Riviera Country Club, located in Pacific Palisades, California, is a prestigious private 18-hole golf course designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell in 1926, with renovations by Coore and Crenshaw in 1992. Spanning 7,322 yards from the championship tees, this par-71 course has a rating of 75.6 and a slope of 137, featuring a strategic layout with kikuyu grass fairways, eucalyptus-lined holes, and a natural barranca weaving through the course. Known for hosting the Genesis Invitational annually, it has also welcomed the 1948 U.S. Open, 1983 and 1995 PGA Championships, and will host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and 2028 Olympics. The iconic par-4 10th hole, a 315-yard drivable risk-reward gem, and the par-3 6th with a bunker in the green’s center highlight its design ingenuity.

Riviera plays as a masterful test of strategy and precision, where firm, fast conditions and the kikuyu grass’s grabby rough demand accurate drives and deft recovery shots. The small, subtle greens challenge approach play, especially on holes like the par-3 4th over the barranca, while wind and the course’s microclimate add complexity, as noted by caddies on X who advise against short-siding and emphasize aggressive putting to navigate the grain. Golfers must balance power and placement, with the par-5 1st and 11th offering birdie chances, but the uphill par-4 18th, set in a natural amphitheater, punishes mistakes. Players praise its blend of beauty and challenge, describing it as “Hogan’s Alley” for Ben Hogan’s dominance, making it a course that rewards thoughtful play over brute force.