Recently I had the wonderful chance to play Riviera CC. Going into the round, I had high expectations, based on what I had seen on television and heard of the course.
Riviera blew away all my expectations.
Looking down at the broad expanse that makes out the first two holes, and to the right where the rest of the course is laid out before your eyes, left me in awe. What a view. The scale of the place was far more grand and magnificent then I had ever imagined. Looking down at number ten was probably my favorite sight and my most vived memory of staring down at the course. It blew me away, despite all I had heard about the hole. The bunkers large, the hole very spacious, the green a sliver, and just incredible. The view from up by the pro shop, above the course, just makes you run to the first tee.
On the course, there were no weak holes. If you asked me about the worst hole on the course, I couldn't do it, because there is no such thing. Instead each hole has it's own character, each hole inspires you to the next one. Even putting out on my favorite holes (4, 6, and 10), I was not let down by the following hole. Everything was top notch and fantastic. The diversity of the holes is unmatched and I loved how so many holes required different shots, off the tee and around the green and from the fairway.
The fourth hole is perhaps the best par-3 I have ever seen. Stepping on that tee, and see what lies in front of you, it's so intimidating yet at the same time I have never looked forward to a challenge so much. In the same respect, I think that's the first time I've hit driver on a par-3 hole. Into the wind, it played long!! I love how the slope right would kick your ball toward the green, however if it was not struck perfectly there is the risk of winding up in the right bunker, or short in the greenside bunker. If the tee shot doesn't get far enough , it may end up on the hill leaving a touchy recovery shot that can be played with essentially any club in the bag. The hole is just so diabolical. It's not often you have to really think about what club to hit from 25 or 30 yards out.
The sixth hole presented one of the most unique and well designed greens I have ever seen. With the pin on the right side of the green, I pulled my tee shot in equal distance with the bunker, on the left (opposite side). I had a putt that I had to go around a bunker, yet the contours of the green made it manageable, though the putt required lots of precision and accuracy. This, much like the fourth, was diabolical in that the tee shot has to be so precise because of that lone bunker in the middle of the green. The contours allow for some of the most fun recovery shots, requiring lots of thought and creativity. What a hole. Oh, BTW, I two putted.
The tenth hole has been discussed ad nauseum and as such I don't want to go on too much about it but it was as fantastic and even better then people say. It really is a hole that has to bee seen to be believed. That green, or sliver of tightly mown grass, whatever you want to call, is incredibly unique and the tiniest I have ever seen. After playing Pebble, I wasn't sure if that was possible, but the tenth green is just flat out miniscule. What a wonderful, wonderful golf hole.
I'd like to mention #7 as one of my favorite holes not often talked about. I loved how the bunkers required precision off the tee in order to gain the best angle into the green. The green is tiny and can be approached many ways. I loved how the running approach was an option as into the wind it played somewhat long. Just a fun hole, not often mentioned, that I thought was wonderful and deserved mention as one of my personal favorites on the course.
The bunkering was some of the best I have ever seen. Granted, I have not seen nearly as much as most of you guys but I know good bunkering when I see it. There was not one bunker on the entire course that did not serve a legitimate purpose. Off the tee, bunkers guarded the best angle into the greens and required ultimate precision to gain an advantage on the given hole. The greenside bunkers complemented the fairway bunkers and were real brutes. They scramed to be stayed away from. They were deep, and left difficult recoveries, just as bunkers should. Though this might seem like a redudant opinion, I thought the bunkering on the tenth was among the best on the course. The bunkers presented a challenge for every shot played, even the five yard greenside bunker shot. Just fantastic.
The greens were full of contour and were lots of fun. I have never encountered a more fun and diverse set of greens. Some greens were subtle, like 16, and some were wild and full of fun, like the already mentioned sixth. I loved the diversity of green shapes and sizes as well. The boomerang on the first, the redan like fourth, the reverse biarritx fifteenth - it was all great. The greens also placed a premium on approaches, a good thing, as one has to pay extra attention so as not to get above the hole. They are fast!
The scale of the entire course was far more grand then I had ever imagined. The corridors for holes were huge. There were big, wide expanses between holes and not once did I ever feel cramped or anything close to it on the entire golf course. The fairways were a lot bigger than I had pictured as well. Everything was just big. The bunkers especially. Huge, deep, wild, and fun. And looking down at the course from the clubhouse. The scale of the entire course was enormous, and that surprised me. It was really cool.
I think the biggest single feature on the course that shocked me was the hill on the finishing hole. It's huge, and I definitely did not expect that. It must have been some forty feet, just a monster. I remember walking up that hill, looking back down from the top, and just thinking wow.
Riviera was quite an experience. The hospitality of the staff, members, and the ambiance and atmosphere of the place made it a one of a kind experience. The golf course was great, and as mentioned, exceeded my expectations in every way.
If you ever get the chance to play this gem, do so and be prepared - its wonderful!
Cheers,
Jordan