Nina Caldwell
Riviera, also known as Riviera Country Club, is a golf course in Los Angeles, California. It is ranked among the top 25 courses in the United States and the top 50 courses in the world. The course has hosted many major golf tournaments, including the PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open. It has also been the site of several golf-related films, including Pat and Mike, The Caddy, and Follow the Sun. With its rich history and demanding design, Riviera continues to be a staple of the Los Angeles social scene and a challenging course for professional golfers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Riviera Country Club |
| Location | Santa Monica, Los Angeles, United States |
| Ranking | Top 50 courses in the world |
| Year of Opening | 1926 |
| Famous Members | Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, Dean Martin |
| Hosted Competitions | Los Angeles Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Men's Open, Summer Olympics men's and women's golf competition |
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What You'll Learn
Riviera Country Club, California
The Riviera Country Club in California is a private club with a championship golf course and tennis courts. Located in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, the club was designed by golf course architects George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell. It has hosted several major championships, including the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open, and the U.S. Amateur. The club is also a regular fixture on the PGA Tour, hosting the Genesis Invitational (formerly the Los Angeles Open) annually in February.
Riviera Country Club has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1926. It was once labelled as one of the most expensive golf courses in the world, costing $243,827 at the time. The club has long attracted famous members, including Hollywood celebrities such as Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, and Dean Martin. The course has also served as a filming location for several golf-themed films, including "Pat and Mike," "The Caddy," and "Follow the Sun."
The golf course itself presents a unique challenge for players due to its layout and terrain. The first hole is a par 5 that plays roughly 495 yards from a tee box that sits 75 feet above the fairway, offering an eagle opportunity for skilled players. The second hole is a demanding 488-yard par 4 that heads uphill, with out-of-bounds on the left and trees on the right. The famous fourth hole, known as Hogan's "The greatest Par 3 hole in America", is commemorated with a plaque honouring Ben Hogan's declaration.
The Riviera Country Club has been the site of notable victories by golf legends such as Ben Hogan, who won the L.A. Open at Riviera three times (1942, 1947, and 1948) and the U.S. Open in 1948. Other winners at Riviera include Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, and Johnny Miller. Tiger Woods also played his first PGA Tour event at Riviera in 1992 as an amateur. The club continues to host prestigious tournaments and will be the venue for the men's and women's golf competitions during the 2028 Summer Olympics and the U.S. Women's Open in 2026.
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Ranked in the top 50 courses worldwide
The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, California, is ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the world. The club has hosted many prestigious tournaments, including the Los Angeles Open, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Senior Open. It is also scheduled to host the Summer Olympics men's and women's golf competition in 2028.
Riviera Country Club was designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell and opened in 1926. The course is known for its challenging layout and strategic design, with bunkers and angled greens that provide a variety of options for players. The 10th hole, in particular, is renowned as one of the most iconic holes in golf, offering players the choice between going for the green or laying up and hitting a flip wedge.
The club has a rich history and has long attracted famous members, including Hollywood celebrities such as Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, Dean Martin, and Katharine Hepburn. It has also been featured in several golf-related films and television shows.
Riviera's reputation as one of the top golf courses in the world is further enhanced by its ranking within the top 50 courses. While the specific criteria for this ranking are not publicly available, it is likely based on a combination of factors such as course design, conditioning, history, and prestige. Riviera excels in each of these areas, offering a world-class golfing experience that is recognised and appreciated by golfers and enthusiasts worldwide.
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History of celebrity members
The Riviera Country Club, located just a few miles from Beverly Hills, has long been a popular hangout spot for Hollywood celebrities and golf enthusiasts. Its rich history is filled with famous members and guests who have graced its fairways and greens. Here is a glimpse into the history of some notable celebrity members:
- The Golden Age of Hollywood: During the early years of Riviera, the club witnessed the presence of iconic figures from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Legends like Humphrey Bogart, who enjoyed watching the pros from his favourite spot, earned the 13th hole the nickname "Bogey's Tree." Other pioneers of this era included Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, Walt Disney, and Errol Flynn, who was once arrested at the clubhouse.
- Classic Hollywood Stars: The club has attracted numerous classic Hollywood stars over the years. Dean Martin, a committed golfer, was a frequent presence at Riviera, even filming parts of the 1953 movie "The Caddy" on the club's grounds. Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lewis, and Gregory Peck were also known to spend time at the club, with their photos still adorning the clubhouse walls.
- Modern Celebrities: Riviera has continued to attract modern celebrities and golf enthusiasts. Adam Sandler, the star of the golf-themed movie "Happy Gilmore," is a notable member. Larry David, the creator of "Seinfeld" and star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," is also a well-known member who has filmed several scenes from his shows at the club. Other recent celebrity members include Hugh Grant, Luke Wilson, Mark Wahlberg, and NFL superstar Tom Brady.
- Sporting Legends: Aside from actors and entertainers, Riviera has also welcomed sporting legends. The late Jim Murray, a Pulitzer Prize-winning sports columnist, was a longtime member. Golfing greats like Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Willie Hunter have all left their mark on the club, with Hogan's partnership with Riviera deemed one of the most famous in sports history.
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Demanding course, no easy route to the hole
The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles is ranked among the top 50 golf courses in the world. It is a challenging course that demands precision and execution from players, with an array of obstacles and unique features that make it a demanding course with no easy route to the hole.
Riviera, which opened in 1926, is known for its difficult layout, with a par of 71 and an average round score of 71.2 for professionals. The course is routed across less-than-ideal terrain, with hilly fairways, out-of-bounds areas, trees, bunkers, and tricky greens that require a variety of skills and strategies to navigate successfully.
One of the most notable features of the course is the punishing Kikuyu grass, which is sticky and grabs balls like Velcro, making it extremely challenging to execute bump-and-run shots. This grass forces players to focus on their pin-seeking skills and precision.
The holes at Riviera vary in length and difficulty, offering a range of playable options but demanding good golf shots along the way. For example, the 10th hole, often described as "the best par-4 in the world," is a short hole at 315 yards, but it presents a very difficult target to hit in one. The small, skinny green is nearly surrounded by bunkers, making the approach shot tricky and the possibility of getting up-and-down from the sand difficult.
Another demanding hole is the 2nd, a 488-yard par 4 that heads back uphill with out-of-bounds on the left and trees on the right. The green is long and narrow, protected by bunkers, making it a challenging hole that requires both distance and accuracy.
Riviera has hosted many prestigious tournaments, including the Los Angeles Open, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Senior Open. It continues to be a staple of the Los Angeles social scene, attracting famous members and hosting major golf events.
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Host of the 2028 Olympics golf competition
The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, will host the men's and women's golf competitions at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Riviera Country Club, which was founded in 1926, is ranked as one of the top-tier golf courses in the world and has hosted several prestigious events, including the 1995 PGA Championship and the 1998 U.S. Senior Open. The club is known for its challenging course design and has been the annual site of the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour, hosted by Tiger Woods.
The International Golf Federation and LA28 organizers made the official announcement, expressing their honour in working with the world-renowned Riviera Country Club. The club's prestigious and continuously challenging backdrop will offer a prestigious setting for the Olympic golf competitions.
The Olympic golf competitions in 2028 will mark the sixth occasion that golf has been featured as an Olympic sport and the fourth time since 1904. Los Angeles will host the Summer Games for the third time, following 1932 and 1984, and the city is preparing to welcome athletes and spectators from around the world.
The Riviera Country Club has a rich history and has long been a staple of the Los Angeles social scene. The club has attracted famous members, including Hollywood icons such as Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, and Dean Martin. The course has also served as a filming location for several golf-themed films and has been associated with notable names in the sport, including Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.
As the host of the 2028 Olympic golf competitions, the Riviera Country Club will continue its legacy of hosting world-class events and contributing to the growth and popularity of the sport. The club's challenging course design and prestigious reputation will undoubtedly offer a memorable experience for both athletes and spectators during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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Frequently asked questions
Riviera Golf, also known as Riviera Country Club, is located in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Riviera Golf opened in 1926 at a cost of $243,827, making it one of the most expensive golf courses in the world at the time. The club has a rich history, attracting famous members such as Humphrey Bogart, Walt Disney, and Dean Martin. It has hosted several major golf tournaments, including the Los Angeles Open, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Senior Open.
Riviera Golf is ranked among the top golf courses in the United States and the world. It is known for its demanding and challenging layout, with holes that require precise and well-executed golf shots. The course has a mix of long and narrow greens, bunkers, and unique Kikuyu fairways and rough, which offer a distinct playing experience.
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