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Riviera Golf Club has two valley courses set along the ridges
where you can enjoy the scenery of the Philippine countryside. There are
36 holes, this more challenging Langer Course and the easier Couples Course
designed by Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples respectively. The Langer Course
has adequate length, over 7,000 yards par 71 with a lot of natural hazards
such as ravines, cliffs, creeks and trees, strategically guarding each hole,
so it is a very demanding layout. Even the single handicapper might hit
over 90 easily. This course best suits advanced players while the beginners
can still enjoy playing in the great outdoors where you never have any man-made
structures in your sight at all except for the clubhouse, because it is
surrounded by natural scenery. There are steep slopes on many holes, so
you should know beforehand which side of the fairway to hit. The short and
long combinations of par 3s, 4s and 5s are good. The course is located on
a hillside and the winds further add to the difficulty. This course frequently
hosts professional events including the 2000 and 2004 Philippine Open.
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The fairway slopes sharply from right to left, so you need to drive to the
right edge of the fairway. The left sides of the green and fairway border
the deep ravine.
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A slightly downhill par 3 over a ravine. There is a cliff on the left of
and behind the green. The bunker in front right of the green comes into
play, too. |
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This long par 5has a cliff on the left and the fairway slopes from right
toward the cliff, so you should hit the tee shot to the right edge of the
fairway. The shape of the green is unique because it is double-tiered sloping
from the front to the back. When the pin is on the back tier, you can't
aim at the pin directly because the slope causes a really nice shot landing
around the pin to roll off the green. This hole is excellent unless the
pin position is on the back tier. |
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A challenging par 3 with a ravine facing the front and left sides of the
green. A right to left player needs to be careful because with too much
draw the ball could end up in big trouble. There are many par 3s with hazards
facing some sides of the greens. Most of the hazards are man-made lakes,
but the holes make full use of natural elements, so it is very charming.
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| There are deep ravines on the left sides of the
fairway and the green. A creek crosses in front of the green. |
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A short par 4. You need a carry of 200 yards to clear the bunkers on the
right half of the fairway. The green is well below the fairway. The green
is wide and double-tiered to the back, and its front side borders a river.
When the pin is on the front tier, only 10 yards wide, the approach shot
is difficult. If you hit short, it will be in the bottom of the river. If
you hit long, it will be on the back tier where you will face a risk of
3 putts because of the downhill slope. Needless to say an accurate approach
shot is a "must" on this hole. To read more about Ranger Course
at Riviera Golf Club, click here to visit my website. |
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This medium length par 4 varies widely as the tee shot is over the ravine
and the second shot is over the river. The landing area off the tee is surrounded
by trees and it looks like “an island fairway”. |
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A par 5 with a deep ravine on the left. The green is slightly elevated and
shared with Hole 3, so it is very long.
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A dynamic par 3 with a small kidney-shaped green that is well below the
tee. The green has subtle undulations. The view on this hole is splendid.
Because it is short, it is not difficult with 9 Iron or PW. |
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| The fairway has strong undulations sloping from
the left to the right. The second shot is gently downhill. The bunkers guarding
the shallow green come into play. On the course, you never have any man-made
structures in your sight at all except for the clubhouse, because it is
surrounded by natural scenery. This tee is the only hole providing you with
the view of a man-made structure, the clubhouse, which gives you a totally
different sensation. |
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It takes 80 minutes by car from Central Manila. The course was voted
as the second best course in Philippines by Golf Magazine Asia in 2004.
Bernhand Langer designed courses in Asia Lotus Hill GR
in China and Tateno Classic GC in Japan.
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1st Par 4 432 yards (2)