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
1215 Reviews (1215)
5 Stars
772
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
91.0%
Recommend this course
1075 out of 1215 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
54 Reviews (54)
5 Stars
39
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.1
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.4%
Recommend this course
51 out of 54 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
91 Reviews (91)
5 Stars
62
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
91.2%
Recommend this course
83 out of 91 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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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.5
1215 Reviews (1215)

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 Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/03/2022

chuckspicer, 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
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

15 Minutes

That is the time BEFORE your tee time when you get your cart. Not to worry since you can carry your own bag back and forth to the range waiting for your cart. So many people you need at least five hours to finish round. Easier to see the course on TV.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/28/2022

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, u265370965. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting The Stadium Course at PGA West, and we hope to see you again in the future.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Conditions and great staff!

Had a great time playing there. First time on the Stadium Course. Staff was outstanding. Showed up as a single and hooked up with two other singles. Had a real good time. Course played as well as it could. Feel real fortunate to get on it a few days prior to the Tour playing on it. Drinks and food at the bar afterwards were fantastic. Great venue. Will definitely play again next time in town. Highly recommend. Bucket list.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2022

Thank you for taking the time to review us, Bob5227955. 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 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Play like the pros

I can see why many pros don’t like this course. Trouble everywhere. Some holes are overboard with trouble, like the moat on hole #5

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/03/2022

Thanks so much for your wonderful review, dbd49er. We are thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us. Please visit again soon. Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West!

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Links with water...

Course is nice, but not something that I would rate to be a PGA West caliber course. Its a links style with water everywhere. Tight fairways on a few holes, need to be precise off the tee for most of the tee shots, and the bunkers were not consistent (Hard sand one hole, loose the next).

My GPS also told me to stay on the cart path only, but wouldn't show me the hole as I wait on the tee. Would just tell me over and over again that its cart path only. No issues with the cart path only, but the GPS not working on every hole because there's no way to remove the prompt was brutal and takes away from the round.

Its a nice track, but money wise the Mountain course would be my first choice.

PS: Morning times will have the sun directly into you on most of the starting holes. 9:30am onwards might be the best bet to avoid this during the winter months.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2022

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, u314162427819. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting The Stadium Course at PGA West, and we hope to see you again in the future.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

Great Track

Great course. Played the tips and although slightly shorter than the card said, the lines made up for the loss of yardage. Greens are true, fairways were cut well. No issues on the course, would play again 100%

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2022

Hi, u314162427819. 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 15
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 01/27/2022

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating, dsewell23! 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
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2022

Hello u314159427507,

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!

Played On
Reviews 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 Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/27/2022

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating, u00000998433! 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 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Not good

I've played here several times at three different courses over the past few years. The golf has always been either playing in unbearable heat or playing in overplayed, hacked up fairways, or both. The place is a massive complex of courses cranking through too many golfers. In addition, the design of the courses are not fun. You are playing in the backyard of golf community housing.

The last straw for me was when I tried to use an auction voucher. The wording on the weekend exclusion was not clear at all and the staff on the phone were so rude. I was treated like a scammer who was trying to steal a free round or something. They raised their voice at me on the phone and were not apologetic at all. The manager refused to speak with me even though he/she was obviously standing next to the person I was speaking with. The staff here are an arrogant, rude crew who seem to have forgotten who is paying their bills.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Kind of dissappointing

After playing the Mountain Course last year, I was excited for the better rated PGA West cousin. IMO the Mountain was a much better experience. Nothing really wrong with Stadium, just not that special.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/23/2022

Hi, u314159444289! 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 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
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 Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/10/2022

cullb, 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
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent course - highly recommend

Loved the course. Very tough and uneven lies everywhere, but if you go into the round expecting one of the most difficult and beautiful courses, then you’re going to be satisfied.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/10/2022

Your feedback is important to us, masterwoo11. Thank you for sharing your 5-star experience. We look forward to seeing you again at the course soon! Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Top Notch

Course was in immaculate condition being ~1 month away from the PGA event. Staff friendly, range really nice, good intro to the course by the starter, and food afterwards was really good. It's not cheap ($220) but it's a PGA Tour course and an experience that you should have if playing in Palm Springs.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/10/2022

Your feedback is important to us, dnorthcu. Thank you for sharing your 5-star experience. We look forward to seeing you again at the course soon! Thanks for choosing The Stadium Course at PGA West.

Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Stadium of Molasses

I love playing this course but we teed off at 1:30 which is twilight and I understand you probably won't finish 18 but we waited on just about every hole after the first 3 or 4 and at 13 I think there was 3 groups at the tee. We managed to finish 13 in dark. I guess if you want to play the hole 18 you better tee of by 11:30 as it is dark at 4:30 when we played

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/10/2022

We apologize for the pace of play issue you experienced. We always try to keep a great pace when having our golfers on the course. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback as we will use your review to better the experience going forward. We hope you give us another try in the near future!

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/14/2022

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating, u314162413681! 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 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/14/2022

Hi, u000007521095. 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 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tough

A very difficult course from the back tees and rarely have a flat lie, great course

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/14/2022

seannhed, 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 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Amazing!

Played the tips and posted 2 over.

Trac was impeccable and a huge challenge, stay in the fairways and study green tiers before approach.

Looking forward to playing again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/03/2022

Thank you for your review, Goodwinz1963. 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 25
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Pins

Goofy pin set up.

No color designation for front middle or back...pretty hard to figure with gps only gives middle of green

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/03/2022

Hello, bmillerinc. Thank you for visiting us at The Stadium Course at PGA West. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

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