Does Riviera Need Tree Work?

[Brian Colbert]

I have never been to Riviera, but from the telecast it looks like the course is very cluttered with trees. Would the course be even better if they chopped a bunch of them down?

[Bill McKinley]

I've only played Riviera once but I would say there are some spots that could used a little "trimming". I'd say the 11th hole would be the first place that comes to mind.

[Jeb Bearer]

Likewise never been there, but it looks like there are a ton of drives that play through chutes. Is that the case, and is it a major issue?

[Joe_Tucholski]

Do you have a particular hole in mind?  

Maybe 11, 12, 13 could do with a tree or two less, but my opinion is its generally not a problem.

[Terry Lavin]

I've played there a half-dozen times and YES they need to cut down trees. The club has iron support posts that hold up some of the sycamores that are about to fall over. The posts are painted in sycamore camo, so I took that as a sign of tree huggers being in charge. The dominant species is eucalyptus, which smell good at times, but they are junk trees that shed all manner of refuse on the ground.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Terry are your objections to the trees because of impact on play?

[Terry Lavin]

Joe,

My recollection is that it was more aesthetics than impacting play, but the aesthetics of rows of eucalyptus and falling sycamores was pretty off-putting, especially for such an awesome course.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

There has been quite a bit of tree removal and tree trimming over the years.  I have played well over 1000 rounds there, though not so much in the past dozen years.  Tney trimmed the trees on the right of 11 two years ago, so they are probably due for another trimming soon.  Part of the desecration of the 5th green complex involved the removal of 2 sycamores near the 6th tee that probably were there when Thomas built the course.  New this year is a heavily expanded tightly mown area that connects with a rebuilt 6th teeing area.

[Bob_Huntley]

There has been quite a bit of tree removal and tree trimming over the years.  I have played well over 1000 rounds there, though not so much in the past dozen years.  Tney trimmed the trees on the right of 11 two years ago, so they are probably due for another trimming soon.  Part of the desecration of the 5th green complex involved the removal of 2 sycamores near the 6th tee that probably were there when Thomas built the course.  New this year is a heavily expanded tightly mown area that connects with a rebuilt 6th teeing area.

Robert,

Unlike you, I have played the course only a couple of hundred times and that was in the early seventies. I did go back
after some thirty six years and played from the forward tees. I thought that the new tee at the sixth was an improvement but once on the green I felt that the committee had tarted up the whole green complex. 

I never saw the course as fast as it was today.

Bob

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

I had heard from a member, which was the reiterated by Faldo on Thursday's broadcast, that the trees that line the left side of 13 fwy will be removed.  Personally, I like the thought of it as it provides options off the tee, as opposed to a one-dimensional shot.  What do others think of this "rumor"

[James Bennett]

I had heard from a member, which was the reiterated by Faldo on Thursday's broadcast, that the trees that line the left side of 13 fwy will be removed.  Personally, I like the thought of it as it provides options off the tee, as opposed to a one-dimensional shot.  What do others think of this "rumor"

The trees in the island on eight have gone.  The only other trees that need to go (IMO) are those left of 13's tee shot. It would just make a more exciting tee shot.  The playing corridors are wide enough otherwise.  Some might dislike the tree front left of #12 green, but that seemed fine to me.

The camera makes the shutes look a lot narrower than how Riviera maintain them and how they actually play.

[Matthew Mollica]

I had heard from a member, which was the reiterated by Faldo on Thursday's broadcast, that the trees that line the left side of 13 fwy will be removed.  Personally, I like the thought of it as it provides options off the tee, as opposed to a one-dimensional shot.  What do others think of this "rumor"

Wayne,

I believe the left side of 13 is to be re-worked at some stage, with the trees going, and the wash maybe slightly reconfigured, so as to provide more of a cape type feel to the hole. It makes sense to me to use the wash as a natural hazard on the drive, with all those trees going.

MM

[Jim Nugent]

I have played well over 1000 rounds there, though not so much in the past dozen years. 

Robert, how do you play #10?  Has that changed as equipment/balls changed? 

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

I had heard from a member, which was the reiterated by Faldo on Thursday's broadcast, that the trees that line the left side of 13 fwy will be removed.  Personally, I like the thought of it as it provides options off the tee, as opposed to a one-dimensional shot.  What do others think of this "rumor"

Wayne,

I believe the left side of 13 is to be re-worked at some stage, with the trees going, and the wash maybe slightly reconfigured, so as to provide more of a cape type feel to the hole. It makes sense to me to use the wash as a natural hazard on the drive, with all those trees going.

MM

That's what i've hear as well.  My member buddy thinks it'll make it too easy.  For whom, I asked?  If it's for the pros, i think it might make it more dangerous, as they may try to cut more of the ravine off with their teeshot, a la a Cape hole tee shot as you say, but pay a heftier price for a miss down in that ravine. 

[Alex Miller]

I think removing the trees on 13 is a good move, but it brings up another question: what will be the playing corridor for that hole?

Without the trees there is some 60 yards from the current right edge of the fairway to the barranca. Would they just shift the fairway over or expand the fairway?

I like the dogleg nature of the hole and would love to see that preserved if possible. Is expanding the barranca to bring into play off-limits?