One LA course for the rest of your life

[Carl Nichols]

I'm watching the US Am and thinking that Riviera (which I've never played) would be on the short list of answers to the question "what course would you pick if you could play one for the rest of your life." But I have played LACC (North) and it's a serious contender as well. So which is it? Could it be too close to call? Any other LA course in the conversation?

[Mike Sweeney]

I have played very little in LA despite frequent visits.


Bob Huntley was a member at Riviera, and used to play with Dean Martin. That says it all for me.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Where's the drink in Dino's cup holder?

[Tim Leahy]

Rustic Canyon.
I have played Riviera and LA CC North once each. Played Rustic maybe 20 times and have enjoyed every round.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I grew up playing Riviera and was a member until 1997. It was always a new experience in the well over 1000 rounds played.  I regularly drive up 3 hours with friends for the Wednesday skins game at Rustic Canyon---enough said on its greatness!   LACC now has two all world great courses. And Wilshire should also be included. There are countless great features that makes the course play differently every round

[J_ Crisham]

Although its not in LA proper- The Valley Club  is in my top 10 USA. When visiting LA this should be a definite play.

[Jim Franklin]

LACC in a landslide. The Hanse redo is spectacular.

[Paul Jones]

When I first read the title, I though you meant Louisiana :-)


I will hold my vote until after Bel-Air work...


Riveria and LACC North are both better courses than Bel-Air right now, but Bel-Air has the best atmosphere and they seem to have more fun.  Riveria is a busy course which seems to be run like a factory.


Currently:


LACC N is the winner


Riveria
Bel-Air


but hoping that will change in a year or two.

[David Panzarasa]

Paul, I think LACC is busier then Riviera. They are run completely different, but LACC I'm sure is busier then Riviera by a decent margin.


My pick would be Riviera to play in LA for the rest of my life. I would join LACC before Riv though, which sounds contradictory...but just talking/topic is about playing a course.


Lakeside, Wilshire, Rustic are all great/fun courses I could easily play daily.


Shall see what happens with Bel-Air in the next 2 years, that could get interesting.

[archie_struthers]

 


Have only played Lakeside so I'm a bad judge but it is wonderful fun!

[David Wuthrich]

LACC in LA
Valley Club in the LA area

[Alex Miller]

It's so hard to pick just one, and I think it depends on what you're looking for. But if forced I would choose:


LACC N for the pure golf, it's world class and combines fun and challenge better than 99.9% of courses in the world.


Riviera for my future retired self, incredible setting and great architecture at its bones. Sure I wouldn't be able to play run-up shots, but I grew up playing kikuyu and the teed up fairway lies more than make up for it.


Rustic Canyon for my college / post-grad rounds on a budget, a time where I'm able to study the architecture and repeat plays for insanely cheap in a reasonable drive time from the city.


Wilshire for the membership and vibe, because the people and staff are crazy friendly and it's a sporty, social track that plays wayyyyy better than a course in the middle of a city on a property that size should. It's the essence of classic LA golf.


And for a life that isn't mine, Bel Air (pre-Fazio or post-Doak) for a getaway from my uber successful acting career where I can golf with my buddies, agent, and fellow celebrities and get the same 5-star treatment I get in the rest of my life.




Sidenote: LA has more solid courses than it gets credit for, but way off my radar was Knollwood which I played on a whim yesterday. Would love to see a facelift there (and Santa Anita, and Rancho, and Rec Park, and...) as it's one of many could-be great courses that could make up for how little quality public golf currently exists per capita.

[Kalen Braley]

No Trump National?  I'm shocked!! 

[Carl Nichols]

It's so hard to pick just one, and I think it depends on what you're looking for. But if forced I would choose:


LACC N for the pure golf, it's world class and combines fun and challenge better than 99.9% of courses in the world.


Riviera for my future retired self, incredible setting and great architecture at its bones. Sure I wouldn't be able to play run-up shots, but I grew up playing kikuyu and the teed up fairway lies more than make up for it.


Rustic Canyon for my college / post-grad rounds on a budget, a time where I'm able to study the architecture and repeat plays for insanely cheap in a reasonable drive time from the city.


Wilshire for the membership and vibe, because the people and staff are crazy friendly and it's a sporty, social track that plays wayyyyy better than a course in the middle of a city on a property that size should. It's the essence of classic LA golf.


And for a life that isn't mine, Bel Air (pre-Fazio or post-Doak) for a getaway from my uber successful acting career where I can golf with my buddies, agent, and fellow celebrities and get the same 5-star treatment I get in the rest of my life.




Sidenote: LA has more solid courses than it gets credit for, but way off my radar was Knollwood which I played on a whim yesterday. Would love to see a facelift there (and Santa Anita, and Rancho, and Rec Park, and...) as it's one of many could-be great courses that could make up for how little quality public golf currently exists per capita.

I don't think you made a choice....!


I think Wilshire is a really fun course, and I'd be happy playing it every day--but there's no way I'd be as happy as playing LACC North everyday.

[Alex Miller]

It's so hard to pick just one, and I think it depends on what you're looking for. But if forced I would choose:


LACC N for the pure golf, it's world class and combines fun and challenge better than 99.9% of courses in the world.


Riviera for my future retired self, incredible setting and great architecture at its bones. Sure I wouldn't be able to play run-up shots, but I grew up playing kikuyu and the teed up fairway lies more than make up for it.


Rustic Canyon for my college / post-grad rounds on a budget, a time where I'm able to study the architecture and repeat plays for insanely cheap in a reasonable drive time from the city.


Wilshire for the membership and vibe, because the people and staff are crazy friendly and it's a sporty, social track that plays wayyyyy better than a course in the middle of a city on a property that size should. It's the essence of classic LA golf.


And for a life that isn't mine, Bel Air (pre-Fazio or post-Doak) for a getaway from my uber successful acting career where I can golf with my buddies, agent, and fellow celebrities and get the same 5-star treatment I get in the rest of my life.




Sidenote: LA has more solid courses than it gets credit for, but way off my radar was Knollwood which I played on a whim yesterday. Would love to see a facelift there (and Santa Anita, and Rancho, and Rec Park, and...) as it's one of many could-be great courses that could make up for how little quality public golf currently exists per capita.

I don't think you made a choice....!


I think Wilshire is a really fun course, and I'd be happy playing it every day--but there's no way I'd be as happy as playing LACC North everyday.

Yeah yeah yeah... it's LA North for me. 

[Terry Lavin]

I love both at LACC. I really like Bel Air. I think Riviera is a masterwork in basin golf course architecture, but if I lived there I think I'd join Wilshire. Feels like home.

[Peter Pallotta]

Robert M-D: I envy you your time at Riviera, not only because of its architecture and history, but because I don't know anyone who has played 1000 rounds *anywhere*, i.e. at the same course. That you could enjoy it and find something to keep you engaged for so many years over so many rounds says something really remarkable about the place.

On the question: I don't know from nothing, but if I'm going to play the same course in LA for my whole life, it'll mean (or should mean) that I'm a) actually living in LA and b) that the course/club works for me in more ways than just the golf. Interesting to read about the different 'vibes' of the places from various posters. I'd be looking for the place I'd be most comfortable sitting around eating and talking *after* a round...and before too...you know: walking in, saying "Hello, Jimmy - how's the family?" to the bartender, then turning around and seeing a cool old-timer, "Ah, Mr Levinsky - you want to sit down, we'll have something to eat?"...you know, that kind of place.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

LA North for sure. If Riviera were presented the way LA North is, in terms of tree removal, fairway width, removal of cart paths, removal of Fazio-ness, all enhancing the brilliant Thomas design, and then I'd go w/ Riv.


Can't wait to see Bel-Air post-restoration. Really liked Wilshire and I really like Rustic Canyon

[John Kavanaugh]

I might just go with Lakeside for the food and card games. Honestly, I'm not sure where a man of my ilk would be accepted in L.A.

[Brian Finn]

I've never played Riviera or LACC, so I don't have the full landscape, but if you told me right now I could join Wilshire and play there the rest of my life, I would not hesitate for a moment.  The course is outstanding and the people and the club atmosphere are even better.  I'm envious of those that call it home. 

[Pat Burke]

I love hanging around Wilshire.  Great course, good atmosphere


I've heard the same about Lakeside.


I'd be very happy as a professional golfer at Riviera, but as an old former player wanting to hang with friends, I believe I'd be happiest at Wilshire

[David Stamm]

Wilshire has a great old LA vibe. I love it there.


LACC North as of now edges out Riviera. I love them both.




Valley Club is not LA, but it's my favorite So Cal (or is that Central Cal?) place to play.




Rustic would make me feel lucky if that were my home course. Yes, it's that good.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

While other courses in the area are rated higher, I, for one, will chose Brentwood or Hillcrest for their food!


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/las-power-golf-clubs-hollywood-205072

[Bill Seitz]

I might just go with Lakeside for the food and card games. Honestly, I'm not sure where a man of my ilk would be accepted in L.A.

Probably not at Lakeside.  How long is your IMDB page?

[Mark Kiely]

I'd love to be able to answer this question, but the only contenders I've played are Hacienda, Lakeside, Ojai Valley and Rustic. Love them all but wouldn't choose any of them to play exclusively for the rest of my life, if it meant I couldn't play elsewhere.


I pledge to update this post after I've played:
Bel-Air
Wilshire
LACC N
LACC S
El Cab
PVGC
Riviera
Valley Club