Riviera Country Club: George Thomas’s Hollywood Hills Masterpiece
Riviera is George C. Thomas Jr.’s celebrated 1927 design, a classic Los Angeles course whose strategic barrancas, bold greens and famous short par-4 10th have shaped generations of championship golf.
Riviera Country Club opened in 1927 after George C. Thomas Jr. developed his celebrated design for the Los Angeles Athletic Club members who founded the club. Set in the folds of the Santa Monica Mountains, the course uses barrancas, ridges and strategic green complexes to create a distinctive championship test. It has been the long-time home of the Genesis Invitational and has hosted a range of major events.
A George Thomas design shaped by the barrancas
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Thomas built Riviera around the natural movement of the canyon land. Barrancas cross or frame several holes, creating a series of strategic questions from the tee and on approach. The course asks players to recognise when a direct route is worthwhile and when the safer angle offers a better chance to reach the green in regulation. Its setting is close to Los Angeles, yet the course feels sheltered within the hills.
The 10th hole: a short par 4 with several options
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Riviera’s 10th is one of the most recognisable short par 4s in championship golf. The green sits close to the tee, but bunkers and the shape of the putting surface make the decision to drive the green a genuine risk-reward question. A lay-up can leave a full wedge, while an aggressive play asks for precision and a careful read of the contours. It is a compact hole that offers several ways to make a score.
A private club and the Genesis Invitational stage
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Riviera is a private club and does not operate as a public resort course with ordinary walk-up tee times. Its tournament profile is best known through the Genesis Invitational, which has returned to Riviera for many editions. Championship spectator admission is arranged separately from playing access. Any opportunity to play is subject to the club’s membership and guest policies and should be confirmed directly.
Riviera’s short 10th is a lesson in risk and imagination.
The 10th offers several routes to the same green, making it a miniature version of the strategic choices that define the entire Thomas design.
Understand Riviera’s private-club access
Riviera Country Club is private and does not offer ordinary public tee-time booking. Genesis Invitational spectator admission is a separate event arrangement and does not provide playing access. Confirm any guest invitation through the club and its membership rules.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Who designed Riviera Country Club?
George C. Thomas Jr. designed the course, which opened in 1927.
What is distinctive about the 10th hole?
It is a short par 4 with a green close to the tee, creating a risk-reward choice between an aggressive drive and a lay-up.
Which tournament is associated with Riviera?
The course has long hosted the Genesis Invitational.
Can the public book a tee time?
No. Riviera is a private club; championship spectator access is separate from permission to play.
