PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament
A view of a green with water coming into play at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
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4.6
1158 Reviews (1158)
5 Stars
708
4 Stars
311
3 Stars
92
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
17
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
91.7%
Recommend this course
1042 out of 1158 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
44 Reviews (44)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
90.9%
Recommend this course
40 out of 44 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
103 Reviews (103)
5 Stars
74
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.2%
Recommend this course
95 out of 103 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 7204 yards
Slope 143
Rating 75.3

The Golden Bear tests you with tabletop fairways at PGA WEST - Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course in La Quinta.

If your shot's too wild, it's rolling up, often down into the desert. That's just one bit of the showmanship at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament course. This was designed to hold a PGA event, but it's spent its days delivering damage and fun to regular hackers.

Nicklaus particularly tests your short game with his bunkering around the greens. Confidence in your wedge shots is crucial here. Still, it's not as tough and unforgiving as Pete Dye's Stadium Course or even Greg Norman's course.

It's possible to get lost in the scenery at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course and there's plenty of scenery to go around with the desert brush and the mountains looming in the distance.

No. 15 is probably the most well known - and notorious - hole. Nicknamed "Long Island," it's pretty much that: a daunting 572 yard par five with an island green. The fairway's split, giving you a chance to pick your path. Either way you go, getting onto the green in two is oh but a dream.

"Nicklaus also abundantly uses non-traditional design features throughout the course to give the track its own unique flavor," TravelGolf.com's Jeffrey Rendall said. "In many ways, I don't think I've seen another course quite like it."

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PGA West - Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1987
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jack Nicklaus (1987) Rick Jacobson Thomas Pearson (1987)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
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, MC, AMEX, Discover
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code No denim, collared shirt and bermuda shorts required.

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in California (2019 #30) (2014 #24)
  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Off-course amenities in the U.S. (2019 #15)
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Reviews

4.6
1158 Reviews (1158)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 24
Patio Dining 24
19th Hole Scenic Views 18
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 46
Water Hazards 36
Forced Carries 22
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 40
A Weekend Splurge 21
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 15
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 24
At a Resort 15
Convenient to the City 11

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
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Immaculate

What can I say… the course was immaculate. Not a blade of grass out of place. But besides that, everything was above my expectations. The warm up practice area was perfect. The putting green was exactly the same as on the course.

I played as a single and was paired up with 3 great guys. One was from Chicago and the other 2 were from Calgary. We all had a great time and the golf was great also. 2 thumbs up.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Slow play

Slow play made the experience of playing a great course a little miserable. Watching group in front of us hitting many shots out of the bunkers then not raking them.Playing the course is still a good challenge.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course but sinfully slow

5 hour round in the heat, with course marshals not getting it moving.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hot day in the desert

1:48 tee time, was about 104 degrees. Staff made sure we had water and refilled again at the turn. Course was in great shape, greens putted true, pins in tough positions. Payed in 4 hours. Great course for the price on golf now

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Response from on 03/18/2026:
We’re so glad you had a great experience! Thank you for the support — we’ll be ready to welcome you back for another great round.
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course, service moderate, amenities low

Course is great and in great shape, especially for a public course. On course Marshall never greeted us once in 3 times. Cart service reached us on 8th hole only. No idea where snack bar at turn is. Had no drinking water in our cart or on the course, and sand bottle, one, was a quarter full. Tees were not anywhere close to card yardages in 2 cases.

So come prepared with own beverages and range reader.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
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 1
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 2
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 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun course but difficult

Enjoyed the course but challenging. Lots of elevated fairways and greens. Hard greens that don’t hold approach shots well. Few tight fairways with close OB and homes so premium on accuracy. Great clubhouse.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hot One

Played yesterday well over 100F. Course in great shape. They need Marshalls to speed play along . Round well over five hours because of a slow group ahead.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day of golf

Got a great deal through GN to play the Niclaus course . As expected , the course did not disappoint, top notch service from beginning to end. Will definitely play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Response from on 02/27/2026:
We’re so glad you had a great experience! Thank you for the support — we’ll be ready to welcome you back for another great round.
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Excellent course and staff

Course in perfect condition and starter Eric put me out 30

Min early so I was able to complete round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
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 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing

I recently jumped on a hot buy deal at PGA West - Nicklaus Tournament Course for $82 per player, and it turned out to be an incredible value.

We were able to get 12 holes in before dark, and even in that short time, the course absolutely delivered. The layout is classic Nicklaus — strategic, challenging, and visually stunning. The fairways were in great shape, the greens rolled true, and the desert scenery made every hole feel like a signature moment. You definitely need to think your way around the course, but it’s fair and rewarding when you hit good shots.

What really stood out, though, was the staff. From check-in to the course attendants, everyone was amazing, marshal Bob was friendly, welcoming, and very generous with his time and hospitality. Everyone made us feel appreciated and genuinely cared about our experience, which goes a long way.

Even though we didn’t get the full 18 in before sunset, the experience was 100% worth it. At $82, this felt like a steal for a course of this caliber. I’ll absolutely be back to finish the remaining holes — and I’m already looking forward to it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Response from on 02/27/2026:
Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Hearing this makes our day, and we can’t wait to have you back again soon.
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
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