[Dave McCollum]

As someone who worked as a commercial photographer in LA, a few obvious observations.  Sycamores are about the only trees that lose their leaves in winter.  It’s a very brief window in the fall when you can find autumn color.  Smog and fires can create some amazing lighting effects.  Clear winter days after rain are sublime.  The magic hours are about the same as other locations of similar latitude.  If you  want longer magic hours, go to Alaska in June.  Once on location there we shot for 20 hours and ran out of film—300 rolls X 36 =  10,800 images.  Film?  Guess that confirms my geezer status.

[RDecker]

Chiaroscuro, Kikuyu, Barancas... Riviera is just about the coolest place on the regular tour.  If Pebble is like the Carnegie Hall of golf then Riviera is the hipster Jazz club downtown with a 5 drink minimum.

[MClutterbuck]

Riviera is very similar to Olympic Lake in that regard.

- Both courses are tree-lined with cypress, Monterey Pines & eucalyptus trees.

- A portion of both courses are routed across sloped terrain.

- The clubhouse for both courses sits on a bluff overlooking the 18th green.   

But the bunkering at Riviera is much better looking.

Really? I find the Lake course to be much darker, with many more Cypress trees and shadows, fog, and humidity unlike Riviera. I would rate Riviera well above Olympic.

[David_Tepper]

MClutteruck -

Well, I didn't say both courses were the same, just that they shared those characteristics.

When were you last on the Lake Course? There are far less trees than there used to be and the course gets much more sunlight, at least when the fog is not rolling in. No doubt there are several hundred more trees that could/should be removed.

I have been on the Lake in the late afternoon when the sun is shining (May-June & September-October). The contrast between the sunlight and shadows is striking.

DT 
 

[Bill_McBride]

I love the Riv but it is defended by narrow fairways, small greens and trees. That's not a good USGA formula for an Open venue.

The narrow fairways -25 yards wide in some places - are perfect for a US Open, except Chambers Bay.

[MClutterbuck]

MClutteruck -

Well, I didn't say both courses were the same, just that they shared those characteristics.

When were you last on the Lake Course? There are far less trees than there used to be and the course gets much more sunlight, at least when the fog is not rolling in. No doubt there are several hundred more trees that could/should be removed.

I have been on the Lake in the late afternoon when the sun is shining (May-June & September-October). The contrast between the sunlight and shadows is striking.

DT

It has been a while since I was last on the Lake course, 1998. I understand my opinion might be dated. Would be nice to see the course again with trees removed. The contrasts and light/shadow was striking, indeed. I just did not see it similar to what I saw at Riviera. More shades versus more sunlight.

[David_Tepper]

"It has been a while since I was last on the Lake course, 1998."

MClutterbuck -

I think you would be pleasantly surprised with the number of trees removed and the views that have been opened up, especially at the top of the course. Standing on the 3rd tee, you can see most of the course below it and Lake Merced as well. In the old days, all you could see standing on that tee was the 3rd green.

DT

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