Riviera Country Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, marking a century of championship golf, legendary players and historic moments at one of America’s most recognizable courses.
The Pacific Palisades club held its centennial gala on October 11, honoring a history closely associated with nine-time major champion Ben Hogan and some of the sport’s most memorable tournaments.
A Golf Digest feature published October 17 by Jerry Tarde revisited the club’s legacy, including Hogan’s remarkable rivalry with Sam Snead and his emotional return to competitive golf after a near-fatal car accident.
The anniversary comes during an important period for Riviera, which hosted the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and is preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and 2031 U.S. Open.
Why Is Riviera Country Club Called Hogan’s Alley?
Riviera earned its famous “Hogan’s Alley” nickname because of Ben Hogan’s extraordinary success at the course during the late 1940s.
Hogan won the Los Angeles Open at Riviera in 1947 and successfully defended his title in 1948.
Later that year, he returned to win the U.S. Open, claiming the first of his four national championships.
His victory came with a 72-hole score of 276, setting a championship scoring record at the time.
Three victories at the same venue within approximately 18 months established a remarkable connection between Hogan and Riviera.
Sportswriters began referring to the course as Hogan’s Alley, a nickname that remains closely associated with the club today.
A statue of Hogan near Riviera’s practice putting green continues to recognize his achievements.
The Remarkable 1950 Duel Between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead
One of Riviera’s most memorable tournaments came in January 1950, when Hogan returned to competitive golf following a devastating automobile accident.
In February 1949, Hogan and his wife, Valerie, were involved in a collision with a bus in Texas.
Hogan suffered serious injuries, raising questions about whether he would ever compete professionally again.
Less than a year later, he returned at the Los Angeles Open.
Despite the physical challenges, Hogan produced a four-round total of 280 to finish tied with Sam Snead.
Snead had made a late charge to force an 18-hole playoff.
In the playoff, Snead prevailed with a round of 72 against Hogan’s 76.
Although Hogan did not win, his performance became an important milestone in one of golf’s greatest comebacks.
Only months later, he captured the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion.
The rivalry between Hogan and Snead, revisited in Golf Digest’s centennial feature, remains an important part of Riviera’s historical identity.
A Century of Championship Golf in Los Angeles
Riviera Country Club traces its founding to 1926, when members of the Los Angeles Athletic Club developed plans for a premier golf facility in Pacific Palisades.
The course was designed by George C. Thomas Jr., with William P. Bell involved in its development.
Although the club celebrates its centennial in 2026, its own history identifies June 1927 as the formal opening of the golf course.
Riviera has since become known for its demanding architecture, mature trees, strategically positioned bunkers and distinctive green complexes.
The par-4 10th hole is particularly famous for the decisions it forces players to make.
Although relatively short by professional standards, its positioning and green complex can make an aggressive approach risky.
The course has hosted numerous major championships, including the 1948 U.S. Open, 1983 and 1995 PGA Championships, 1998 U.S. Senior Open and 2017 U.S. Amateur.
It is also the established venue for the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational.
Riviera Marks Its Centennial With a Special Celebration
The club commemorated its anniversary with a centennial gala scheduled for October 11, 2026.
The celebration highlighted Riviera’s sporting and cultural history, including its relationships with Hollywood personalities and prominent figures in business and entertainment.
Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde attended the event and described performances and appearances by well-known entertainers.
The centennial celebration also marked the announced launch of the Riviera Foundation, with beneficiaries including the USGA Foundation, First Tee and several community organizations.
The club and its members have also supported recovery efforts following the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
That connection to the surrounding community gives the anniversary significance beyond the golf course itself.
Nelly Korda Adds Another Chapter to Riviera’s History
Riviera’s centennial year also featured a major achievement in women’s golf.
On June 7, 2026, Nelly Korda won the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera, securing her first title in the championship.
Korda finished at 8-under-par 276, defeating Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by one stroke.
Her final round included a birdie at the par-5 17th hole, followed by a tense par save at the 18th.
The victory marked Korda’s fourth career major championship.
It also added an important women’s golf milestone to a venue traditionally associated with legendary men’s champions.
Riviera Prepares for the 2028 Olympics and 2031 U.S. Open
Riviera’s next major chapter is already scheduled.
The club will host golf at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, bringing some of the world’s leading male and female players to Pacific Palisades.
The Olympic program will also introduce a mixed-team golf event, adding another dimension to the competition.
Three years later, Riviera is scheduled to host the 2031 U.S. Open.
That championship will mark the return of the men’s national open to the course for the first time since Hogan’s historic 1948 victory.
For a club celebrating 100 years in 2026, the upcoming events demonstrate that its championship history is far from complete.
Why Riviera’s 100th Anniversary Matters
Few golf courses have been associated with so many important periods in the sport’s history.
Riviera has witnessed Hogan’s dominance, Snead’s rivalry, major championship victories and generations of PGA Tour competition.
Its centennial recognizes those achievements while highlighting a future that includes Olympic golf and another U.S. Open.
For more about the course’s design, layout and reputation, read our Riviera Country Club golf course review.
A century after its founding, Riviera remains a connection between golf’s most celebrated past and its next generation of champions.
Reporting sources: Golf Digest’s October 17 centennial feature, Riviera Country Club’s official history, the PGA Tour, USGA, LA28 and the club’s centennial announcement.