There’s an Open at Riviera, and Maybe an Open House Too

If you have a spare $100 million lying around and golf is your thing, you might want to consider buying Riviera Country Club.

Keep in mind, there’s no extra charge for eucalyptus, kikuyu and barrancas.

Anyway, the place is on the market-- apparently. That’s because Riviera’s owners won’t admit publicly they’ve stuck a bunch of For Sale signs in the front lawn.

In fact, here’s what Michael Yamaki of Marukin Corp. says about Riviera-for-sale stories: “Because of the economic worries in Japan, there are rumors regarding every course owned by the Japanese. People make offers, but that doesn’t mean it’s for sale.”

Fair enough. But who’s making offers to whom? Riviera sources say that when Arnold Schwarzenegger was being interviewed recently about his desire to join the club (and pay the $75,000 membership fee), he was asked if he wouldn’t mind upping the money a little bit and just going ahead and buying the whole darned place.

Gerd Koening, the club’s general manager, was unavailable for comment.

So as it stands now, Riviera is for sale . . . probably.

Marukin completed its purchase of Riviera in 1989 and paid $108 million for a bunch of real estate with holes in it.

CROSBY GOES CLUBBING

Nathaniel Crosby knew it was time to change jobs when he was working for Jack Nicklaus Golf and Jack Nicklaus visited with clubmaker Ely Callaway.

“It certainly dampens your enthusiasm when you’re coughing up your rib cage with your work and you see Jack visiting Callaway,” Crosby said.

So Crosby, one of Bing Crosby’s sons and the 1981 U.S. Amateur champion, went to work with Orlimar . . . and bingo, it has been quite a match.

Orlimar makes nine fairway woods and has been the biggest news in the clubmaking business this year. Crosby was working Riviera’s driving range early in the week, trying to convince the senior players to put Orlimar’s Trimetal woods in their bags.

He had some success. One player who had an Orlimar club in his bag was a guy named Nicklaus.

APPLEBY’S WIFE KILLED

Renay Appleby, wife of PGA Tour pro Stuart Appleby of Australia, was struck and killed by a car Thursday as she got out of a taxi in London.

The Applebys were at Waterloo Station where they were going to catch a train en route to Paris for a vacation. Renay Appleby was 25.

A ROSE AROSE, SORT OF

A week ago, 17-year-old amateur qualifier Justin Rose of England was out there swinging at Royal Birkdale, where he did things like holing out from the rough, smiling like a toothpaste ad and trying hard to hold his breath until he could turn pro.

Rose tied for fourth--the best finish by an amateur at the British Open since 1953. Then he turned pro and announced he would make his professional debut at the Dutch Open.

Rose played his first round Thursday, and there’s only one thing you can say about it--Welcome to the pros, Justin.

After his first-round 77, Rose is 14 shots behind leader Lee Westwood.

SIGN ON THE LINE

Rose is supposed to have signed a deal with a Scottish firm after he received a check for a guaranteed $1 million. There are two other highly sought-after amateurs out there--18-year-old Sergio Garcia of Spain and 21-year-old Matt Kuchar of Georgia Tech.

Garcia might be leaning toward turning pro, but after next year’s Masters so he can protect his invitation to Augusta as the British Amateur champion. When he does turn pro, Garcia is expected to be represented by someone from his family.

In Kuchar’s case, if he decides to turn pro, Vinny Giles of Pros. Inc., who represents Tom Kite, Justin Leonard and Davis Love III among others, is believed to have the inside track.

THE LETTER

Two months ago, Brian Watts wrote a letter to the tournament director of the Buick Open asking for a sponsor’s exemption. As of Thursday afternoon, he still hadn’t had a response.

Either being the runner-up in the British Open doesn’t carry much weight anymore or the phone lines are down, because Watts deserves to be included. Watts already is scheduled to play in the PGA Championship and the World Series of Golf before he rejoins the Japanese PGA Tour.

WATTS THE MATTER?

Now it can be told: Watts had trouble leaving the third green on the last round of the British Open because the marshal didn’t recognize him and held up the rope to stop him.

THE FUZZY SUIT

News item: Fuzzy Zoeller sues writer Peter Kerasotis and Florida Today over an article from the Masters in which Kerasotis invents a fictitious interview with Zoeller.

News item II: The president of Zoeller’s company mails a copy of the suit (Zoeller says he has sustained monetary damages in excess of $75,000) and a copy of the article to newspaper reporters around the country.

Reaction: It’s an interesting public relations tactic, to try to get reporters on Zoeller’s side, especially since Zoeller has made no secret of his distaste for the media after his unfortunate remarks about Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters.

BIRDIES, BOGEYS, PARS

The Danny Arnold Memorial classic will be held Monday at Valencia Country Club. The event benefits the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Details: (310) 645-1755. . . . A celebrity/am tournament benefiting the newborn intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will be held Monday at MountainGate Country Club in Brentwood. Details: (310) 556-4660. . . . Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Jim Brown, Tom Lasorda, James Worthy, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marcus Allen and Steve Garvey are scheduled to play in the Los Angeles Urban League/Jim Hill celebrity tournament, Aug. 10 at Riviera. Details: (323) 299-9660. . . . A celebrity charity tournament will be held Monday at Los Coyotes Country Club in Fullerton. The event benefits the Rob Fukuzaki Foundation that raises money for sports programs for young people. Details: (626) 683-8243.