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
1189 Reviews (1189)
5 Stars
753
4 Stars
273
3 Stars
96
2 Stars
41
1 Stars
26
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
90.4%
Recommend this course
1050 out of 1189 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
37 Reviews (37)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.6%
Recommend this course
35 out of 37 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
102 Reviews (102)
5 Stars
66
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.2%
Recommend this course
93 out of 102 reviews
Read Reviews

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

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$120 in tee time credits
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Reviews

4.5
1189 Reviews (1189)

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 6
Skill Intermediate
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 Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA WEST!

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pete Dye was diabolical

Great course, try play it every time I’m in area.

With proper tees, course plays fairly, if you stay in play?? But errand shots are disastrous??!! Made # pars & couple birdies. But course difficulty led to 3 “big numbers” so overall score was very mediocre??

It’s a challenge, but worth time and money!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Thanks so much for the great review, mransleymd. We look forward to welcoming you back to our course soon. Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA WEST.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Place to play !!!

Amazing golf course. Great layout. Super challenging. Fairways and greens in great condition. Obviously the rough is dormant Bermuda, so these are typical course conditions at this time of the year. This is a difficult course so an average golfer would find it quite difficult. Friendly starter and helpful proshop staff. Pace of play a bit slow(due to course layout / long par 3's-island greens). Overall a fantastic experience with incredible surroundings.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Thank you for your review, KMART1304. We will pass along your positive experience to our team at The Stadium Course at PGA WEST. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA WEST!

Played On
Reviews 3
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
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Hi, snipers008. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at The Stadium Course at PGA WEST. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

PGA WEST STADIUM COURSE

Course in excellent condition. Staff is very friendly. Will come back again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Thanks so much for the great review, Scott1935857. We look forward to welcoming you back to our course soon. Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA WEST.

Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Hi, Jwinters86. We would love to hear more about your positive experience on our course. Please contact us to share with us your favorite part of your experience. Thanks for golfing at The Stadium Course at PGA WEST!

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/21/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA WEST!

Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Day After PGA Event

Got a great deal to play the Monday after the pros of the PGA American Express event. Crews were busy deconstructiing the galleries but the range remained open. Pristine conditions set up for the pros. Pros had 4 days of perfect weather! Guess what us amateurs had to contend with on Monday…severe windy conditions pushing your ball flight extremely from left to right while playing the exact same pin placements on Sunday. No complaints here especially when I was able to make an up and down par on Alcatraz….stayed dry! Barely avoided being down in the bunker of San Andreas fault on 16th to make a bogey. Did not want a Si Woo Kim moment…LOL..even the pros are fallible. What a GREAT day of golf!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2023

Thank you for your review, kanha19. We will pass along your positive experience to our team at The Stadium Course at PGA West. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent shape.

It was challenging, but a great course. Conditions were extra tough because of 20 to 30 mph winds that day. The pro tour just finished the day before and I wish they had the wind we did it would have been interesting to see what they would have done!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

mike1346, thank you for your kind words! We hope to see you again at the course very soon for another 5-star experience. Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

We're glad you enjoyed your 5-star experience with us. Please comment or reach out to our team in the golf shop to let us know more about your round at The Stadium Course at PGA West!

Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

We had a 12:54 tee time, but we were delayed 30-45 minutes due to a member event that was approaching a 6 hour round, then pace of play was slowed as they then had the greens mowed and rolled ahead of us, so we had to wait on each hole. This was the difference between finishing the full 18 and only finishing 16 holes. We felt sorry for the people behind having paid full price. We only saw the drink cart once for 'first and final call' as she called it and were disappointed with the sandwiches available, especially at $10/ sandwich and $5 for a 16 oz soda. Expected more from a course of this stature.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2023

Hi, dchiap52! Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at The Stadium Course at PGA West!

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West!

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Good winter golf

Great condition before the tournament. Cart path only so dont miss to the other side of the fairway. Greatest facility ever.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Thank you for taking the time to review us, u314163144719. Your feedback is valuable, and we look forward to delivering you excellent service again soon. The Stadium Course at PGA West thanks you!

Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Hi, kreece7. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at The Stadium Course at PGA West. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!

Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West!

Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Challenging Course

Really enjoyed the course except we were not aware of the cart path only when we booked. Obviously they were preparing for the PGA tournament next week. There were workers everywhere and we had to climb up and down many hills to get to our ball (also difficult to have an accurate reading for yardage). Otherwise in very nice condition and great greens. Would definitely play again when carts allowed. Very challenging course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Thank you for your review, u2132837879. We will pass along your positive experience and feedback to our team at The Stadium Course at PGA West. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

macdean, thank you for the awesome rating! We hope to see you again at the course very soon for another great experience, and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West.

Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Don't play prior to a tournament week

Absolutely pristine and challenging course. But, GolfNow/TeeOff did not warn customers that a PGA Tournament Event was scheduled at this course the following week. Accordingly, the course was cart path only due to the upcoming tournament. The fairways were low lining and the cart path was sometimes so high above the fairways all you did was climb steep inclines back and forth from your ball to the cart path. Like, climbing up and down Stadium tiers. The pro shop staff stated, the PGA West website warned customers about the limited use of carts. The management believed it was the "Right thing to do", given the nature of the steep inclines. "No such warning" on the GolfNow/TeeOff booking site. Strong advice, Do Not Play this course the week before a tournament. Otherwise, totally recommend this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West.

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/26/2023

Hello 1969chev. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating! We really appreciate your business. Please let us know what we can do for you in the future to earn that last star and thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West!

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