The Los Angeles Athletic Club commissioned George C. Thomas, an amateur architect who agreed to take on the project free of charge, to design the golf course. It took over 18 months and opened to critical acclaim in 1927. Today, Riviera, is still considered one of the finest natural layouts in all of golf. As Hale Irwin attests, "The integrity of the course is influenced greatly by the fact that no two holes are alike and the course has been placed, rather than forced, into the land."

The beauty in Thomas' design is that each hole presents a new challenge. Johnny Miller, winner of the 1981 Los Angeles Open, described Riviera as, "Definitely one of the greatest, no-nonsense golf courses in the world! It requires a player to play every club in his bag and every shot in his game.". Whether it's a casual round with friends or a major championship, Riviera never ceases to provide a thrilling challenge.

Via Riviera CC