Riviera Country Club, CA, USA   

9^th hole, 420 yards: A grand hole, the imposing clubhouse captures the eye to the point where many golfers don't appreciate how uphill the hole really plays - until they learn after the round that it is often termed the longest 420 yarder in golf. Thomas's well placed bunkers (a right fairway bunker at the 190 yard mark and a left hand bunker further up at the 240 yard mark) further break the perception of its uphill nature. The green itself is overshadowed by Thomas/Bell's bunkering but its steep back to front pitch provides several of the hardest hole locations on the course. 

The staggered nature of the bunkers up the 9th fairway is well conceived. The short fade bunker
by the caddie is a full fifty yards in front of the long draw bunker, though they
look almost equi-distant from the tee.

10^th hole, 315 yards: The only reason not to consider this the finest short two shotter in the game is that the green is of such a size (under 3,000 sq.ft.) that - similar to the 8th at Pine Valley - a formal alternate green is put into play several days a week. However, when the Thomas green is in play,  overlooking the play of the hole from the hillside behind the tee is rewarding in itself as one sees all the different manners in which players attempt to tackle the hole.

Though the hole's defenses are laid out in clear view before the golfer, Thomas doesn't give
the golfer any indication as to how he should play it.

This view from behind the 10th green (which is only nine paces across at its narrowest point)
highlights the green's orientation to receive a shot from the left of the fairway.

13th hole, 440 yards; Though this hole has become treelined as opposed to its entire left side originally playing along the wash, the 13th still plays very well. A draw to the inside of the dogleg offers the best stance and angle into the right to left pitched green. 

15^th hole, 440 yards: A fine compliment to the 13th, Thomas asks the golfer to fade his tee ball past a well placed fairway bunker that intrudes into the line of play on the inside of this dogleg right. Thomas made the hole remarkable by constructing a green higher on the left and right hand sides and lower in the middle.

The well positioned and constructed bunker on the inside of the 15th fairway must be carefully avoided
as reaching the green from it is highly unlikely. The golfers up ahead are leaving the green.

Though the front left hole locations are tough to get near, and the ones in the swale are fun,
none can compare in difficulty to the back right one pictured above.

16th hole, 165 yards; As at the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club, Thomas had no reservation about placing a short one shotter late in the round. Yet, when was the last time a modern architect built a short one shotter in the last few holes? Sand Hills is one such example but there are not many others. Thomas realized that such a shot was just as good - if not better -  at exposing the golfer's nerves as a long one shotter hole.

Surrounded left, front, and right by sand, even the greedy are smart to ignore the hole location
and aim for the middle of the this tiny 2,500 sq.ft. green.

18^th hole, 440 yards: The famed finishing hole best illustrates Thomas thoughts on the merits of having a tough two shot closer. The hole has separated the better player as well as any finishing hole in golf for over seventy years.

The abrupt rise off the 18th tee will surprise the first time visitor who has
just played sixteen relatively flat holes in a row.

The thrill of hitting a long iron approach into the 18th green at Riviera remains high,
even if the hillside isn't full of gawking spectators!

As for weaknesses, there were none as the original design was nearly a perfect course in the early 1930s with only the 14th hole being anything less than of exception (and it is a fine hole).

When all said and done, there may not be a better example of a golf course architect's skill than Riviera Country Club. One can only hope that any further work carried out to Thomas's masterpiece will be done so with a respect and understanding as to why this is one of golf's most monumental designs. Fully restored, Riviera would be amongst the world's dozen greatest courses, a fate that both Thomas and it deserve.

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