We were lucky enough to start our 2016 golf season at Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course on what was now our third trip to Los Angeles since starting ROP in 2011. In 2012 we played Riviera Country Club; in 2014 we played Bel-Air Country Club, and having played LACC North in 2006, it was great to get back and see the amazing renovations that were made to the course by Gil Hanse, Geoff Shackelford and their team.
The renovations undoubtedly refueled U.S. Open discussions to bring the tournament back to Los Angeles, and after careful consideration by the membership, the Open will be hosted at the North Course in 2023. It will be the first time since 1948 since Los Angeles last hosted a U.S. Open when it was played at Riviera Country Club, won by Ben Hogan. The location alone will make the Open special, as the North and South courses are located right in the heart of LA off of Wilshire Boulevard.
We were able to see first hand how the changes Hanse made has toughened up the course and restored the variety that George Thomas originally designed. The original style of bunkering was restored and multiple holes were rerouted to their original designs. Tree removal opened up some great vistas and a few green surfaces were restored. The result is a truly amazing look and even better course to play. The large undulating greens will make for some tough pin positions in tournament play. The overall result is one of the best courses in the Country, and a challenging U.S. Open caliber golf course.
The variety of teeing options throughout the course are amazing, showing off the brilliance of Thomas’ original vision when he built the course in the early 20’s. The USGA will have a plenty of options as to how to set up the course for the Walker Cup in 2017 which will help in deciding the best way to set it up for the Open.
The front nine is situated in the valley making for a few stout uphill par-4’s and great par-3’s. True to a Thomas design, the round gets started on a straightforward par-5 that is reachable in two followed by a long and difficult par-4 second (very much like the first 2 holes at Riviera). The original second green was restored on the other side of the creek that runs through the end of the fairway, but the new green was also kept to provide another option of how to play the hole. The 3rd hole is a shorter uphill par-4 with hazard running down the left to a large green back-to-front green. A back pin position is tough to get to, with a large bunker that will grab any shot that comes up short.
The 4th hole is the first par-3 and one of the best. The elevated makes wind a factor, and missing the green leaves you either in a difficult bunker or in the waste area surrounding the green. The photo above from behind the green shows how elevated the tee is and the well protected green.
The 5th hole is a long difficult par-4 with a semi-blind tee shot to a short, well protected green. From the back tees this hole plays over 500 yards and is the No. 1 handicap hole. It’s a small target on the approach with a long iron in your hand.
Thomas follows the hardest hole on the course with a great short par-4 that gives players the option to drive the green. Of course, it’s a major risk-reward scenario as the green is blind from the tee and is by all means a postage stamp green. Much like the 10th hole at Riviera, playing it safe still makes for a challenge since the approach is to the shallow part of the green (as seen above). Anything short or long makes par unlikely.
One of the best tee box renovations is on the par-3 7th hole, where the tee was restored directly above the 6th green. This makes for a long par-3 for the pro’s at nearly 270 yards, but also provides members the option to play it as a short par-4. This par-3 makes amazing use of the natural landscape and the massive green can make for a variety of pin positions. The eighth hole is a par-5 with one of the tougher tee shots. The fairway goes out to the left and then switches back out to the right with hazard down the right and left. The front nine ends on a fun par-3 uphill over the canyon to a small undulating green. Depending on where the pin is, putting can be a real challenge if out of position.
The back nine is a real treat, with some amazing views of the Los Angeles skyline. You’re reminded that you’re playing golf in the middle of Los Angeles, which is truly amazing. The tenth hole is a straight-away hole with a split fairway shared with the 16th hole. A massive bunker in the middle of the fairway makes you decide whether to play it left or right (left brings more trouble into play but is the shortest route).
The par-3 eleventh is the signature hole at LACC. As you can see from our photo above, you can see the Los Angeles skyline from the tee. The restored bunkering around the green makes for an amazing look and one of the best par-3’s in all of golf. The long hole (200 yards) allows for a run-up approach to a large green. It’s a fair par-3 with the biggest penalty for missing short.
The 12th hole is a tough uphill dogleg left par-4 with a blind tee shot. A U.S. Open tee is being added to the hillside behind the 11th green so that pro’s can’t cut the corner, which will make for a beast of a hole.
The thirteenth is cut into the hillside making for a left to right sloping fairway. The approach is easiest from the left, and anything that rolls to the right side of the fairway leaves a bind second shot.With plenty of room out to the left, going for the pin is a risky decision.
The 14th hole is a long dogleg left par-5, giving the option to cut the corner over the bunkers on the right. Even with a bombed drive, the green is well protected by a massive front bunker and the run up option is narrow. A solid par five leading into a great finishing stretch.
The finishing holes at LACC are second to none. The short par-3 15th shouldn’t be taken for granted as a front pin makes for about as small of a target possible. A back pin lengthens the short shot but the back to front sloping green makes it tough to hold.
The sixteenth is a stout, straight-away par-4 with the fairway adjoining the 10th. Anything right slopes away and can leave a blocked approach to the green. The large front bunker makes the pin position deceiving, a strategic hole that takes a lot of thought. The 17th is an amazing long par-4 that requires two great shot’s to hit the green in regulation. The length and difficulty of both the tee shot and approach makes for a tough finishing hole. The 18th is a slight dogleg back up the hill toward the clubhouse, another long four that makes players want to cut the corner over the bunkers. The safe play is out to the right but leaves for a tough angle and longer approach, another great Thomas strategy on what seems like a straightforward hole.
It was an honor to play a Thomas masterpiece, especially one that has been so accurately restored to his original design. The new bunkering makes for a striking look, and much more difficulty around the greens. The routing and the variety of teeing options makes for an unbelievable golfing experience. It will be fun to watch the Walker Cup in 2017 and will be a big deal when the U.S. Open return to Los Angeles for the first time since 1948 when it was hosted at Riviera.
George Wolfe