Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club isn’t just one of the most best courses in California, but also the US.
The course is particularly known as the host of the PGA Tour Signature Event, the Genesis Invitational, having become the tournament’s permanent home in 1973.
Ambitious Beginnings
There were grand ambitions for Riviera Country Club from the moment it was founded, in 2026, by members of the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
After identifying the Santa Monica Canyon site, they commissioned George C. Thomas Jr to design the course, and they didn’t hold back on the expense.
When it opened for business in 1927, the total cost had come to $243,827, almost four times the average cost to build a course at that time.
There’s little argument that it was worth the expense, as it opened to huge acclaim and nowadays is considered Thomas Jr’s masterpiece.
A year after the course opened, the famous Spanish revival-style clubhouse followed for $450,000.
Centenary Year
The US Women’s Open trophy comest from Riviera Country Club in its centenary year
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The club is celebrating its centennial in 2026.
One big reason to celebrate comes with its hosting of the Genesis Invitational, something it wasn’t able to do in 2025 because of the LA wildfires, which forced the tournament to temporarily move to Torrey Pines.
The Genesis Invitational is not the only big event taking place at Riviera in its centenary year. The US Women’s Open also comes from the Pacific Palisades venue for the first time.
Olympic Sports Venue
Equestrian was held at Riviera Country Club at the 1932 Olympics
(Image credit: Getty Images)
While Riviera Country Club soon gained a reputation as a brilliant venue to play golf, for a short time, the course hosted another sport.
When the 1932 Olympics came to Los Angeles, Riviera Country Club was used for its equestrian event and the riding section of its modern pentathlon event.
Big Tournaments
The 2028 Olympics is one of several big occasions coming to Riviera…
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