Every golfer has a dream course—or, more likely, dream courses.
It’s part of golfing tradition, where you stand at the tee box of your local nine-hole spot or driving range (or maybe from the 19th hole) and pretend you’re limbering up from a historic course: St. Andrews, Pinehurst No. 2, Sawgrass, perhaps Pebble Beach or Augusta, and beyond.
And while the possibility of actually playing at some of the top courses around the world is a challenging goal—teetering on impossible—that doesn’t mean it’s a total shank back into reality. That we can’t, at least, take a virtual trip through some of the most exceptional 18 holes that golf has to offer.
Like, say, Riviera Country Club.
Nestled in Pacific Palisades, California, the nearly 100-year-old course is one of the most iconic in all of golf—from the famous members to the clubhouse to the residences that surround the course in the Santa Monica Canyon. This week, the PGA Tour will tee it up there for the Genesis Open.
Hopefully, they won’t mind if we (virtually) play through…
(Note: Yardages are from the Gold Tees)
No. 1: 503 yards, par 5
It’s one of the best opening holes, and one look from the tee box explains why. Some 70 feet above the fairway, with the historic clubhouse behind you, this par 5 is an immediate test of skill (double-bogeys are not uncommon) that also displays an incredible panoramic view of the grounds.
No. 2: 515 yards, par 4
No. 2 doesn’t let up from the lengthy test at the first hole and actually increases the pressure by making this 500-plus yarder a par 4. Rated the most difficult hole on the course—and one of the most challenging par 4s in the PGA —it requires both length and accuracy.
No. 3: 434 yards, par 4
Finally! A sub-500 yard hole. But don’t be fooled—we’re still playing into the breeze coming off the ocean, and the bunker on the left side of the fairway and the one protecting the green make this hole a sneaky-difficult task (7th toughest).
No. 4: 236 yards, par 3
The first par 3 is an absolute doozy—although the tree-lined background makes for a beautiful view. But don’t get sidetracked: you’ve got a 60-yard bunker protecting the green to think about carrying (against the wind) plus a sloped surface that won’t have any problems turning a “3” into a “13.”
No. 5: 434 yards, par 4
Another test that is protected by both trees and out-of-bounds, the fifth hole begins with a semi-blind tee shot and ends with an approach that’s protected by the signature grass mound in front of the green. Even though the distance isn’t too overwhelming, when factoring all the elements, it’s easy to see why No. 5 holds the honor of the fifth most challenging hole.
No. 6: 199 yards, par 3
Riviera’s second par 3 on the front is another opportunity to enjoy the views of the valley (and the homes above it). But don’t get too comfortable: No. 6’s most famous element is a small bunker that’s cut in the middle —yep: middle—of the putting surface.
No. 7: 408 yards, par 4
The narrow fairway on the seventh hole makes for a difficult tee shot—one that you’ll want t keep left while also avoiding a giant bunker that runs up the same side. The wind behind you will help with some carry, but you’ll still have to show off some touch on the approach to the narrow green.
No. 8: 433 yards, par 4
Which way do you want to go—left or right? Heading back toward the clubhouse, the eighth hole features a split fairway. Golfers can either go left, which is the more difficult tee shot but with a more manageable approach. Or they can go to the right, which is a more open fairway but with a lengthier approach shot.
No. 9: 458 yards, par 4
A grand view of Riviera’s clubhouse from the ninth hole welcomes golfers back from the first half of the journey. However, getting through the halfway point without a three-putt (or above) is easier said than done. The third most difficult hole on the course, hitting the ninth green requires executing an uphill approach to a narrow putting surface… that slopes from the back to the front.
No. 10: 315 yards, par 4
Play it safe? Or go for it? The tenth hole tempts golfers as a shorter par 4, with the green a mere 315 yards from the tee box. But be wary: It’s a narrow green from front to back, and aggressive attempts frequently end in double-bogeys (or worse).
No. 11: 583 yards, par 5
The 11th is a long, fairly straight par 5, but also the 10-toughest hole on the course. Teeing off is a challenge. The narrow fairway is lined with Eucalyptus trees, which are a visual treat but trying on approach shots. And if that doesn’t add enough pressure, the green is protected on the right by a large bunker, which only adds to the difficulty of the approach.
No. 12: 479 yards, par 4
Golfers are playing back into the sea breeze on No. 12, which is another challenging par 4. The fairway isn’t as narrow as others, but there is out-of-bounds and deep rough to contend with when teeing off. Then “Bogey’s Tree,” a rather large sycamore to the left of the green awaits your approach shot. It’s nice to look at once you’re on the putting surface, but a tad more daunting when you’re standing in the fairway.
No. 13: 459 yards, par 4
Golfers who struggle to control a draw off the tee (or a fade for the lefties out there) will have a love/hate relationship with No. 13. Lined with more of the signature Eucalyptus trees, the view down the subtle left-bended fairway is what makes Riviera such a stunning course. But hitting into the wind, with those trees blocking your approach…well, that’s a different experience.
No. 14: 192 yards, par 3
To say the 14th hole is the easiest on the course (rated 18th) is to say you’re not looking at the giant bunkers protecting the green, or the trees behind it, and you have no problem with club selection into the prevailing wind.
No. 15: 487 yards, par 4
The second-toughest hole on the course, No. 15 is a mighty dogleg right that would be a challenge for novice golfers even if it was a par 6. The last of the holes that deal with an oncoming sea breeze, the 15th plays longer than its 487 yards, and the sloped green only adds to the difficulty. (That backdrop, though!)
No. 16: 166 yards, par 3
A short par 3 that’s surrounded by deep bunkers, the 16th demands accuracy even though the target sits only 160-plus yards away. The tiny green and sever back-to-front slope makes for a more arduous task than the 14th-easiest rating suggests.
No. 17: 590 yards, par 5
Bunkers on the left. Bunkers on the right. A gentle climb out of the canyon presents another spectacular view, but the nearly 600 yards of real estate that a golfer must progress through just to get to the putting surface makes the 17th a true test.
No. 18: 475 yards, par 4
It doesn’t really need a description—just saying the 18th at Riviera immediately conjures imagery of the semi-blind tee shot, the winding fairway that leads to a green tucked neatly in front of the iconic and historic clubhouse. Truly, a dream hole.
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So, what did you shoot?
