With the U.S. Women’s Open taking center stage this weekend at The Riviera Country Club, PGA of America Associate and 2025 two time CNY PGA Major champion, Zach Vinal is offering a unique insider’s breakdown of the iconic venue.
Zach Vinal, PGA of America Associate had the pleasure of living in Southern California for a decade and was lucky enough to play Riviera on numerous occasions, along with walking practice rounds and tournament rounds with PGA Tour players with former boss Jamie Mulligan. That experience gave him a firsthand look at what makes Riviera one of the most respected—and challenging—tests in golf.
As the best players in the world compete at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, the eventual champion will likely do what every successful player at Riviera has done: keep the ball in the fairway.
“Riviera is a perfect blend of challenging and fair and requires you to hit all different types of shots. The premium of driving the ball in the fairway is something that cannot be overstated. The kikuyu grass in the rough makes for some very unpredictable outcomes, as some golf balls that sit down fly out like rockets and others that look like great lies fly like kites.”
While Riviera has a reputation for difficulty, there are also scoring opportunities available for those who execute. “The course starts with an easy par 5 on the 1st hole before progressing to more difficult holes and eventually reaching a great stretch from holes 6 through 9.” Vinal explains.
From there, Riviera begins to reveal some of its most memorable features. “The 10th hole is one of the best holes in golf, presenting a unique tee shot and an even cooler, yet diabolical, green. It rewards creativity and precision while punishing indecision. The 11th feels like a bowling alley, but it presents another scoring opportunity before the course transitions into a demanding stretch of par 3s and par 4s that require both length and precision.”
That balance is what makes Riviera so special. Vinal says, “it is one of the hardest courses I have ever played, but also one of the most opportunistic if you’re playing well. The fairways are nicer than the carpet in your living room, but some tight lies around the greens can make for some nerve-wracking chips. The green complexes feel like they have a mix of all the great greens you have seen throughout courses across America, with some that are very subtle and some that are really funky.”
With all that being said, according to Vinal, Riviera just has a feel to it that not many other places do. It could be the perfect 70-degree days, but the golfing experience, to Zach, is unmatched.
This week, the player who ultimately wins the U.S. Women’s Open will likely be the one who embraces everything Riviera demands—finding fairways, taking advantage of scoring opportunities, navigating its iconic holes, and handling its challenging green complexes. Riviera is difficult, but for those playing their best golf, it offers opportunities at every turn.
Alison Lee and Yin Ruoning currently sit tied at four under par. Tune in and see if they can hold on through the weekend.
Thanks to Zachary Vinal, Director of Golf at Yahnundasis Golf Club for providing insight for this weekends finish at the Women’s US Open!