My only play at Riviera was with John Bernhardt on 3/25/04. We played the blue tees (#16 was to the temporary green at 150 yards), and I shot 80. We had a perfect day with a normal west wind at around 10 mph.
On the holes I noted, John hit a perfect driver to #4, low hook just short to the right edge of the green. I was looking for it to kick left toward the flag (left side of the green) as a normal Redan should. Instead, his ball ended up a couple steps forward and in the light rough from where it hit.
On 10, I hit my drive left, hit a half SW barely on to a middle L pin, and it rolled all the way over onto the fringe. We had time afterwards to go back and tried to hit the chip and run to no avail (the kikuyu ate it up).
On 18, the drive ends up within a step or two of its pitch mark, and the left side bank off the green can't be used as a means to stop and bank a shot. I tried a couple of shots from the rough, and every time the ball hist stuck. As you know, the pitch from there is impossible to knock close.
You are right about kikuyu, but it did not bother me nearly as much at LACC, Bel-Air, or Torrey Pines. I have less of a problem with it as rough than I do on the fairways and surrounding the greens. Nevertheless, playing Riviera even with the most lush kikuyu is a joy and privilige. I am still upset at our young, powerful friend Jon Spaulding for never inviting me out there (though he did take me to Meadowlark- 5600 yards- in Huntington Beach).
Damned E-Mail! I will send you my address immediately.
Cheers!