The Stadium Course at PGA WEST

Great conditions, great layout, great corse, tough course! Very enjoyable, nut make sure you bring your A game!

I arrived in Palm Springs in the middle of a massive heat wave across the West Coast. When checking in at PGA West, they told me that the course had taken a little beat of a beating and was not in the best shape (or upto their standards). They were very nice, and offered me a time on the Nicklaus Course. I had flown across the country and decided to stick with the stadium course. While there were some fairways that were beaten up, and the greens were clearly dehydrated, I was happy I decided to stay with the Stadium Course.

Despite the condition on some holes, the course was awesome. This is such a classic Pete Dye course with massive changes in elevation. You are rarely left with a flat lie on any fairway, making for a challenging day. The final stretch of holes is awesome with the 16th having a massive trap, and the famous Alcatraz on the 17th.

The staff was very nice. The starter was more than helpful and everyone who drove by was friendly and willing to offer. We did have an issue with one marshall who told us to speed up our pace of play when we were ahead of pace, but feel as if this was an outlier.

This is the 2nd time I have played the course, I played because my playing partner had not played it before. The course to me is a little bit all the same, the holes are all a bit boring really, water carry par 3's and targeted par 4's but, that's a stadium course for you.

The course was conditioned pretty well although there were quite a few wet spots around in the fairways with little grass growth, summer right !

The thing that stuck out this time was the lack of service one you arrived in the car park, no bag drop, no one to arrange your clubs on carts. As we finished loading up out cart to go into the pro shop a guy drove past in a cart and said the first tee is over there. That was it. Disappointing.

Got a good summertime rate since most of the round was played in the 100's temperature wise.

Played the tips to see where the Pros play and it was long and tough from back there. Makes you appreciate how good the pros really are. If you can stay in the fairways its obviously easier but there is always water or fairway bunkers lurking.

Course seemed burnt out for the most part on most holes during this time. Dont know if they kind of let it go after the tour stop comes through or what but other courses in the area were in a lot better shape. Greens were crusty as well but tee boxes were all in great shape.

Clubhouse has a bunch of apparel and the bar is awesome inside.

Will definitely take a shot again at this course when i make it back to the area.

Started out with a not so friendly Terry in the club house, but the cart guys and the starter Jerry were awesome. Course was amazing, great value for the price. Shot a 78 from the whites so that made my day, greens putted true.

1. Could not see GPS because of the glare. Obviously no one has sat in the seat and tried to see it. It was not just my cart--- both of us said the same thing!

2. NO HELP after our round!!!! Very surprising!

3. "Crusty" sand bunkers

4. SLOW GREENS!!! Played two other courses in the area and they were faster!

5. EXCELLANT DRINKING WATER ONCOURSE! It seemed every other hole there was water!

6. Great layout!

I have played Sawgrass in Florida and we had none of these problems. It was an excellent experience!

I play the Stadium course a few of times throughout the year. Course is exciting usually in very good condition and the weather is perfect. I do however question the management or lack of. Started at 1:03 on a Sunday afternoon. Cart girl sees us on the first hole and tells us she will see us in a few more so we pass on lunch and snacks. Don't See her again until the 9 the green. Snack bar at the 10 th tee is closed . Limited selection of food on the cart. My biggest complaint is the water coolers around the entire back nine were empty. Pretty warn day getting to about 107 having some water every 3 rd hole is important. This is a world class facility even prisoners have access to water. Luckily were are relatively young and able to tough it out . Seems kind of bush leagues that this would happen. Usually rangers are driving around with water did not see one of them either .

Golf should be challenging but it should also be fair. I do not mind obstacles and hazards, but I would like to know they are there before I reach them after what I thought was a good shot. The Stadium Course is designed to make you go back to playing tennis. This is a course that takes the fun out of golf. Again, I value a good challenge, but I not appreciate or value an unfair course. Pete Dye is a masterful designer, but this is a course I would not recommend to the average golfer. You should be rewarded for good play, but you are not. You should be rewarded for hitting a great tee shot, but you are not. There is trouble you cannot see and you are penalized even when you hit the ball right where you meant to. Great staff, great staff. Did not enjoy the course. Unfair design.

Definitely coming back. Great course. Great experience. We'll talk about it for a while. It is a challenge. Bring extra balls. But oh what fun.

Have been coming to Palm Springs for several years. Always play PGA West. Love the course but it is very very hard.

PGA West is a fantastic golf facility. The Nicholas Course and Stadium Course at the same clubhouse. The Stadium Course is very challenging. You will need to play it a couple of times to figure out where to hit the ball in the fairway and on the greens.

The conditions are excellent.

It's a course that is tougher than it needs to be for the average golfer.

I know the Career Builder has their tourney on it, but playing from the forward tees was tough enough!

Not sure I'd play it again, but this one time was for the experience

If you don't have your 'A' game when you play it, you're hooped!

I wouldn't recommend this course to a novice

was one of the most challenging courses I have played, when I go back I will play it again.

Really fun to play where the pros play...tee boxes were perfect, fairways were buttery, greens rolled true! Such a good value for the amount of legit champion golf you get in one round.

I have played several rounds at the Stadium Course and each time I learn more about the place. It is definitely a thinking player's place, one learns to have the utmost respect for Pete's design. I highly recommend purchasing a yardage book in the Pro Shop.

However, our last round there was a bit disturbing. We had a noon t time with no one in front of us and a group 3 holes behind. Great pace of play! At the 6th hole we were informed by a ranger that we were 12 minutes behind. The GPS on our cart said we were 16 minutes ahead and we could not figure out who we were holding up! Needless to say we heeded to the warning and picked up the pace. Three holes later we were approached by another ranger who said "we were doing fine on time and were well clear of the group behind. On the 11th we were warned by a 3rd ranger and told we were on the clock (our GPS showed us 34 minutes ahead). We were then followed by a Community Patrol Security Guard that followed us to 17th hole. Maybe they thought we were going to break into someone's home! We finished the round in 4 hrs 3 minutes. Pretty good time for a foursome of 3 men and 1 woman! This was also the first time playing the course for 2 members of our group. With all this said, it hasn't changed my opinion of the course and I will continue to play it but, I think PGA West needs to do a better job at managing play.

watched this course on tv for years! enjoyed all 5 hours on the course. extremely difficult on and around the greens! everyone should play it once!

I've wanted to play The Stadium Course at PGA West for so long - it was worth the wait! The course was magnificent - challenging but fair - with interesting doglegs, elevation changes and well-placed hazards. The conditions were pristine - I'm not sure there was a blade of grass out of place. And as a decent (not good, but decent) female golfer, there were ample tee boxes from which to choose to play. Women golfers don't always get fair tee boxes especially at resorts.

And while I was golfing, my best friend (a non-golfer but avid UNC basketball fan) needed a place to watch the Tarheels play so we decided she'd come to PGA West with me. She read a book (and drank fun cocktails) before the game in a beautiful outdoor area overlooking the course, then she watched the game on a huge screen TV in a great bar.

We both could not have had a better time! Don't miss playing this course!

The golf course in heat shape. This is not a place for beginners and if you think you can play it from the tees you normally play; think again.