If you’re making travel plans in California, you might want to time your trip to coincide with the West Coast Swing, which will once again be staged at some of California’s most legendary courses, most of which have histories dating back nearly a hundred years.
Torrey Pines Golf Course – Farmers Insurance Open
Before it was a world class golf facility, the land that would become Torrey Pines Golf Course was Camp Callen, an anti-aircraft replacement training center during World War II. In exchange for an occupational permit to use the lower portion of the park, the military, according to the City of San Diego, had to guarantee that no part of the park would be damaged and that it would be kept open to the public.
After the war, the camp was closed and its buildings were torn down and used for lumber to build housing for veterans. It was around this time that legendary golf architect William P. Bell “began envisioning the design of a wind and sea swept golf course that would afford golfers both rugged play and breathtaking surroundings” and so a special city election was held in 1956 that resulted in about 100 acres of what had been Camp Callan being set aside for the construction of a public golf course.
After Bell’s death in 1953, his son, William F. Bell, realized his father's vision by overseeing the completion of the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, which have hosted some of the most exciting finishes in PGA history, including Johnny Miller out-dueling Jack Nicklaus to win the 1982 San Diego Open (now Farmers Insurance Open) by one stroke and Tiger Woods’ battle with Rocco Mediate to win the 2008 U.S. Open in a sudden-death playoff.
Pebble Beach Golf Links – AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Shortly after it was completed in 1919, significant changes were made to Pebble Beach Golf Links. The California Golf Association, which reportedly didn’t accept the new course as a site for its amateur championship, felt that the 345-yard par-4 18th hole was too easy. With this in mind, course owner Samuel F.B. Morse hired Arthur H. Vincent, who lengthened the course to 6,200 yards, changed five greens, and moved the 18th tee to its current location near the 17th.
The next major changes took place in preparation for the 1929 U.S. Amateur Championship, when H. Chandler Egan re-shaped and re-bunkered each green, moved the 1st tee to create today’s dog-legged opening hole, reconfigured the 10th hole, added length to the 2nd, 9th and 14th holes, and moved the 16th green to a natural depression behind a grove of trees, extending the hole more than 100 yards.
Almost 60 years later, Pebble Beach Golf Links unveiled a new 5th hole designed by Jack Nicklaus, which was placed on a parcel of prime oceanfront land that Pebble Beach Company had wanted to re-acquire for 80 years. And under the direction of Arnold Palmer, additional preparations were made for the 2010 U.S. Open: four greens and 16 bunkers were rebuilt, altered or installed; 11 tees were enhanced; six holes saw the addition or adjustment of trees; and the total length of the course was extended to 7,040 yards.
The Riviera Country Club – Northern Trust Open
In 1922, Los Angeles Athletic Club Vice-President Frank Garbutt began a search for the site upon which The Riviera Country Club would be built. To purchase the land from an oil millionaire, a syndicate was formed, according to therivieracountryclub.com, with final negotiations and financing details for the deal taking nearly three years to complete.
Though initially unimpressed by “the barren site in the Santa Monica Canyon,” golf architect George C. Thomas Jr., who had recently completed the design and construction of the Bel-Air Country Club, agreed to design a course for Riviera, with the condition that he be allowed to hire William P. Bell as the construction supervisor.
After 18 months of construction, Riviera opened on June 24, 1927, with George Thomas hitting the inaugural drive off the first tee. The total cost of construction reportedly amounted to $243,827.63, making Riviera the second most expensive 18-hole layout in the world at the time.
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