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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4.6
1227 Reviews (1227)
5 Stars
784
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
4.2
Amenities
4.6
92.4%
Recommend this course
1087 out of 1227 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
63 Reviews (63)
5 Stars
49
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.2
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
95.2%
Recommend this course
60 out of 63 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
90 Reviews (90)
5 Stars
68
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.6
94.4%
Recommend this course
85 out of 90 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

4.6
1227 Reviews (1227)

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 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A great day at PGA West

Was lucky enough to snag a late-afternoon tee time on a hot deal. Super impressed with the course conditioning coming out of overseed. Teeboxes were mint, fairways were great, as were the greens despite being a bit on the slow slide. Friendly staff abound, too! Most important, pace was incredibly quick (~4hrs) and we managed to squeeze in 18 as the sun was setting.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Used cart

Fair

Played a few times seen course in better condition previously

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great Day

Had a great day. Overalls conditions for the time of year were very good, and the layout of the course was great.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Great Experience

Currently reading a history book on Q-School. Nice to experience what I found in the pages. Was pleased how well I played. It was that rare good day for my game. The staff at the course is excellent. Although I should quit while I'm ahead, I'll be back. Thanks for a grand experience.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Experience!

Everything about the our day of golf was just a great experience. Great company, staff super friendly, and the course was beautiful. The only reason I gave the course a 4 for conditioning was this time of year courses are transitioning. Still in very good shape. Can’t wait to watch the tournament this year and say I played that course!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

PGA West Stadium is a gem in the desert

This is my first time playing at PGA West and I was very impressed with the everything (Staff, Course conditions and layout, amenities.) The starter let me tee off a little early which allowed me to finish all 18 holes before dark. I will definitely come back and play Stadium course again soon.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

PGA WEST - Stadium

Great day on the course! The rough was just cut. The greens rolled true.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Call Before You Reserve

Played PGA West Nicolas on 9/16/23. Their website did not mention that the greens were sanded and the rough uncut. If you are a scratch golfer you will probably be fine. If you miss the fairway the rough is so thick even if you have a basic idea where it landed you can kiss the ball goodbye. I find it very dishonest not to advertise on their website the poor conditions of their course. They even warned us that the conditions were bad. Thanks for nothing. Traveled 3 hours to get there and prepaid for the round.

Do yourself a favor and make sure the course is properly prepared especially early season. If the greens are sandy and the rough has not be cut stay away if you like your balls.

Unhappy golfer.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Slow pace

Not sure if it was due to the rough length or overbooking or too many bad golfers but our round was 45 minutes behind the suggested pace and we walked off after 16 holes. Course for late summer was in okay shape, slow greens and dense rough, nice tee boxes and pretty decent fairways. Bunkers were pretty good.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout but ridiculous rough

The course is beautiful but the rough immediately off the fairways and greens is about 7 inches deep and thick. If you just barely miss a fairway our green and even if you have a real good idea where you landed you can kiss the ball good bye. I lost 7 balls on the first nine holes. You can’t find them unless you step on it and if you do it’s impossible too hit any decent shot out of it. T took all the enjoyment out of what should have been a fun round on a great layout.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Horrible shape

This course is usually in amazing shape but now it’s like playing a bad muni course. Not sure what happened. The price was ridiculous for the shape it was in. Staff however especially the Marshalls were awesome.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Conditions could have been better

I have have played this track a couple of times and this was by far the worst conditions I’ve played it in. That said I understand why because of the recent hurricane that went through. I just think it needed a lot more TLC after the storm and should have stayed closed to clean up. First the bunkers had zero sand. They were hard packed dirt or mud or flooded. Second the rough was way longer than normal and inconsistent in areas. It definitely had not been mowed in a while. People were losing balls all day. I personally found 8. In the end for a course as hard as this having things not in better shape makes for a long day.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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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.

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LAS VEGAS, NV | Enjoy up to 3 nights’ accommodations at the Luxor Resort & Casino and up to 3 rounds of golf at your choice of Legacy Golf Course, Las Vegas National Golf Course, and Desert Pines Golf Course.
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