This is the day I have worried about for over a month now. Riviera gets to play its ace in hole, the formidable 15th. I will start with an exact copy of Ran's entire review of the Sand Hills 15th below:
"Fifteenth hole, 470 yards; The 15th tee is the furthermost point to Ben’s Porch on the back side and a genuine roller coaster ride remains: the uphill climb at the 15th, the wild downhill ride at the 16th, the short 17th, and then the final march uphill at the 18th.Coore & Crenshaw lent thisthrilling landscapeits golfing qualities, in this case by digging out a pit bunker thirty yards shy of the green and using that fill tocreate another unique green complex,in this case a dome shaped green featuring a back to front tilt. The surrounding area of the green is kept tightly mown, with many a delicate chip shots to be had."
Is Ran saying this green is not a natural site? I don't know and would not have guessed by my few visits to the green. Is this also the hole with the thin section of rough separating it from the adjacent fairway, cause if so, I would have enjoyed if the fairways had been conjoined.
From Geoff's book, please find the following quote from Tom Doak concerning the 15th at Riviera:
"At 443 yds, and playing into the prevailing winds up the valley to boot, the Fifteenth is the strongest par 4 at Riviera, and one of the strongest in the land. From tee to green it is straightforward and honest. A long straight drive is paramount to thread the gap between the eucalyptus trees. A drive with a hint of cut is ideal, to get past the fairway bunker on the the right; but to go for such placement entails considerable risk, since there is no reaching the green from the bunker 200 yds distant, and if the drive is lost to the right the approach will be blocked by trees."
Doak continues, "The key feature of the hole is its green, which is the largest and the most heavily contoured at Riviera."
My memory centers more around the green than the difficulty of the hole. Some call it Gullwing but I think of Banana. It's a green that I think every modern architect lucky enough to have visited will use as a template for their designs. From C&C to Pete Dye I think we have all seen it before, but never quite the same.
Match play at the 15th.
Riviera !!?
Sand Hills ?
The match is dormie with Riviera 3 up with 3 to go.
Note: Obviously, even given the greatness of Riviera's 16th, this match is going into the 18th with Sand Hills down one with one to play. I love the 18th at both courses but am leaning towards the 18th at Riviera simply because the requirements of the drive. Personally I am pulling for the 18th at Sand Hills to win the hole bringing the match to a draw. Playoff optional.
Please feel free to make your arguments for the 18th at Sand Hills before game time, which is scheduled for the morning of the 27th.