California Wildfires Threaten Historic Riviera Country Club, Force Evacuations

Tens of thousands of California residents have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires rage across the southern part of the state, threatening one of the country’s most historic golf courses, Riviera Country Club. The course, set to host the PGA Tour‘s Genesis Invitational from Feb. 13-16, is in the direct path of the flames.

Riviera Country Club, affectionately known as “Riv,” has hosted three major championships, including the U.S. Open in 1948 and the PGA Championship in 1983 and 1995. It is also scheduled to host the U.S. Women's Open in 2026 and the Olympic golf competitions in 2028. Emergency crews are working tirelessly to contain the blazes, but the fires remain unrelenting.

Meanwhile, another local golf course, Altadena Golf Course, located less than five miles from Rose Bowl Stadium, suffered significant damage. The course’s clubhouse was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, as confirmed in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “We will come back stronger,” the post stated, accompanied by a video showing flames engulfing the building.

The wildfires have also impacted the broader sports community. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that his family had to evacuate their home, and the Los Angeles Kings‘ game against the Calgary Flames, scheduled for Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena, was postponed due to the crisis.

President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom met with firefighting officials on Wednesday to discuss the statewide wildfire response. Newsom thanked the president for federal support, including reimbursements for firefighting costs and the deployment of the National Guard. Nearly 100 schools in the Los Angeles area were closed as a precaution.

The fires have claimed at least two lives and injured several firefighters and civilians. As the blazes continue to spread, the focus remains on protecting lives, property, and iconic landmarks like Riviera Country Club.