Riviera CC

Rankings

Golf Digest:  #24
Golfweek:  #20 Classic

Living in Southern California for a decade would seem to make Riviera an easy get.  As it turns out, it was harder than expected.  I finally got the call in the Spring of '16 after my friends Ryan and Scott called in a favor.  I didn't know what to expect since I've never walked the Northern Trust Open (or the Nissan, or whatever you want to call it).  My first impression upon arriving was Pebble Beach-like.  Not as many people as Pebble, but a corporate feel versus a quiet, old-school course.

The clubhouse is large and the locker room felt a bit like a resort, but very nice.  The starter announced our names for no one to hear but ourselves, and off we went.  Our two caddies proved to be excellent.  Apparently Larry David was playing a couple holes in front of us - I guess he doesn't come off funny in person, but Adam Sandler does (they're both members).  Who knew?

We chose to play the furthest tees that had markers out - the blues - playing 7,000 yards and par 71.  The black plates were another 350 yards, but we weren't trying to kill ourselves.

I won't go through all the holes, but #1 is a fairly easy par 5 from an elevated tee with a gulch running across the fairway that is reachable for long hitters.  Nothing crazy.  Hole #2 is roughly the same distance, but a par 4 that plays uphill at the end - it's the real deal!  I bombed a drive and still had 200+ yards uphill and into the wind.  I smoked a 4-iron to pin-high with the back pin, and snuggled my first putt close enough for par.  It felt like a birdie.

Hole #4 is a beast of a par 3 (235 yards) that was playing slightly into the wind.  A great hybrid got me on and a lagged putt got me a par...I was feeling like a champ!

Hole #5 is a 415 yard par 4 that just didn't set up well to my eye.  I tried to hit hybrid but blocked it into the trees right, but got lucky when the golf gods spit it out.  After a yanked 6-iron, poor chip, and three putts, my double was secured.  The green was deceptively tilted, and the approach blocks the right side of the green and convinces you to play left.  It messed with me pretty good.

Hole #6 is the iconic bunker in the middle of the green par 3 (see photo).  It's a short hole, but cool to play having seen it on TV a bunch.  Luckily, I hit a good shot that didn't scare the bunker - but couldn't make the birdie putt.  eh...

Hole #7 is a par 4 that sweeps right.  It shouldn't be too difficult, but a bunker runs up the left side and a barranca runs up the right with OB further right.  Knowing my wild driver, I subconsciously yanked it over the bunker left and into a parallel fairway.  Little did I know the green was a table top, and even though my approach was open, I left it short, skanked a chip, and locked up a two-putt bogey.  Poor performance.  (see photo looking from behind the green back to the tee)

Hole #8 is a split fairway, and our entire threesome couldn't choose one of them so we all played up the center barranca.  It isn't impossible, but it doesn't yield a lot of good lies.  I don't remember what I got on this hole after missing the green.  I think I two putted for bogey - maybe I sank it for par - I have the scorecard somewhere.

Hole #9 is intended to be tough because it is uphill and long, but it was tough for me because I blocked my drive right, clipped a tree, and my ball bounded into the maintenance area - OB.  Awesome!  It was the hot dog at the snack shack that screwed me.  Luckily, I flubbed my provisional to the left, hit my ball up to 30 feet, and drained my bogey putt.  Sweet justice!  Still a bogey...but a good hole had I played any of it.  I never touched the fairway.

Hole #10 is great!  A 300 yard par 4 that begs to be driven, but it has bunkers of death all around it.  But I'm a sucker to I pasted a blocked drive right in front of the greenside bunker, flopped it into the bunker, then left it in the bunker, and knocked my fourth shot tight for bogey.  The green is crazy narrow and slopes off most sides.  The smart play is to hit something left off the tee, and bring a little wedge in from the angle that gives you all kinds of room in front and behind.  Not our group though!  Who wants to leave Riviera talking about their amazing layup birdie on 10?  Bor-ing...

Holes #12 and #13 are tough par 4s that curve right and left, respectively.  The drive is key, but they played into the wind which made them long as well.  A great couple holes.

Hole #15 is a giant par 4 - 450 yards playing into the wind on the day we played.  I blocked this hole out a bit, but I think I duck hooked my drive on this big dogleg right...yes, the hook is not the shot to play here.  Then I blasted a 4-wood up to the fringe into the stiff breeze and I may have gotten up and down - I don't quite remember.  But let's just say it was a par and move on.  Don't take this hole for granted, it'll bite you.

Hole #16 is a cool par 3 with great bunkering (see photo).  It isn't long, but the bunkers mess with your mind and make the green look tiny.  I did not score a GIR, but found one of the bunkers.  No up and down for me...bogey time.

Hole #17 is a long par 5 back uphill a bit.  It's a good test, but I played it the wrong way so I didn't get a good feel for the hole.  I duckhooked the drive, tried to play a big hook back in the fairway but blocked it.  Then I hit a great hybrid on the back of the green and two putted for par.  It was a fight.

Hole #18 plays uphill and is a blind tee shot up to a plateau.  The tees were up that day, so the line we took was funky.  It's not my favorite hole because I had no idea where I was going.  I hit a crap drive anyway, but got away with it because the big sidehill on the left kept me in play.  The hole sweeps to the right from the tee, but effectively plays straight and uphill on your approach.  It is a cool sight with the big clubhouse in the background.  I pushed my approach off the sidehill lie and ended up just off the fringe right.  I chipped it up to three feet and got my ugly par.  8-over, 79.  Not great, but it is a tough track the first time around, and in general.

I really enjoyed my round, mainly because I like difficult courses.  Most holes had something unique about them, which is what makes courses memorable.  I wouldn't say it is the best course I've played, but it's a great test and was more enjoyable than I thought it'd be - a must play if you live in SoCal and can find a way to play it.  I'm not a big kikuyu grass fan because around the green it acts like Velcro and the ball takes odd bounces; however, Riv gets a pass because the layout is so well done.  I'd love to have another crack at it IF I can find a member to play with.  The unaccompanied green fees are over $600!!!

  

Muirfield Village

Rankings

Golf Digest:  #15
Golfweek:  #12 Modern

My Muirfield Village invite was a surprise.  A good friend's stepdad and uncle were planning a Scioto-Muirfield trip and I was lucky enough to get the invite to round out the foursome.  That's a phone call I don't mind getting.

On to Muirfield Village Golf Club...not to be confused with the Country Club of Muirfield Village next door...is quite a spectacle.  The clubhouse and facilities are top notch - and you are treated like a king the moment you set foot on the property.  We played it in early spring, and it was as if the course was open year round.  Typically, the winter takes its toll on courses that fight snow and cold, but Muirfield recently had some rough weather and not a blade of grass was out of place.  It was perhaps one of the most lush courses I've ever played.

As for the layout, it's no joke!  I found just about every bush, OB, water, and sand trap I could; the score was not pretty.  However, there are so many great holes at Muirfield that I don't have that nagging negative feeling you get after embarrassing yourself over the course of 18 holes.  I really hope to make it back to redeem myself, but have fond memories nonetheless.

My favorite hole is the par 5 11th  with a creek that runs up the left and crosses the fairway midway through the hole.  I found the creek, maybe more than once if I remember correctly.  It was picturesque and enjoyable despite my excess shots.  

Pictured above is the short 14th, where I finally hit a good drive and dribbled it on the fringe.  A mere three putts later I had my par, yay?  But what a great little hole with a perfectly manicured creek running up the left, crossing, and then running all the way up the right past the green.  Muirfield is filled with these creative and fun holes.

That's probably plenty for the course description since you can all watch the hole by hole when Jack hosts his tourney in June.  But, after your round don't forget to enjoy the famous milkshakes.  They won't disappoint.