[Golfers' Bucket List⑬] 'Seobu Augusta' Riviera "A bunker in the middle of the green?"

Santa Monica Valley near LA Ranked 23rd in US Top 100 Courses, Featuring Pacific Ocean Views, 6th Hole Green Bunker, and Signature 10th Hole 'One-On Attempt'

The Riviera Golf Course, a famous course in the western United States, offers an unspoiled view of the Pacific Ocean.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Ranked 23rd among the Top 100 Courses in the United States.’

The thirteenth feature is the Riviera Country Club (Par 71, 7,322 yards) in Pacific Palisades, California, USA, a fierce battleground of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational. It was completed five years after Frank A. Garbutt, vice president of the LA Sports Club, and oil industry millionaire Alfonso Bell purchased the Santa Monica Valley in 1922, building nearly a century of history. It earned the nickname ‘Western Augusta.’

Riviera solidified its status as a tournament course by hosting the LA Open in 1929. Since then, it has hosted the Nissan LA Open, the Northern Trust Open, and in 2017, the Korean company Hyundai Motor became the title sponsor, elevating it to the Genesis Open. Last year, it was promoted to an Invitational, making it a truly elite match. Amateur golfers can enjoy the breathtaking Pacific Ocean views along the West Coast throughout their rounds, while for players, it is a challenging course.

The ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) is a representative example. He has a special connection, having participated as an invited player during his high school years in 1992, but after turning professional, he played 11 times without securing a single win. This period coincided with Woods’ prime years. After withdrawing following the second round of the 2006 Nissan Open, he skipped the tournament entirely for a while. He returned in 2018 when the Tiger Woods Foundation participated as host, but was ‘cut off,’ finishing tied for 15th in 2019 and tied for 68th last year.

Woods consistently struggled on the greens, often suffering from ‘three-putts.’ Attention should be paid to the ‘four-putt nightmare’ on the 13th hole (Par 4) during the third round last year. From a distance of 5.6 meters, his first putt stopped about 0.6 meters from the hole, but the second putt overshot by 0.9 meters, and the third putt left 0.9 meters remaining. Experts attribute this to the fact that Riviera’s greens are not bentgrass but Poa annua, which causes the ball to bounce and roll unpredictably.

There is a bunker in the middle of the green at the 6th hole of Riviera Golf Course.

It is interesting that there is a bunker in the middle of the green on the 6th hole (Par 3). The hole measures 199 yards and features a two-tiered green with a large bunker lurking between the tiers. Essentially, it is like having two separate greens. Players often create unique scenes by using wedge shots to clear the bunker and attack the hole instead of attempting long putts on the green. Golf.com in the USA ranked this hole among the ‘Top 5 Most Feared Par 3 Holes on the PGA Tour,’ which explains its high placement.

The green of the signature 10th hole at Riviera Golf Course, where a "1-on" is possible.

The signature hole is the 10th hole (Par 4), dubbed “the world’s best short par 4 hole.” At just 315 yards, players naturally attempt to reach the green in one shot. However, the green is narrow and surrounded by multiple layers of bunkers, making even getting ‘on the green’ a tough challenge. The ‘two-shot’ strategy requires securing a position on the left side of the fairway, as the angle from the right side does not allow a safe approach to the green. The closing holes, the 12th (Par 4) and 15th (Par 4), also serve as critical battlegrounds.