PGA West Stadium Course: #17
PGA West Stadium Course #17: Welcome to “Alcatraz.” Home to Lee Trevino’s “Hole in One” – one of the most famous shots in golf history – which gave him the “Skins Game” victory over Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Raymond Floyd.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
1217 Reviews (1217)
5 Stars
774
4 Stars
278
3 Stars
97
2 Stars
41
1 Stars
27
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
91.1%
Recommend this course
1077 out of 1217 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
56 Reviews (56)
5 Stars
41
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.2
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.6%
Recommend this course
53 out of 56 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
88 Reviews (88)
5 Stars
62
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.0%
Recommend this course
81 out of 88 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
This iconic stadium course delivers a bucket-list layout with stunning mountain views, challenging water hazards, and conditions that consistently impress recent golfers. Welcoming staff from bag drop to pro shop make every visitor feel genuinely excited to play.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 7300 yards
Slope 148
Rating 75.8

This is the monster of all monsters, the one that carries so many folktales of golfer terror with it that it should qualify as its own myth. The developers asked Pete Dye to make this "the toughest golf course in the world" and many argue he succeeded. Too well.

The Stadium Course at PGA WEST in La Quinta is one of those tracks that any self-respecting golf nut has to play once. Just to experience it. Just to say you did. Just to have stories of golf cruelty to tell at the office water cooler. There's a 19-foot deep bunker on the 16th hole. That's right. A 19-foot deep bunker. Your ball won't get out. Heck, you might not get out. From the back tees it measures 7,300 yards with an incredible 148-slope rating.

Every hole is a story waiting to be told. Either in success to be bragged about or failure to be even more bragged about. The PGA players moaned about this course so loud that it's no longer a regular stop on tour. Yet for average hackers, it's often a joy of punishment. Go in with the right attitude and it's liable to be one of your most unforgettable days of golf.

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PGA WEST - Pete Dye Stadium Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1987
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye (1987) Alice Dye (1986)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "PGA WEST Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code No denim, collared shirt and bermuda shorts required

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.5
1217 Reviews (1217)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 42
Patio Dining 28
19th Hole Scenic Views 26
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 70
Water Hazards 67
Forced Carries 49
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 61
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 52
A Weekend Splurge 31
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 42
At a Resort 34
Convenient to the City 18

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

4.5 Stars

Extremely difficult golf course but a lot of fun if you go in knowing you’re probably not going to have a career day. Greens were smooth and rolled well clocking in at 10.4. Starting to show a little dryness from the heat. The course itself was in good shape for early summer but again starting to show some signs of summer conditions which is to be expected. Pace of play wasn’t terrible but waited on almost every tee box after the first couple holes with a few holes having a group still teeing off when we got to the tee box. Overall very good experience from the staff, practice facility, and course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

First class Public Golf

3 Handicap - This is as good as it gets in my opinion. Was able to book a Hot Deal on a mid week round. 4 hour pace. Staff was 10/10. Course design is incredible and conditions were awesome. Can’t wait to be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bugs are really bad this time of yesr

Golf Course is super tough of course that is to be expected but I don’t think they have sprayed for bugs enough like prior years. If you go in may or June make sure to take your Off or bug spray because the flys and mosquitoes are REALLY BAD especially closer to the evening time.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 70
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Stadium Course

The Stadium Course is challenging but fun to play. Hole #16 need better sign for penalty drops. There was no drop sign during our play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course condition, better course layout

Got a tee time at 3 pm for a good price. Super challenging layout which was very fun. Staff was friendly and professional. Got stuck behind a group that was playing slow but managed to finish 18 holes in almost 4.5 hours before sunset.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 05/13/2026:
We’re so glad you had a great experience! Thank you for the support — we’ll be ready to welcome you back for another great round.
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great course but pace was 5 hr.20 min

Unfortunately, we booked into a packed tee sheet of players who were going to be in a tournament there. Apparently, some of them somewhere in front of us preferred spending over an hour longer than necessary in 97 degrees heat. It's a great course, full of challenges and risk reward choices. But it is exhausting to play it on a very hot day with slow players.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Over 5 hours, did not finish

We asked the starter about the pace of play and he said it was around 4.5 hours. As soon as we went off, we waited on every shot. We did not see a ranger until the back 9. We made the turn in 2.5 hours. The group in front of us was playing so slow and not playing ready golf. The ranger finally came by, did not speak to us and went on his way. We quit after the 17th hole, 5 hours and 10 minutes into the round. I don’t care how much I paid, no golf experience should take this long.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Response from on 05/04/2026:
Sorry to hear about your experience. We’re looking into the situation and addressing it with our team. We appreciate the feedback and the opportunity to learn from it.
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bucket List

We all have our golf courses that we dream of playing. I finally checked this one off my bucket list with close friends. The experience was trully like a dream come true!

Everything was so pristine and the staff were professional and courteous.

The Statium course was out of my league at 134 from the Whites but enjoyed every stroke. My friend landed in the 16th bunker that looked like a scene from HackSaw Ridge where a pro took a 12 with 5 to get up up out of! Our other friend Birdied the infamous Alcatraz 17, what a beautiful hole.

What more can I say but can't wait to play it again. I can't wait to see the next PGA tournament there on T.V. and know that I experienced the same course!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 05/04/2026:
Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Hearing this makes our day, and we can’t wait to have you back again soon.
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Palm Mountain Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, Indian Canyons – North Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package

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PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

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LA JOLLA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Torrey Pines – South Course and Torrey Pines – North Course.

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CARLSBAD, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Aviara Golf Course, OMNI La Costa – South Course, and OMNI La Costa – North Course.

Luxor Resort & Casino Stay & Play Package

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