Yard for yard, few holes provide as much temptation as the
311-yard 10th at Riviera Country Club. Players can reach the green with as
little as 3-wood; but with even a small mistake, they’ll do well to make par on
a hole that Jack Nicklaus considers his favorite short par 4.
Although Riviera opened in 1927, the 10th is a late bloomer. The
original green built by George C. Thomas and Billy Bell was bunkerless; the
bunkers were added two years later. In 1993 Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored
the green so more of the back hole locations could be used.
Also at the time, then-superintendent Jim McPhilomy and
then-director of golf Peter Oosterhuis restored the right side of the fairway,
which had been covered with rough, and reintroduced closely mown grass in front
of the green—bringing back temptation and options.
Most recently, Tom Fazio’s design firm has consulted on additional
changes—moving the fairway bunker to tighten the lay-up area, and bringing the
rear bunker back into play.
There are numerous ways to play the hole and part of the 10th’s
greatness is its staying power: Bobby Jones tried to drive the green when he
played here in 1930, and the pros are still trying it three-quarters of a
century later.
To further analyze the hole’s qualities, we turn to a roundtable
of experts:
Tom Doak: Of all the great golf holes in America, the 10th might
be the least imposing to the untrained eye. It’s certainly the flattest great
hole I’ve seen.
Geoff Shackelford, golf architecture writer and former Riviera
historian: Most holes ask you to cut a corner to open up the best angle; here it
is the opposite. For the most consistent chance at birdie, you have to play away
from the shortest, straightest line to the hole.
