GOLF / THOMAS BONK : Greens at Riviera Improving Slowly

They were slow and not all that thick, but Riviera’s greens were not a controversy this week, which is one of the Nissan L.A. Open’s success stories.

Since they were rebuilt in 1993, the condition of Riviera’s greens has been an issue, mainly because the L.A. Open was the professional test of the greens after last year’s problems when they were roundly criticized.

There’s a note of urgency about getting Riviera’s greens in the best shape possible because the PGA Championship will be played at the storied course Aug. 10-13.

There will be nothing wrong with them by then, according to course superintendent Bill Baker.

“They’re a little slow,” Baker said. “But they won’t be there in August.”

Baker said he has been “a little protective” of the greens, double-rolling and double-cutting them.

The greens are built on a sand base following U.S. Golf Assn. specification, Baker said.

When the greens fill in, the less they will spike up. Baker also said the greens are being brushed by hand to cut down on the spike marks.

“The comments from the players have generally been very positive,” he said. “The greens are bumpy to some extent, due to the grass being a little bit thin and not mature. But what we’re hearing the most is how much they are improved over last year.”

Ben Crenshaw was the architect for the rebuilding of the greens on the course designed by George Thomas in 1926. Improved drainage was one of the goals, and was accomplished.

Crenshaw’s mission was to save the original contours of the greens. Using laser technology, the contours were retained. Crenshaw also undertook saving the characteristics of the bunkers.

Even with recent successes, there have been problems. At last year’s L.A. Open, the Riviera greens had not filled in and were not solidly established.

Players complained, and officials became worried that Riviera’s greens wouldn’t be ready for the L.A. Open, if not the PGA.

They seemed satisfied this week.

Craig Stadler, who said he had trouble getting the ball to stop on the greens, said, “They putt a lot better than they look. They rolled pretty good.”

Brad Faxon, one of the better putters, said he was impressed.

“They’re starting to get better,” he said. “They’re 100% better than last year.”

Corey Pavin also liked the way the ball was rolling on the greens.

“I’m surprised how full the greens are,” Pavin said. “They’re better than I expected and a lot better than last year.”

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Schedule-maker: It looks as if there’s going to be a big shake-up in the West Coast schedule of PGA Tour events in 1996.

Although it’s not final, the lineup, in order, looks like this: the Mercedes Championship at La Costa, the Northern Telecom Open at Tucson, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the Phoenix Open, the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, the United Airlines Hawaiian Open and the L.A. Open.

The biggest changes involve the Hope, which moves up four weeks, and the Hawaiian Open, which drops from the second week of the season to the next-to-last event.

Riviera’s last spot on the West Coast is the least favorable because it precedes the Florida schedule, but it’s traditionally in such a position because players like the course and are likely to play anyway.

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Home on the . . . : The ball Crenshaw mistook for his own and hit twice on the 11th hole to get a two-shot penalty Friday at Riviera was a range ball.

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Fight on? Pavin, who went to UCLA, jokingly yearns to be known as a long hitter. Someone questioned his would-be change in style.

Q: “Something wrong with gutty little Bruins?”

Pavin: “Nothing. Better than being a Trojan.”

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On the job: In this week’s Sports Illustrated, there is a picture of President Clinton and former Presidents Bush and Ford before they played golf in the Bob Hope Classic.

Over Ford’s shoulder in the background of the picture is Orange Country Register golf writer John Strege.

Strege’s caption: “Three Republicans and a Democrat.”

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Murray news: Times columnist Jim Murray has been named the honorary chairman of the PGA Championship.

Murray, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1990, was awarded the PGA of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award for journalism in 1993.

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Body trouble: Al Geiberger, who was sidelined for most of the 1994 Senior PGA Tour season because of a torn rotator cuff and a sore heel, is going to play in the FHP Health Care Classic at Ojai next week.

Said Geiberger: “A lot of body parts tend to give you trouble when you get older.”

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Golf Notes

The Los Angeles Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf League is having its second annual membership drive March 5 at Brookside golf course in Pasadena. Details: (310) 645-4271. . . . Those 55 and older will receive free grounds admissions to the pro-am at the Nabisco Dinah Shore March 21 at Mission Hills Country Club. . . . Cleveland Golf is donating golf equipment to the Young Golfers of America, a Los Angeles-based group promoting golf programs for economically disadvantaged youth.