Hole 3 at Riviera Country Club, The

Pacific Palisades, California
Par
4
Yardage
434 yds
Stroke index
5
Hazards
4 bunkers
Hole 3 aerial at Riviera Country Club, The

Aerial source not provided

Green size: 30 yds deep × 34 yds wide

Scorecard yardage is for Championship tees. The aerial shows its labeled reference position; distance rings measure to the green.

Championship tees · Par 4 · 434 yards

The plan for No. 3

Choose the drive with the shallow green in mind. Position matters because the second shot needs both a useful angle and controlled depth.

Off the tee

The left side offers a better view into a green defended on the right. Use that advantage only if it fits your normal dispersion; forcing a tight edge can lose more than the angle gains.

Approach & recovery

Measure front, middle and back rather than working from the flag alone. Choose a shot whose carry and expected release fit the available depth, especially from a lie that may reduce spin.

On the green

Limited front-to-back room makes a pin-high miss less appealing than it sounds. A putt from the broader portion of the surface is a useful result.

Watch for

  • Right greenside bunker
  • Limited approach landing depth

Hole 3 Green Complex

Mapped green boundary

Green Surface

Green size: 5,102 sq ft

Dimensions
30y Deep × 34y Wide
Mapped green boundary

Course coverage

Tournament and creator videos about Riviera Country Club, The — shared course coverage, not hole-specific clips.

Tournament coverage

Genesis Invitational highlights

Genesis Invitational | Final Round Highlights

2025

Featured by these creators

Creator videos about this course

YouTube creators who filmed or featured Riviera Country Club, The. · Stats as of Oct 12, 2026 · 5d ago

Explore golf creators →

Key Holes at the 2026 U.S. Women's Open with a Former LPGA Caddie | Riviera Country Club

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Frequently asked questions

Yardage reference: Championship tees · 434 yards.

What's the best strategy off the tee?

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For this 434-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 3?

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This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers.

How big is the green on hole 3?

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The green is medium-sized with moderate targets. The green is wider than it is deep, rewarding shots that find the correct tier. Pay attention to pin placement when selecting your approach club.

What's a good score on hole 3?

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This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.

Research notes

  • Left fairway position improves the angle; the green is shallow. (02:05–02:30 (inspected frame interval))[1]
  • George C. Thomas designed the course, which opened in 1927. (Opening course-history paragraph)[2]
  • Riviera pairs an inviting opening par 5 with a demanding second and distinctive par 3s at 4, 6, 14 and 16. (Starting holes / Par-3 holes)[3]
  • The 2018 firsthand account links lost strokes to automatic driver selection and unfamiliar kikuyu lies; it supports checking landing positions and the actual lie rather than copying club choices. (0:16:55–0:18:23)[4]

Sources

  1. 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Course Tour: Flyovers of Every Hole at Riviera Country Club — USGAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwVslv8sGAc
  2. Riviera Golf Club — course history — The Riviera Country Clubhttps://www.therivieracountryclub.com/golf-club
  3. Major similarities — The Genesis Invitationalhttps://genesisinvitational.com/news/major-similarities/
  4. Playing The Riviera Country Club — The 19th Hole Golf Show / Golf News Nethttps://audioboom.com/posts/7052694-playing-the-riviera-country-club