Back
PGA WEST Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
Rating Snapshot
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, Tennis
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by chrispsd on 02/12/2026
-
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
We're glad you enjoyed your 5-star experience with us. Please comment or reach out to our team in the golf shop to let us know more about your round at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
Excellent course to play in the desert
The Nicklaus is an excellent test of golf requiring a large variety of shots. The course was in great condition, thus the greens were a bit slower than usual.
Thank you for your review, chrescht. We will pass along your positive experience to our team at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Hi, u314159972154. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Good day of golf
2nd time to play the course in a 5 day period. I did much better this time. By that I mean I didn’t cuss as much. I accepted that this is a tough course and isn’t for sissies. 😊😊.
Will play it again, well, until my wife finds out how much I’m spending..
Thank you for taking the time to review us, u314162332207. Your feedback is valuable, and we look forward to delivering you excellent service again soon. PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course thanks you!
This course was amazing but humbling at the same time.. Still in great shape and well taken care of before scalping season starts.. Greens were fast ..
Thank you for your review, u2138341. We will pass along your positive experience to our team at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Challenging course
Great course. Challenging layout. Well maintained.
Didn’t realize until I got there that there was a $35.00 fee for my wife to ride along with me in the cart. That’s a little excessive for a ride along I think.
Enjoyed the round
Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Hi, dclark43. We would love to hear more about your positive experience on our course. Please contact us to share with us your favorite part of your experience. Thanks for golfing at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
best in the desert
we felt this courses condition was the best in the desert, which can be challenging this time of year...well run facility...they do things right
Thank you for taking the time to review us, barnbogie. Your feedback is valuable, and we look forward to delivering you excellent service again soon. PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course thanks you!
Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
Hi, u000003721883. We would love to hear more about your positive experience on our course. Please contact us to share with us your favorite part of your experience. Thanks for golfing at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
Hi, HubertUSA. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Always love playing here!
We always have the best time here. Pace was slow but just such a nice course and everyone is so friendly. Course is always in good condition even in a 100+ temperatures.
Wow! We are so happy you enjoyed your round, seigel5! We look forward to seeing you again soon at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Great course poor staff and amenities
Course was great staff not very good , starter was lacking information. I have encountered much better during my stay at Palm Desert. No WHI sheets to look up sheets received. No water fountains on course just bottled water which ran out.
Pace of play as normal but playing partners dropped out after nine holes and the four ball in front would not let me through. No course marshals.
The drinks cart young lady was magnificent in going back to the clubhouse to get me a coffee.
We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, duncs61. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, and we hope to see you again in the future.
Do not play this course unless you have 6 hours free. Our foursome waited on every shot all day because the threesome in front of us decided that today would be the day to take extra shots and tell a story on every tee box. The Marshall came out to speak with them after 10 holes with no noticeable improvement. I will not come back
We apologize for the pace of play issue you experienced. We always try to keep a great pace when having our golfers on the course. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback as we will use your review to better the experience going forward. We hope you give us another try in the near future!
The Terminator
Challenging course
Single digit fairways play well double digit fairways not so good
Digit meaning index
Plays from the championship t-box
Part of the part 3
Definitely going back to finish the deal another day
Hi, u314160439764. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Good golf course
Good fairway. Kind staff. Highly recommend.
It's my first time. I want to go again
Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, u652903352. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, chint2. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, Nancy2626. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course!
The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package
The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package
The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package
The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package
Hi, valenzud. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!