your golf ball. A layup to the middle of the fairway leaves you with a narrow green to play towards with bunkers guarding all sides. You can easily go from bunker to bunker. It's a fantastic design!

The tee shot at 18 is tough because you need to the left side of the fairway that slopes left to right. That leaves you with a 200 yard cut shot to an elevated green.

Overall it's a bucket list course to play and in a beautiful setting.