Riviera or Los Angeles CC North? Our partners disagree

What is the number?

GOLF’s new ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the US is just that: a list of the best courses in the country, arranged in numerical order, “1” being the best.

It sounds straightforward. Hard statistics, hard facts. But as anyone who follows ratings knows, while the list itself is cut and dried, the thinking behind it is not. It reflects the views of our fellow students. They are sharp-eyed and well-traveled, these people know their stuff. But in the end what they offer are their opinions. Which brings us back to the question above.

What is the number? Or, to put it more specifically, what makes a course “better” than one ranked below?

To provide a deeper understanding of the thinking behind the standards, we asked our partners to take sides in a series of “Which is better?” arguments: a comparison of studies aimed at clarifying how our panelists think about design. We started last week with a discussion of two top 100 public access courses, Pebble Beach and Pacific Dunes. This time, we look at a pair of prestigious private courses, the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club and the Riviera, which are ranked 10th and 14th, respectively, on the new GOLF list. Which is better? Read on.

LACC North is better!

This debate is like choosing between your favorite child. I wouldn’t begrudge George Thomas if he was asked this question, especially in the very different but admirable way in which both studies are conducted. That said, the North Course at LACC is a personal favorite and would be my choice if I only had one round to play.

For me, LACC’s case starts with its scale. It’s long and wide (albeit heavy), and swings through unexpected elevation changes. The Angles Army is happy here – you face a variety of shots in the existing strong conditions, which allow the balls to get the full width of the area and thus reveal a lot of looks on the old geometric greens.

With its size and variety, you are also playing a golf course, with options that are always needed: The challenging 6th is drivable but dangerous; taking a second shot at the hanging lie in section 5 8; to follow the front right pin on the 15th. And so on. From start to finish, the course demands your mental and physical fitness.

The Riviera has amazing charms and quirks (I love the basement in the heart of the 6th green), and lots of teeth (the stout par 3 4th and the par-4 14th, for example). But I’m not sure that every hole plays today as originally intended, including the reduced (in theory) driveable tenth green and the sticky kikuyu in front of the par-3 4th, which prevents the use of Redan-esque slopes. – Is Davenport

The Riviera is better!

This is a hot question in Los Angeles golf circles. But I prefer to put it in a global context. In my mind, what sets the courses apart – both George Thomas designs have proven to be championship worthy – is the number of holes that can be considered among the greatest holes in the world. In that head-to-head, Riviera gets the edge.

Let’s start with the first hole at Riviera, which Arnold Palmer called “the great first hole in golf.” A tee shot is a fun and exciting way to start your day. The 2nd is a beauty and the beast, and it tracks well the opening “Getaway Hole”, which Thomas often used. The fourth includes the first Redan ever built on the West Coast. Ben Hogan said it was the biggest stage 3 in America.

The 6th is a par-3 with a lodge in the middle of the green, with a wonderful formation to get around that trap if needed. It’s my favorite green strategy anywhere. The 9th is a nice par-4 that works back towards the clubhouse, with options to play boldly or safely off the tee. For the tenth time? It is often considered the best golf 4 handicap.

The rhythm continues throughout the back nine, on the 15th (a long par-4 with a stunning double-plateau green); the 16th (a small green on a par-3 that is graced by George Thomas’ amazing bunkers); and the 18th – one of the best finishes of the game – has just been extended to 498 yards, uphill, returning Thomas’ first angle. All the legends have walked this journey to finish.

Some holes on the Riviera are great in their own right. There is no weakness in the area. But the holes above are bright.

As for LACC North, the biggest holes in the world for me would be 2, 7, 8, maybe 11, and 17. The rest is a combination of good to very good. Calculate the score in this extraordinary wind of the top 15 golf courses, and Riviera wins me the game. – Michael Robin