I cannot say enough about this course. Its one of my favorite in the Game. Riviera is a study of Golf Archtecture and beyond. (No wonder Lou Duran doesn't get it!
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One thing for sure, almost every shot is a thrilling one and I have a hard time thinking of one shot that isn't. Each shot there is equally as important as the next if your ever planning on going low there.
1-Thrilling drive; well placed 2nd which has to cross the arroyo; pitch onto the green for us mere mortals and then putt on one of the better bommerangs in the game.
2-The importance of hitting a BIG drive on this hole is imperative. The second shot is equally as daunting and then when you reach the green, you have to figure out the break. One of the trickiest greens on the course.
3-Simplistic Golf Strategy on the 3rd--Go for the left side so you have a better angle to get into the green; if not, playing it as a three shot hole will get you par; test the bunkers and we might see you in a week. That bunker on the right is HUGE in scale!
4-Personally, I think the Redan feature can still be used to a green that I liken to base jumping. A magnificent golf hole--my 2nd favorite on the course, only because of #10 is that good.
5-A hole that is has evolved into one of the more definitve hole out there. The tee shot has to hug the left side to have the best angle going into the green. If your right, you bring into play that huge knob or mound and then the shot becomes totally blind to the green. Shorter players have to avoid ending up with you second on the slope--a certain death. In the old days, you could try to take a shot over that knob and watch it kick down, Redan-style to the green. Just over the pinnacle of that knob is gunk and grunge you could only imagine, and then slanting fairway to the pin. A phenominal putting surface that has you feeling your going to slip-off and land on the sixth tee.
6-Quirk at its finest--the famed 6th, easily one of the most focal holes at Riviera. Certainly one of the more strategic greens in the game.
7-Fazio/Marzaltov's bunker, while being totally out of tune and out of character with Riviera, still works for this hole until you get to the ugly and horrible shaping and whale's tail at its end. What were they thinking? They have one of the best aerial photos of all-time in the clubhouse on the wall telling them what it looked like! The hole is still phenominal though. one tough little bugger!
8-There is absolutely no reason for anyone to play to the right side of this alternative fairway. You don't belong at Riviera if you do. It's sacralige to do so. Fazio/Marzaltov's green extension and crown don't belong here, but I will ask this, WHY doesn't Fazio do more of those crowns on his ORIGINAL golf courses?
9-Once again, basic golf strategy 101, just do whatever it takes to get on the green and get down and in the cup, ASAP. Oustanding green tucked-away in a little shallow cove.
10-
Look-up the dictionary, the definition of a world class golf hole and the 10th will be there everytime. One of the 18 GREATEST GOLF HOLES IN THE WORLD. (Maybe even in the Top 3)
11-The second hole in a row where the importance to score and score as soon as possible, because five of the next seven holes are as demanding as it gets, the 11th can and will take you apart. Important to see just exactly how the green sets, as well as observe all of those that putt before you. This green is a sneak!
I'll do the rest later. Right now, I'm going to bed! But before I do, how come Rees Jones and Tom Fazio can't design golf courses like this?