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
1199 Reviews (1199)
5 Stars
763
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
1060 out of 1199 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
43 Reviews (43)
5 Stars
35
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.9
95.3%
Recommend this course
41 out of 43 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
89 Reviews (89)
5 Stars
61
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
89.9%
Recommend this course
80 out of 89 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
1199 Reviews (1199)

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 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Playing like the Pros

It was a great course to get a sense of what the Pros encounter even though not playing from the ‘tips’.

Nice idea to clearly make the entry and exits to the fairways. Areas of the course were quite dry and browned out.

Given this was first time playing the course we found it difficult to navigate around the many ,many bunkers. The GPS was not very helpful in many cases in order to be able to see bunkers behind rolls and hills. Greens were purported to be running at 11 in many instances they were much slower but rolling consistently.

Overall it was a tough test of golf, given it was our first time out for the season, it was probably not the best choice to start on. I would definitely play the course again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This was our last round before leaving Palm Springs heading back to Alberta. Good customer service from. When you are met to getting on the course. Course in great shape. Challenging and narrow fairways. You had to think about your next shot.

When walking across the bridge on the 17th hole, Alcatraz, interesting to note that many PGA golfers had walked the same bridge.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Super Stadium

What a track!! I listened to the staff and jumped up to the White tees. What a stellar piece of advice. I was able to really enjoy the course and reach the greens. Unreal condition. Keep up the pace so you can take pics and videos at the 17th.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

High expectations met

We had very high expectations playing this course. And the day was perfect.

Perfect condition, perfect layout. As difficult as we were fearing, but worth every dollar.

Don’t forget to bring your sand wedge, preferably a 62 degrees!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fabulous

Great course great condition very tough but fair. Fabulous setting would definitely play again

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun course, very good greens. Pace of play was slow.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Well designed challenging course

I heard the course and I watched professionals played the course for the championship. I finally played it myself. It's amazing experience!

The entire PGA West community is a golfer's dream place! So well designed courses and houses filled the area. It's quite a scene!

The club house is nice and the staffs from club house, starter and marshal are all very nice.

As for the course, I'm a 20 plus handicap. So people like me do not care so much about the scores. It's very difficult course filled with enormous bunkers and waters. So have to put your ball at the very precise place or your next shot will be very difficult to play. The green is fast, not professional tournament fast, though.

I enjoyed play there again in near future and other courses in the PGA West. I will check the golfnow often to find the good deals. Or, the regular price is around $ 200/round. It's not cheap.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 37
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome course, but very challenging

On of the best courses I have played. In great shape

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

challenging from all tee boxes

few flat lies. Very Challenging. Tricky Greens.

As far as amenities did not use the restaurant. Cart girl made rounds regularly.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

One hour plus frost delay and then a 5+ hour pace. Quit at the turn. Maybe better on another day.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times 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 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great challenge

Be SURE to play the right tees. If you don’t it’ll beat you up!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging layout

I really enjoyed this golf course. We chose the white tees which were plenty of a challenge for me. (5 hdcp but not real long off the tee). Excellent conditions and a nice pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

People that should not play this coarse

There are people that don’t have the skill to play the course this tough and slow down play

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Perfection in the desert

Played the Stadium Course just 4 days after the PGA tour event and what a fantastic experience! This was our 6th time playing the course, and it has been great every time, but today the conditions were immaculate! Tee boxes and greens were absolute perfection. Only a couple spots in the fairway that I hit my ball where the tour players did, and so had to dodge divots. They commented on television that the greens looked like artificial turf they were so perfect, and it was true. You will be punished if you hit wayward shots, so go with realistic expectations for a score and you will have an unforgettable day!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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

Players Course

This is 3 days after the PGA tour completed the Desert Classic, the old bob hope if you will" This is a must play if you consider yourself a golfer. It has several tee boxes for all levels. I found the TIPS to be a very good challenge. My game was a little off, so I paid the price, but it was firm and fast. Something you all need to experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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