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
1181 Reviews (1181)
5 Stars
726
4 Stars
315
3 Stars
93
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
17
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
92.1%
Recommend this course
1064 out of 1181 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
60 Reviews (60)
5 Stars
43
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.3%
Recommend this course
56 out of 60 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
92 Reviews (92)
5 Stars
67
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.3%
Recommend this course
84 out of 92 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West delivers immaculate tee boxes, true-rolling greens, and first-rate fairways that consistently impress visiting golfers. Friendly staff and outstanding course amenities make this a rewarding and memorable round at exceptional value.

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
1181 Reviews (1181)

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 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tournament conditions

Was fortunate to okay the course as they were getting it ready for the American Express Tournament in January. Course was immaculate

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Glorious Day

Highly recommend experiencing this course! From the moment you walk into the pro shop which looks out over the course and the driving range, it's breathtaking! We were fortunate to play about a month before the AMEX tournament and the course was in amazing condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Starters could do better

While frost delays aren't common in the desert, they can occur this time of year. This was the case for our twosome. We flew in from Oregon the morning of the tenth and made our way out to PGA West. They I formed us that they were running about an hour behind. We grabbed a bite on the patio and made our way over to the starter about 11:45. About an hour before our scheduled tee time. I let the starter know that we were here early and if there was any chance getting off early we would be willing to do so. His reply was not in his words but how he said it. "Yea, that's not going to happen". I told him that we would be on the range and gave him our cart number and name. After hitting some balls, my friend and I made our way over to the putting green. This gives a good view of the #1 tee fir Nicklaus Tournament. I witnessed a twosome teeing off. Thinking that they were catching up or maybe someone was running late. After a few minutes I made my way over to the starter and asked him "Did you just send a twosome off"?. He kind of paused and said "excuse me"?.I repeated myself and he told me they were part of a six some and wanted to play by themselves. My reply was "You got to be kidding, you're running 45 minutes behind and you are sending off twosomes". There are many golf Courses to play in the Coachella Valley. Two of which we played the following day were Rams Hill and Shadow Ridge. Two courses I would return to and highly recommended over PGA West. Both the condition and service were far and above what we found at PGA West. I certainly hope the powers that be use this experience to implement a program on customer service as there is quite a bit of room for improvement. On a positive note, our breakfast was wonderful and the restaurant staff was fantastic. ...

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 63
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bucket

Great condition very nice course preferred by some locals over their private course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tournament course

Trying to rate it against so many great resort courses in the in the Palm Desert area is difficult Truly a great golf course with all of Jack’s touches. Plenty of sand and water to challenge players of all levels.

Missing is the flowers and water falls of some of resort courses to make it pretty, but making up for it in a great well designed layout. Condition were great as they prepare for the PGA in January. Staff was excellent.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Many of the bunkers had no sand on top of hard pan making normal bunker shots impossible.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Gary Walles

For the amount charged for green fees, this should be 5 star across the board. Breakfast was average and I am being kind. The signage for hole to hole play was bad particularly on 10 and 12. We inadvertently started playing 2 again after 9 and had a hard time finding 12 tee.

We will choose other options next time we are here.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course but is it worth the price?

Very nice course amd we played on a Golfnow hot deal. Was very nice and at least you know when you go there that it will be. Worth the full price, I think not. Not even sure it’s worth the Hot deal price.

Course was in good condition but the fairways were shaggy. Zero roll so play one set of tees up from where you normally do.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Golf carts

We had two golf carts die on us

Chris caballero the director of golf gave us a free golf game, so I was happy with the staffing.

The course was only golf cart so it made it slower

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very expensive for quality of course

2nd time playing this course. Very expensive for conditions. Over seeding. Cart path only. Golf now should inform you prior to booking. I would have paid half the price somewhere else with much better conditions

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Jack's Tournament Course

Always a pleasure to play the courses at PGA West. NTC is in great shape. Wish the course would let you know when they are not allowing carts on the course. Course is in much better shape than last year at the same time. Fairways are in great shape and could easily support cart traffic. Greens were very shaggy. I realize that the courses are coming out of overseeding and the entire complex is getting ready for the American Express. I'm coming back on December 10th, and I'm hoping everything is ready to go.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Monday golfing

The starter was amazing. Staff was over top friendly. Course was fun. Marshall needed to go around and speed up for some foursome that had never played before. They were holding up five or six groups.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
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