Famous Members of Riviera Country Club are Walt Disney, Douglas Fairbanks, Tom Brady, Mary Pickford, Adam Sandler, and many more notables.

Riviera has one of the most beautiful and celebrated courses not just in the US, but around the world. A course with so much history is a joy to the eye especially with its revamped look and new clubhouse.

The home of the Genesis Invitational of the PGA Tour, the course is in close distance to neighboring towns, Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

The logistics for the golfers are very suitable as the nearest airport, the LAX airport is a mere 30-minute drive to the course. Apart from the golf course, the Country Club also has one of the oldest tennis clubs with members from all levels.

Riveria has over 1,000 members and has a standard and strict dress code for the members as well as the guests. Members are barred from using their cell phones in the Dining Room, Bar, and Grill areas. 

Along with hosting the PGA Tour, the course is very much in sync with Hollywood. A-listers are very prominent in the course and also has been a filming location for several movies.

Riviera Country Club Members In 2023

Tom Brady, Mark Wahlberg, Luke Wilson, and Hugh Grant are some of the most prominent members of the famous golf course in 2023.

Notable names who have been a member of the club are:

  • Douglas Fairbanks
  • Mary Pickford
  • Walt Disney
  • Peter Falk
  • Humphrey Bogart
  • Glen Campbell
  • Vic Damone
  • Jack Ging
  • Dean Martin
  • Gregory Peck
  • Hal Roach
  • Conrad Veidt
  • Bring Cosby
  • Bob Hope
  • Adam Sandler
  • Larry David
  • Jack Nicholson

Mark Wahlberg (left) alongside Bubba Watson is among the latest to be part of the Club.
Source : twitter

The famous and beautiful golf course is not new to famous personalities gracing the greens in California. Along with the Elites of the sport, many celebrities are part of one of the greatest courses.

Fairbanks and Pickford were among the firsts in Hollywood to have started playing at the Riviera. "Bogey's Tree" is the name given to a tree on the 13th hole, where Humphrey Bogart would sip on his bourbon and watch the Los Angeles Open.

Riviera has also been a fantastic location for movies and can be dated back to the 1927 movie, Spring Fever. The course has been the location for a total of 18 movies/shows in its history.

Riviera Country Club Membership Cost

Riviera Country Club initiation fee is at a whopping $250,000-$300,000 with the addition of annual dues that can reach as high as $40,000.

The membership cost can go as high as $300,000. But, there are some other ways as well through which you can play at the Riviera golf course.

  • Getting an invitation from a member of the club. It will cost you $350 to gain access and the fees do not include the caddy fee and tip.
  • An annual event is held by a Children's Charity Big Brother Big Sisters of LA. To get 1 twosome, two reception gala spots, and a caddie, it will cost you $4500.
  • Before the Genesis Invitational, two Pro-Am Tournaments are held on Monday and Wednesday. This is another way to play on the course but only if you have funds in thousands to spare.

Where Is Riviera Country Club Located?

Riviera Country Club is located at 1250 Capri Drive Pacific Palisades, California 90272, United States. The club was founded way back in 1926.

The private golf course is known for being the primary host for the Genesis Invitational golf tournament which is on the PGA Tour. The venue has hosted the tournament 60 times.

Riviera has also hosted three Major Championships in the past along with hosting the U.S. Senior Open in 1998.

  • U.S. Open - 1948
  • PGA Championship - 1983, 1995

Glorious aerial view of the famous Riviera Club in California.
Source : twitter

Riviera Country Club clubhouse on December 18, 2018, had a grand opening. The two-story 60,000 square feet clubhouse cost $37 million. 

The clubhouse features an 8,000 sq. ft fitness center and aquatic complex in addition to an event room that can host up to 400 members. It also provides guest rooms for an overnight stay with a total of 27 suites for members with scenic views.

Since several celebrities have stayed in the guest rooms, you can also find nameplates on the rooms that they have previously stayed in along with the pictures on the walls of the clubhouse.

Some of the hotels near the golf course are:

  • Brentwood Inn
  • The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica
  • Channel Road Inn, A Four Sisters Inn
  • Santa Monica Proper Hotel
  • Sonder at Found Santa Monica

Riviera Country Club Architect

George Clifford Thomas Jr. and William Park Bell are the primary architects of the Riveria. Park Bell significantly contributed to the designs.

The Los Angeles Athletic Club Golf Course was the former name established 97 years ago. It is considered one of the best courses in the world.

Golf course architect George C. Thomas Jr. has designed more than twenty golf courses in California alone. In collaboration with other designers, they formed the "Philadelphia School" of golf course architecture and designed over 300 courses as a group.

The view of the newly built clubhouse looks amazing from the lush green course
Source : twitter

William P. Bell on the other hand is a notable architect himself. His designs can be primarily found in Southern California and have more than 50 courses to his name. 

The duo built one of the most expensive courses with a total expenditure of $243,827, including the entire golf course and the country club. 

The par 71 course has a total length of 7,322 yards or 6,695 meters, with a 75.6-course rating. The course has 18 holes and is ranked in the Top 50 golf courses in the world. Most significantly, it is set to be the official site of the 2028 Olympics golf tournament.

Riviera Country Club Course Record

Past winners at Riviera Country Club are:

  • John Rahm (2023)
  • Joaquin Niemann (2022)
  • Max Homa (2021)
  • Adam Scott (2020)
  • J.B Holmes (2019)
  • Bubba Watson (2018)
  • Dustin Johnson (2017)
  • Bubba Watson (2016)
  • James Hahn (2015)
  • Bubba Watson (2014)

Bubba Watson has won the Genesis Invitational 3 times in his career
Source : twitter

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm is the most recent winner at the Genesis Invitational. Rahm triumphed over Max Homa and Patrick Cantlay to victory.

Likewise, J. Niemann overcame the challenge from Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young to lift the silverware with two strokes margin in 2022.