I find myself influenced by the JK's assessment of the 12th holes. I was going to award this to Sand Hills, but am now recosnidering.
1. The 12th hole at Riviera does have a fine greensite, plus a beautifully situated sycamore tree, perfect for the uber cool mega-star who sihes to to hang out and sip whiskey from his favorite flask.
2. Both 12th holes feature a swale short of the green. Riviera's swale requires a greater carry distance to reach the green, which is very steeply sloped from back right to short right.
3. The driving requirements are interesting here. The 12th hole at Riviera is a dogleg right with ground that slopes left, which strongly encourages a fade. The 12th fairway at Sand Hills is wide and complex, with a large swale about 60-120 yards short of the center of the green. At Sand Hills, the percentage play is to lay up short of the swale to avoid uphill or downhill lies on the second shot.
4. The 12th green at Sand Hills is very gentle. The right greenside bunker is enormous, and a thing of great beauty. Gene Greco once mentioned that he and Neil Regan spent a little time around the green, and decided that some putts were unreadable, the breaks being so subtle and nuanced. Is that a good thing?
5. The 12th hole at Riviera is quite tough, while the 12th at Sand Hills is perhaps the easiest hole on the back nine.
6. Neither 12th hole was among the memorable holes on the course, so I looked at some pictures of each to familiarize myself with the subjects.
The uphill approach at Sand Hills #11:
Just one of eighteen beautiful holes, the subtle 12th green and surrounds at Sand Hills:
I would have posted a hole layout of Riviera #12 from the website, but can't remember my photobucket password.
Gee, tough call. What's more important? Two tough shots, faded tee shot demanded, to a tough little green, or wide, with lots of options off the tee, to a very flat greensite with miniscule breaks?
I changed my mind. Sand Hills #12 is better.
All square.