Riviera 10 v. RC 12: Which is easier to drive?

[DMoriarty]

Both are well within reach of the big hitter, but which green is easier to actually hit?

What about those who go for it and miss?  Which hole offers more interesting and/or more difficult recovery options?  

Which hole requires more thought from the tee?  

Which hole offers the more challenging/interesting from the tee?   The more interesting approach for those that lay up?  

[TEPaul]

David:

Interesting question but one that may take a number of years (and tons of play on all levels) to answer. At the moment I'd have to say Riviera's 10th wins on all questions--but what do I know since I've never actually played either.  

Ironically those two are probably the two holes I've studied most intensely that I've never played. But in the same breath if Rustic Canyon's #12 reaches even the same neighborhood of respect as Riv's #10 it would be a real success in my book!

Riviera's #10 has to be the best naturally unenhanced short par 4 in the entire world!

[Mike_Cirba]

David;

I think it's an interesting question I tried to address on another related thread, but if you're actually talking about driving it and holding the green, then the 10th at Riviera seems tougher simply because the fronting bunker there prevent the run up drive across most of the green.

It's also shallower in real terms from the tee, although the 12th at RC plays about 1/2 it's real depth from that distance.

[David Wigler]

#12 at RC is much easier to drive.  Interstingly enough, I have never tried to drive #10 at Riviera.  There is just too much penalty for a miss.

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Doesn't Riveria favour a long fade?

Dave W,
Is it because the trouble is right? Where a slice might be "dead" that you would not drive the green?

[DMoriarty]

I would definitely agree that Riviera 10 is less enticing to try to hit the driver, as it is more surrounded with obvious and visible difficulty.  But I wonder if you give top golfers ten swings at each, how many balls would end up actually on the putting surface at each.

I don't know.  But I sure havent seen many balls end up on actually on the green (as opposed to right or over) at RC 12.    

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Riviera #10 is harder to drive.  Why the pros try is beyond me.  In 15 years at Riviera I never played with anyone who succeeded.  In one year at Rustic I have seen is done once.  There will be a hole in one someday at Rustic, I know of none at #10 at Riviera.  George Thomas' #10, without the bunkers, is a better comparsion of the two holes.

[TEPaul]

Sorry, I didn't read the questions carefully enough. #10 certainly can't be easier to drive but on the rest of the questions the nod has to go to #10.