Issue link: https://digital.insidegolfmedia.com/i/855925
NO. 1, RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB, PACIFIC PALISADES E veryone in the 312-player field during this month's U.S. Amateur Cham- pionship will get to tee it up at least once on Riviera's iconic opening hole, a 503-yard par-5 (par-4 during the US Am) featuring an elevated tee box that is 70 feet above the fairway. There are out-of-bounds stakes left of the fairway, trees lining the right side of the fairway and a brush-filled bar- ranca at the end of the fairway. One cavernous bunker guards the front of the large undulating green offering a number of tricky pin placements. Tee- ing it high and letting it fly is a fun way to start your round. CLUB PRO OF THE MONTH MICHAEL BLOCK Job title: Class A PGA head professional, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo Age: 41 Born: Reno, Nev. Residence: Mission Viejo Family: Wife Val, sons Dylan and Ethan Education: University of Missouri-St. Louis, San Diego Golf Academy Teaching experience: The Lakes Country Club, Palm Desert, 6 years; Arroyo Trabuco, 13 years. Tournaments won: 2014 PGA Professional National Championship ($75,000 first-place check), 2013 SCPGA Match Play Championship, 2001 California State Open, 1998 St. Louis Amateur, more than two dozen SCPGA Section events. PGA Tour experience: 12 PGA Tour events, including 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont, 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla and 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. Made four tour cuts and more than $38,000 in prize money. Achievements: Member of 10-man U.S. team in 2015 PGA Cup, 2014 Walter Hagen Cup winner, SCPGA Player of the Year in 2013-14-15-16, five course records (includ- ing 62 at Arroyo Trabuco), 2 eagles in opening round of 2013 Northern Trust Open (tying a tournament record), qualified for U.S. Open Sectionals 8 times. Greatest thrill in golf: "The experience I had in the 2015 PGA Cup at Corde Valle Golf Club was the best golf experience of my life – over and above any tournament I've ever played in, including the majors. Representing the United States gives me chills even talking about it." (The U.S. lost to a team of club pros from Great Britain & Ireland despite Block's 3-1 record.) JOKE OF THE MONTH You can always tell which church members play golf. They pray with an interlocking grip. THE MONTHLY REPORT SoCal GOLF INSIDER HOLE OF THE MONTH