PGA WEST Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
About
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."
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7204 yards | 75.3 | 143 |
| Black (W) | 72 | 7204 yards | 81.9 | 151 |
| Blue | 72 | 6522 yards | 72.2 | 134 |
| Blue (W) | 72 | 6522 yards | 78.2 | 142 |
| Blue/White | 72 | 6224 yards | 70.8 | 130 |
| Blue/White (W) | 72 | 6224 yards | 76.4 | 138 |
| White | 72 | 6061 yards | 70.0 | 128 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6061 yards | 75.4 | 136 |
| Gold | 72 | 5627 yards | 68.1 | 122 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 5627 yards | 73.1 | 131 |
| Gold/Red | 72 | 5325 yards | 66.5 | 117 |
| Gold/Red (W) | 72 | 5325 yards | 71.5 | 123 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5023 yards | 70.1 | 120 |
| Red | 72 | 5023 yards | 64.9 | 113 |
| Silver | 72 | 4014 yards | 60.5 | 101 |
| Silver (W) | 72 | 4014 yards | 63.8 | 111 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 75.3/143 W: 81.9/151 | 412 | 444 | 192 | 549 | 364 | 462 | 527 | 172 | 461 | 3583 | 370 | 528 | 188 | 419 | 442 | 572 | 440 | 209 | 453 | 3621 | 7204 |
| Black/Blue M: 73.8/139 W: 80.0/146 | 412 | 398 | 163 | 549 | 364 | 420 | 527 | 143 | 431 | 3407 | 370 | 528 | 164 | 378 | 442 | 516 | 423 | 209 | 431 | 3461 | 6868 |
| Blue M: 72.2/134 W: 78.2/142 | 378 | 398 | 163 | 505 | 320 | 420 | 471 | 143 | 431 | 3229 | 330 | 490 | 164 | 378 | 381 | 516 | 423 | 180 | 431 | 3293 | 6522 |
| Blue/White M: 70.8/130 W: 76.4/138 | 349 | 398 | 163 | 505 | 320 | 386 | 471 | 132 | 383 | 3107 | 330 | 490 | 155 | 338 | 381 | 472 | 368 | 180 | 403 | 3117 | 6224 |
| White M: 70.0/128 W: 75.4/136 | 349 | 387 | 155 | 482 | 299 | 386 | 450 | 132 | 383 | 3023 | 318 | 480 | 155 | 338 | 339 | 472 | 368 | 165 | 403 | 3038 | 6061 |
| White/Gold M: 69.1/125 W: 74.3/134 | 349 | 387 | 155 | 482 | 288 | 373 | 450 | 125 | 340 | 2949 | 318 | 480 | 116 | 323 | 339 | 462 | 348 | 165 | 388 | 2939 | 5888 |
| Gold M: 68.1/122 W: 73.1/131 | 311 | 354 | 133 | 447 | 288 | 373 | 426 | 125 | 340 | 2797 | 283 | 449 | 116 | 323 | 330 | 462 | 348 | 131 | 388 | 2830 | 5627 |
| Gold/Red M: 66.5/117 W: 71.5/123 | 311 | 322 | 133 | 414 | 288 | 342 | 426 | 125 | 335 | 2696 | 283 | 400 | 116 | 323 | 330 | 417 | 304 | 97 | 359 | 2629 | 5325 |
| Red M: 64.9/113 W: 70.1/120 | 273 | 322 | 120 | 414 | 225 | 342 | 391 | 92 | 335 | 2514 | 232 | 400 | 104 | 295 | 301 | 417 | 304 | 97 | 359 | 2509 | 5023 |
| Red/Silver M: 62.4/106 W: 66.7/115 | 218 | 249 | 119 | 414 | 225 | 281 | 391 | 92 | 268 | 2257 | 232 | 400 | 104 | 241 | 237 | 417 | 234 | 97 | 267 | 2229 | 4486 |
| Silver M: 60.5/101 W: 63.8/111 | 218 | 249 | 119 | 322 | 173 | 281 | 328 | 74 | 268 | 2032 | 195 | 318 | 102 | 241 | 237 | 303 | 234 | 85 | 267 | 1982 | 4014 |
| Handicap | 5 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 4 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 4 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Available Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAvailable Sports
Fitness, TennisReviews
Reviewer Photos
-
First view Photo submitted by Richter6103254 on 12/22/2025
-
Photo submitted by setch on 12/19/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000002367479 on 09/19/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000002367479 on 09/19/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000002367479 on 09/19/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000002367479 on 09/19/2025
-
Photo submitted by Mincer24 on 04/16/2025
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 07/04/2024
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 07/04/2024
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 07/04/2024
-
Photo submitted by AroundtheHorn on 07/04/2024
-
Photo submitted by daddyzzang on 09/25/2023
-
Photo submitted by Magoo6047 on 05/17/2023
-
Photo submitted by u7326787 on 05/13/2023
-
Photo submitted by u379613247 on 02/03/2023
-
Photo submitted by mcry on 01/17/2023
-
Gorgeous Photo submitted by igolowuc on 12/27/2022
-
Photo submitted by Goegl01 on 12/06/2022
-
Photo submitted by u2138341 on 10/04/2022
-
Photo submitted by u2138341 on 10/04/2022
-
Photo submitted by Golfmd50 on 02/24/2022
-
Photo submitted by u355891953 on 11/16/2021
-
Photo submitted by u355891953 on 11/16/2021
-
Photo submitted by captainlandius on 09/26/2021
-
Photo submitted by captainlandius on 09/26/2021
-
Par’d it…i can go home now lol! Photo submitted by u000001295218 on 09/22/2021
-
Photo submitted by u000001295218 on 09/15/2021
-
History!!!!!!!!! Photo submitted by U04596 on 07/06/2021
-
Number 8. Photo submitted by u378708142 on 05/16/2021
-
Pretty sketchy Photo submitted by jbsocal on 09/13/2020
-
Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
-
Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
-
Photo submitted by u314159354135 on 01/02/2020
-
18th green Photo submitted by Dave1883044 on 11/10/2019
-
Photo submitted by James2537435 on 11/07/2019
-
Photo submitted by u841910878 on 05/20/2019
-
Photo submitted by u841910878 on 05/20/2019
-
Photo submitted by hacksalot03 on 12/31/2016
-
Photo submitted by u664859348 on 01/28/2015
-
Photo submitted by gjcheney60 on 02/25/2014
Great Experience
The course was challenging and very well key. Only issue were the green sand traps. The sand was hard packed and no give. Made chipping out of them almost impossible.
Enjoyed the course
Fun course from the correct tees, brutal otherwise.
Fast greens compared to other nonPGA courses. Older Jack design with angled greens demanding distance control, dropoffs near fairways, thick rough. Reasonable pace of play for a resort, under 4.5 hours starting at 1. Not sure how many following groups finished.
Tournament Challenge
Facilities and course are fantastic. Great driving range, lots of targets, grass tees!! Like to have had club cleaning stations out on the range though. Fairly generous off the tees on most holes but approach shots to the greens are challenging. Tough to hold most greens with approach shots if you don't hit the ball high and can land it softly. Bunkers were a real challenge as some of them were surprisingly inconsistent in sand depth. Island par 3s are fun....I think!! Greens were fantastic as they rolled fast and true even in the late afternoon. Would play again, but expect slow play. Just too short tee time intervals so lots of waiting especially on island par 3s.
SOOOOOOO GOOD
Having played the Stadium course, I was not going to play here. Found an awesome deal on Golf now and decided to go for it. WAS IT EVER WORTH IT! Fairways and in superb condition. While the rough wasn't so deep that you couldn't find your ball, but deep enough to grab a lofted iron to get to fairway. Forget about going for the green. Greens were perfect. Reasonably fast and rolling as true as could be.
Layout, you would stand on the T-box and just drink it in. I am so glad I played it
18 hole fee, 13 hole round
Great coarses but beware afternoon tee times will likely not come close to finishing, pace of play 5+ hrs. Seems like it would be better PR to advertise and sell 9 hole rounds only after 1pm or so this time of year. Hopefully better experience next time. John
Gooner in the desert
What a wonderful experience... Visitors need to repair their pitch marks !!!
jomigo
Course was generally in good condition. Pace of play rather slow...when a member (or members) are allowed to just drive up to others and join a 3some to further delay.
A day in the desert
What an experience.. Fantastic course and facilities. Several choices of tee boxes for all level of players. I will return given the chance
Nicklaus in prime condition
Just Amazing!!! While I prefer the Stadium & the Mountain at pga west- The Nicklaus tourney course was in amazing shape & beautiful!!! JP
worth the price
great course , great conditions, never saw a bad lie
Excellent shape
Beautiful course in excellent shape would have liked to have the course layout on the scorecard difficult to navigate without that or GPS on the cary
Tournament course
Amazing about 2 weeks after the tour came through still is spectacular condition