Historic Wilshire: Where Hogan Asked — “Which Letter?”

It’s a throwback to a golden era when golf was in its infancy, Los Angeles wasn’t jammed by traffic and the Wilshire Country Club was the place to be.

The LPGA Tour is getting another first-hand look at an architectural gem that sits smack-dab in the city, on the ninth tee, you look up and see the famous “Hollywood” sign on the side of the mountain.

It was back in 1955 when Ben Hogan was playing a tournament at Wilshire.  He was on the ninth tee and his caddie told him to aim at that “Hollywood” sign.  To which Hogan simply replied:  Which letter?

Wilshire was designed by Norman Macbeth on land acquired in 1858 by Henry Hancock, a surveyor and Mexican War veteran. The acreage was once part of a Mexican land grant known as Rancho La Brea. There were oil derricks on the land when Macbeth spent several Saturday afternoons driving stakes in the ground, accompanied by his dog and occasionally by his son, Norman Jr.

Beverly Boulevard bisects the course, which is, generally, bordered by Melrose, Rossmore and Highland avenues and Third street. A narrow tunnel beneath Beverly, just wide enough for a golf cart, connects the layout.

The course was built in 1919 and officially opened in 1920 and even though you could see the Hollywood sign from the ninth tee, you didn’t see many actors. Bob Hope, Harold Lloyd and Donald O’Connor later became members. So did Howard Hughes, who was member long before he became a recluse. He even lived for a while in the white, stucco house that overlooks the eighth green.

According to legend, Jean Harlow sometimes appeared on the balcony in a negligee when Hughes’ group approached the green. That distraction resulted in many a four-putt.

Hughes joined Wilshire in 1921, but did not play golf or visit there the last 40 years of his life.

Still, the Hughes legacy endures. There is evidence of it at every tee box, where the markers are painted drill bits, donated by two-time club champion Ditch Schaeffer and two other Wilshire members who worked for Hughes Tool Co.

This course favors good ball strikers.  Bombers often have problems.  Lexi Thompson did last year and didn’t fare so hot on Thursday, turning in an ugly 75.

You want a ball striker?  Stacy Lewis, is back to finding her form after stepping away from the game to have her first child.  She turned in a dazzling 65 in the first round and obviously avoided those nasty barranca that guard many of the greens. The water in the barranca originates at the Hollywood Reservoir, but it includes runoff from the Hollywood area and from underground springs. More than 30 bridges span the barranca, all over the course.

World’s No. 1, Jin Young Ko maneuvered her way around the demanding layout and shot 70.  No. 2 — Sung Hyun  Park — wasn’t as fortunate.  She’s another long-hitter who couldn’t solve the Wilshire-code.  Seventy-six blows for Park.

Defending champion Moriya Jutanugarn’s 71 kept her in the conversation but her more accomplished sister — Ariya — shot 73.

Brooke Henderson, repeat winner at the Lotte in Hawaii last week, didn’t have any problems.  She kept her drives in play often enough to turn in a 68.

Problems for the Kordas  — Nelly shot 73, Jessica 74.

Wilshire is that challenging and it’s a treat that it hasn’t been rendered obsolete, at least as far as professional women’s golf is concerned.

Cool place, great features, nasty bunker complexes.

In all, a great challenge.

And at the end of the day, Hogan’s “which letter?” inquiry takes the cake.

First Round L.A. Scores: