The Stadium Course at PGA WEST

About
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.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Black | 72 | 7300 yards | 75.8 | 148 |
Black (W) | 72 | 7300 yards | 82.5 | 154 |
Blue | 72 | 6739 yards | 73.1 | 140 |
Blue (W) | 72 | 6739 yards | 79.3 | 147 |
Blue/White | 72 | 6383 yards | 71.2 | 136 |
Blue/White (W) | 72 | 6383 yards | 77.2 | 142 |
White | 72 | 6166 yards | 70.2 | 133 |
White (W) | 72 | 6166 yards | 75.9 | 139 |
Gold (W) | 72 | 5700 yards | 73.9 | 134 |
Gold | 72 | 5700 yards | 67.9 | 125 |
Gold/Red | 72 | 5370 yards | 66.4 | 120 |
Gold/Red (W) | 72 | 5370 yards | 71.7 | 130 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5092 yards | 69.9 | 127 |
Red | 72 | 5092 yards | 65.1 | 115 |
Silver | 72 | 4084 yards | 60.7 | 103 |
Silver (W) | 72 | 4084 yards | 64.2 | 114 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 76.0/148 W: 82.3/154 | 445 | 371 | 471 | 192 | 535 | 255 | 346 | 559 | 452 | 3626 | 416 | 617 | 363 | 214 | 389 | 468 | 600 | 168 | 439 | 3674 | 7300 |
Black/Blue M: 74.6/145 W: 80.6/150 | 382 | 371 | 448 | 170 | 535 | 223 | 346 | 559 | 430 | 3464 | 416 | 591 | 363 | 195 | 389 | 436 | 600 | 146 | 405 | 3541 | 7005 |
Blue M: 73.4/141 W: 79.1/147 | 382 | 348 | 448 | 170 | 514 | 223 | 309 | 526 | 430 | 3350 | 380 | 591 | 347 | 195 | 372 | 436 | 517 | 146 | 405 | 3389 | 6739 |
Blue/White M: 71.7/137 W: 77.1/142 | 358 | 348 | 383 | 170 | 514 | 187 | 309 | 526 | 382 | 3177 | 351 | 530 | 347 | 167 | 372 | 404 | 517 | 131 | 387 | 3206 | 6383 |
White M: 70.6/134 W: 75.8/138 | 358 | 328 | 383 | 151 | 496 | 187 | 295 | 486 | 382 | 3066 | 351 | 530 | 308 | 167 | 348 | 404 | 474 | 131 | 387 | 3100 | 6166 |
White/Gold M: 69.0/129 W: 74.0/134 | 334 | 328 | 356 | 133 | 496 | 146 | 295 | 486 | 362 | 2936 | 327 | 482 | 308 | 167 | 328 | 367 | 474 | 131 | 318 | 2902 | 5838 |
Gold M: 68.4/127 W: 73.2/132 | 334 | 320 | 356 | 133 | 460 | 146 | 281 | 471 | 362 | 2863 | 327 | 482 | 287 | 153 | 328 | 367 | 463 | 112 | 318 | 2837 | 5700 |
Gold/Red M: 66.8/122 W: 71.3/128 | 334 | 320 | 327 | 111 | 437 | 133 | 281 | 429 | 313 | 2685 | 327 | 442 | 287 | 105 | 328 | 338 | 428 | 112 | 318 | 2685 | 5370 |
Red M: 65.5/118 W: 69.7/125 | 304 | 290 | 327 | 111 | 437 | 133 | 240 | 429 | 313 | 2584 | 294 | 442 | 249 | 105 | 293 | 338 | 428 | 83 | 276 | 2508 | 5092 |
Red/Silver M: 63.0/111 W: 66.6/118 | 239 | 230 | 262 | 111 | 437 | 112 | 240 | 429 | 231 | 2291 | 237 | 442 | 249 | 105 | 209 | 270 | 428 | 83 | 232 | 2255 | 4546 |
Silver M: 60.9/106 W: 64.0/112 | 239 | 230 | 262 | 106 | 335 | 112 | 190 | 358 | 231 | 2063 | 237 | 350 | 220 | 94 | 209 | 270 | 343 | 66 | 232 | 2021 | 4084 |
Handicap | 9 | 15 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 2 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 9 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 10 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Available Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAvailable Sports
Fitness, TennisReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by JGaith3 on 09/21/2025
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Photo submitted by Langstongolf12345 on 07/03/2025
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Photo submitted by davetheref on 04/16/2025
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Photo submitted by chrissyoonn on 01/11/2025
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Photo submitted by captainjto on 09/16/2024
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Photo submitted by dclavergne on 03/26/2024
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Photo submitted by Ster15 on 01/11/2024
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Photo submitted by Ster15 on 01/11/2024
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Just to prove that i was there for real Photo submitted by u314163680578 on 01/04/2024
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Photo submitted by brianmcneely on 12/20/2023
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Photo submitted by ckarta on 11/16/2023
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Photo submitted by RyanYoo on 09/04/2023
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Photo submitted by rtmarett on 04/13/2023
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Photo submitted by David7946689 on 03/10/2023
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Photo submitted by derrickstratman on 12/30/2022
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Photo submitted by dentureguy1 on 12/28/2022
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Par 3 Hole# 13 Photo submitted by Patrick2494966 on 12/28/2022
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The moon coming over the mountains was an added bonus Photo submitted by Denis1turenne on 11/08/2022
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Photo submitted by u314161487788 on 04/28/2022
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Photo submitted by mprice26 on 01/31/2022
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Photo submitted by Bob5227955 on 01/15/2022
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Photo submitted by Bob5227955 on 01/15/2022
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Photo submitted by Bob5227955 on 01/15/2022
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Photo submitted by rdrpops1976 on 05/19/2021
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Photo submitted by hhindman1 on 03/23/2021
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Great Island Green Photo submitted by Rethoghead on 03/10/2021
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Photo submitted by u314161146232 on 01/15/2021
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Photo submitted by u425184049 on 12/29/2020
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Photo submitted by u314160828540 on 09/26/2020
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Photo submitted by elsinoreracer on 09/12/2020
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Photo submitted by gerardo2187051 on 06/18/2020
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Photo submitted by u527637026 on 01/31/2020
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Photo submitted by u929327549 on 01/28/2020
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17th "Alcatraz" Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
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Keep it left, 300 yard waste area Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
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Hitting over water often. Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
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Photo submitted by Stephen1429457 on 12/29/2019
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Photo submitted by Ogle0437 on 11/27/2019
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Photo submitted by Ogle0437 on 11/27/2019
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Pepper on teh 6th Tee Photo submitted by Gremlingolfer on 05/15/2019
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by GREGCGOLFER on 09/26/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 03/13/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 03/13/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 03/13/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 03/13/2018
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Hole # 17 Photo submitted by Jsratike on 12/31/2016
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LOTS OF MOGULS Photo submitted by davidmadden on 04/10/2016
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Photo submitted by Walkitin80 on 04/10/2016
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17th hole Photo submitted by uPKKY6157PK on 04/17/2015
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Alcatraz Photo submitted by Joe9098914 on 07/16/2014
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Island green on #17 Photo submitted by 00maniac on 11/28/2013
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#6 "Amen" 100 yard plus carry over water Photo submitted by alanm0075 on 09/18/2013
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#5 "Double Trouble" Water post tee box and guarding the green plus a double dog leg. Photo submitted by alanm0075 on 09/18/2013
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#7 "Black Hole" water post tee box and guarding the green. Photo submitted by alanm0075 on 09/18/2013
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Photo submitted by djripper on 05/20/2013
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Photo submitted by djripper on 05/20/2013
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Photo submitted by djripper on 05/20/2013
Golf Trip
The course was amazing. Even in the heat the dairways were in great shape
Changes to the Stadium Course
Really ashamed that a lot of the trees were removed. I have played this course for a long time. I get that the thought was to get the course back to how it as originally with views of the mountains. I just wonder if Pete was really thinking the course would stay as it was when originally opened. Seems that someone wanted to make this course more friendly to golfers. Too bad, I doubt Pete ever thought about making this more friendly. Still really like the course. Just bring in more brush and trees like it once was.
Fantastic
Bucket list
Stadium
The Course was in excellent condition given the recent excessive heat. The greens and fairways were in tremendous condition. One issue is the new rough is too thick around bunkers. I lost a ball just off the fairway around a bunker.
My favorite course. Awesome condition
Must play
Awesome layout. Not as difficult as I expected it to be. Each hole presented its unique challenge and very picturesque. My first time playing here and with a 40 on the front and a 44 on a very windy (25-35 mph) back 9, I was quite pleased with that. I’m in my 60s, so I played from the whites which the starter said played at 6300 yards that day, so length was also a factor for me as I’m usually comfortable at 6100 yards. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth playing. Note: no GPS on the carts, so bring your devices.
Not for the mid to high handicapper
The course was in excellent condition and the pace of play was acceptable. This course is famous for a number of reasons, including its difficulty. If you can shoot a legitimate score equal to your handicap, you have had an excellent day. Very challenging and lots of fun if you are playing well.
Spectacular Course
One of the best courses in the CV! Tough layout and so many challenging and fun holes!