Riviera 1st hole

[SL_Solow]

Barney;  I understand your point for the pros.  Thus, depending on which mind set one wants to encourage, either par works and i am OK with it.  Whether it is a good hole for members, it is one of the memorable opening holes that I have played

[John Kavanaugh]

I've slept with a lead a few times and never won.  I am really interested on the mindset most pros feel when they see a lead disappearing as they are stuck on the range waiting to tee off.  In that respect I think par matters greatly and a birdie hole at the first is far more compelling than a tough par.

[Joel_Stewart]

I believe the leader on Sunday hit 3 iron.

On the par-five first hole, he pulled his tee shot 40 yards right of the fairway, hooked a seven-iron 190 yards to the green in a way that defied the laws of physics and two-putted for birdie.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0217-northern-trust-golf-20140217,0,5763704.story#ixzz2ttv7i9up

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jason,

yes, it's a good hole for the membership.
Never judge how a hole plays based on a photo.

Joel,

It's getting more and more difficult to present a hole that defends par against PGA Tour Pros, so at one point you have to ask, is the effort worth it ?

[Jim Nugent]

Again, these guys live their lives being measured by how many under par they are for a day and for the tournament. 

They are measured by how many they win.  Especially major tournaments.  Secondly, how much money they make. 

[Joel_Stewart]

Joel,

It's getting more and more difficult to present a hole that defends par against PGA Tour Pros, so at one point you have to ask, is the effort worth it ?

This is a good point.  To me the option on this hole has to be grow the rough to penalize errant tee shots.  I see no reason to allow the pros to hit it anywhere and still allow a short shot into the green yielding a birdie.

This hole is an aberration due to the short length and the elevated tee shot which further shortens the hole.

[Joel_Stewart]

FYI, they played the hole as a par 4 for the US Amateur.  The scoring average was 4.349.

It's inevitable they play it as a 4 for the pros.

[JESII]

But, to Mucci's point 3 years ago...is it worth the effort to care?


I agree with Kavanaugh...the pressure of making a birdie on a super-easy hole is at least as great as the pressure to par a difficult hole.

[Jason Topp]

But, to Mucci's point 3 years ago...is it worth the effort to care?


I agree with Kavanaugh...the pressure of making a birdie on a super-easy hole is at least as great as the pressure to par a difficult hole.

Is the fairway so narrow to keep people from hitting it out of play left?  Widening the fairway was one upside I guessed could happen if the hole were labelled a par 4 but that sure did not happen for the Am