PGA West Greg Norman Course: #17
A view from tee #17 at PGA West Greg Norman Course
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4.6
1453 Reviews (1453)
5 Stars
874
4 Stars
373
3 Stars
108
2 Stars
62
1 Stars
36
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.3
93.0%
Recommend this course
1277 out of 1453 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
66 Reviews (66)
5 Stars
51
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.6
97.0%
Recommend this course
64 out of 66 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
93 Reviews (93)
5 Stars
70
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.6%
Recommend this course
88 out of 93 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Course conditions consistently impress, with carpet-like fairways, immaculate bunkers, and quick true-rolling greens that rival top-tier courses. Attentive staff from the bag team to the starter deliver a welcoming, efficiently run round from start to finish.
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PGA West - Greg Norman Golf Course

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 7156 yards
Slope 139
Rating 75.1

The Shark's turned in what's widely regarded as the second-toughest course at PGA WEST - Greg Norman Course in La Quinta.

No small feat considering the developers of the neighboring TPC Stadium ordered Pete Dye to make it, "the hardest damn golf course in the world."

"There's a difference," said Jack Guevera, a golfer who's played both. "You might think you have it easy if you play the Norman after the Stadium .... But probably not."

Here's the difference: Dye tries to kill you at TPC Stadium. Norman only wants to beat you to a pulp.

Not that pummeling does not have its highlights. Norman's 216-yard, par-3 13th is the kind of hole that seizes your attention and lingers in memory after the round.

What little fairway there is curves around toward a man-made lake. It is also tilted down on a sharp angle to the water, giving the golfer the effect of hitting along a ledge.

Each shot is a tap dance here. You could not even get odds in Vegas on your chances of avoiding all of the deep, slanted bunkers that squeeze the mini fairway even tighter.

"Greg Norman wants you to choke," TravelGolf.com West Coast Bureau Chief Chris Baldwin said. "The supremely-talented, enthrallingly-entertaining golfer cursed to be forever remembered for his excruciating collapses wants the average hacker to experience just a taste of this misery."

Course Details

Year Built 1999
Fairways Tiftdwarf Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Greg Norman (1999) Matthew Dusenberry (1999) Tad Burnett (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code No denim, collared shirt and bermuda shorts required.

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities

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

4.6
1453 Reviews (1453)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 28
Patio Dining 26
19th Hole Scenic Views 14
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 67
Water Hazards 41
Undulating Greens 38
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 48
A Weekend Splurge 40
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 31
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 38
Convenient to the City 22
At a Resort 19

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
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great holiday golf course

Norman course is fun to play and more straight forward than its Dye neighbors. Layout is fun course conditions were excellent. It is just a pity that the bar closes at 4pm with no time for an after-game drink.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

great experience

great conditions and not too many people playing it was midweek on a wednesday. Grass was perfect hreens almost great

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

absolutely fantastic course the condition of the course were great. The greens were good. It’s a very long course from the back tees.

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

Overall enjoyable day

Booked just hours before the time. Met two other singles. We had a great time. Finished all 18 just before dark. Course is great, tough, but fair. Will come back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course in great condition

Got a great deal for this course and turned out that every detail of this course was outstanding. Green speed is fast but smooth, just over seeded the course is in great condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

High expectations Low experience

Sad but true. Played on a Saturday not that busy… cart path only… not sure why. Our twosome was paired with a nice but elderly gentleman member… slow slow slow. We felt the need to make up for his pace. We were sandwiched between a 4some and a 2some (members) who were on us constantly. The greens were burnt and inconsistent. We finished at 3:50pm… thinking let’s have a drink. NOPE they closed the bar early… wasn’t supposed to close until 5:00. No drink… it was a waste of time and money. This was the start of our vacation poor start for sure.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/01/2025

Hi there! Thank you for the feed back. This is the Operations Manager at PGA West, Norman Course. Sorry to hear your experience wasn't 5-star.

Just for clarification, we were "cart path only" because we were still fresh out of our seasonal overseed. We overseed later than most courses in the Coachella Valley so it might have been confusing as to why were on paths. Also, our greens may have looked aesthetically less green than the rest of the course but they are not "burned out". We do not overseed the greens for the winter because they are a type of grass (TifEagle) that can survive the winter without it. The off set is that they aren't as "bright" green as the rest of the course. They are currently rolling 11 on the Stimp meter and we are hosting an NCAA Div 1 tournament here in a few weeks.

As for the bar/restaurant closure, I do not have a good reason as to why you experienced the early closure. I will discuss with our F&B team as what happened that day and seek to do better. You certainly should have been able to get a drink between 3-5pm.

Please feel free to reach out to the Operations Manager in our Golf Shop at 760-564-3900. I would love an opportunity to hear about your experience in more detail and hopefully recapture the trust you put in with us by choosing to start your vacation here at the Norman Course at PGA West. We strive to deliver a 5-star experience to all our guests.

Thank you!

Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

A boring course but in great condition. Pace was a bit slow.

A boring course but in great condition. Pace was a bit slow.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Cart path only - bummer

Invited another couple to join us on their anniversary and were surprised that it was cart path only !

Our friends were disappointed after we have over sold the Greg Norman course

Just check with the pro shop before you get to the course

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 62
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Sloooow

Maybe one reason it takes so long to play this course is that some players walk the course and are not required to keep up with the group ahead.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Good value for beautiful course!

Paid $80 and got 13 holes in - great value on an excellent course!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always a fun course to play

Returning to the Norman course is always enjoyable and fun. The course layout is varied and the maintenance from tee to green excellent. Pace of play was good. A pity that the bar closes at 4pm which did not allow for an after-game drink.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

what a course

we played the PGA Greg Norman course in La Quinta located in the gated community. The pro shop staff were really nice and professional. We had a little glitch with the GolfNow payment, but they worked it out for us.

The course was in very nice condition. The greens were fast and the fairways were green and luscious. We had a cartpath only day but we were allowed to try on some of the desert areas which made it easier

The course is super long, exceeding 65oo+From the back t7000 tips. There’s even a 600 yard hole, which is just incredibly ambitious. We played from the blues, but with our handicaps, we probably should’ve played from the whites.

there was a beverage card, but it didn’t come around too much so I can’t comment on the quality of the food but when we did see the gal once she was very nice.

overall, I would give this course of 5+ rating. It really was excellent and it is incredibly challenging.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Poor Customer Service

We were not told the course was cart path only due to overseeding until we reached the first tee. And since we had a late tee time 1:30( and pace of play was important if we were to get in 18 holes) that made it ompossible. This added to the fact that the marshals did little to get the slow players ahead of us ( almost three open holes ahead of them) moving on.

In addition, when we finally headed in at 4:50 (and 14 holes) due to darkness, no one at the cart return offer to help us with our clubs or anything.

Overall a very disappointing experience- one we would not expect at a PGA West course or a course with this price point.

We will not be back, nor will we recommend the course!

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 49
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Cart path only slowed play

Course in fair shape but art path only dragged pace of play down with wide fairway. Hasn’t rained ion weeks and fairways firm and dry so not sure why the restrictions.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 92
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
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