Course Review: Riviera Country Club

The Riviera Country Club, this week's PGA Tour venue for the Northern Trust Open, can boast one of the USA's truly iconic parkland golf courses.

Designed by George Thomas and built in the Pacific Palisades of Los Angeles some 90 years ago, it has been the venue for one US Open, two US PGA Championships and one Senior US Open.

It has also long been a regular PGA Tour stop, at one time for the LA Open but currently for the Northern Trust Open, and is set to host the US Amateur in 2017.

Some of the World's greatest golfers have won here, including Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson, and a whole host of Hollywood celebrities including Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Dean Martin, have, as members, regularly graced its fairways.

It has been said that it was on this course, which has no water hazards, but many strategically placed bunkers, that Howard Hughes managed to cut his handicap down to an impressive four before he became a recluse.

Ben Hogan, who won his first US Open at the Riviera in 1948, once remarked, “Some of my most pleasant memories and thoughts are of this wonderful club and magnificent golf course.”

The course is a par 71 that can be lengthened from 7,013 yards to 7,279 yards from the back tees for tour play. 

With its greens turfed with bent grass and its fairways with kikuyu, it is 6,531 yards (5,972m) from the middle tees, and 5,907 yards (5,401m) from the forward tees.

The course record for competitive play is a 10-under par 61 posted by Ted Tryba in 1999. The record for the lowest nine holes was the 7-under 28 shot by Andrew Magee on the front nine in the 1991 LA Open.

Like all world-class Country Clubs, Riviera offers its members and their guests the very best in practice and teaching facilities and runs both an on-course and an on-line pro-shop.

It's large and impressive clubhouse which perches on a hill overlooking the 18th green, also includes luxurious locker rooms, warm and welcoming wining and dining venues, 30 hotel rooms and up-market catering and banqueting facilities.

Tour Of The Course

To get a good idea of the course the professional will play this week, you can take a Tour of it on Riviera's official website by clicking here. (http://www.therivieracountryclub.com/club/scripts/custom/custom.asp?NS=PG&PAGECFG=COURSETOUR&DN=COURSETOUR)

If you then click on the number of the hole you want to see, you will get a graphic image of it along with a picture, all of its relevant details such as distance and handicap rating as well as a brief note on how best to play it.

Green Fees

Currently the green fee for an accompanied guest is believed to be $350 for a round, including a golf cart. It's a lot more expensive for unaccompanied guests, however. They must pay $560 per person plus $200 for an assistant pro to play with the group, plus the cost of a caddie.

Tennis

The Riviera Tennis Club, which is located on the same campus and shares many facilities with the Riviera Country Club, including its fine dining and its hotel and banquet facilities, is one of the oldest and largest tennis clubs in the Western United States. 

Founded in 1963, the RTC has more than 1,000 active members ranging in skill from international touring professionals and nationally ranked juniors to beginners and features 22 hard courts, 2 clay courts and 2 ball machine courts. It also has one of the largest tennis teaching program of any tennis club in the US. It has 14 teaching professionals and hitters available exclusively to members and their families.

Contact The Club

Street address: The Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades, California 90272

Phone: +1 310 454 6591

Membership Information: Rebecca Brunk - rbrunk@rccla.com

Meetings/Corporate Events: Tanja Janjic - tjanjic@rccla.com

Weddings/Special Events: Ana Vick - avick@rccla.com

For any feedback or ideas you are welcome to email: neville@golfweather.com.