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
1122 Reviews (1122)
5 Stars
684
4 Stars
302
3 Stars
90
2 Stars
29
1 Stars
17
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
92.4%
Recommend this course
1009 out of 1122 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
28 Reviews (28)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.7
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.9
StaffFriendliness
4.7
92.9%
Recommend this course
26 out of 28 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
108 Reviews (108)
5 Stars
84
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.7%
Recommend this course
99 out of 108 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
1122 Reviews (1122)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Nice , difficult course

Nice course. Tough layout. It happens at too many courses when you have golfers who feel they must play from the blue or black tees who don't have the skills to play from there. All this does is slow the pace of play for everyone behind you. That happened here as the group ahead of the group ahead of us were not good golfers playing from the blues.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing Course

First time playing PGA West course in Palm Springs area (played in Scottsdale) and it did not disappoint! The Jack Nicholas course is tough, it fair for intermediate golfers. Have to hit your shots onto the greens like darts to stay on as the greens were very quick on the day we played. Sand bunkers all around the greens and also water on occasion to watch out for! Course is beautifully designed and well taken care of (as you would expect). Great day of golf with my son!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Response from on 04/02/2025:
Thank you for the glowing review. We’re delighted you had a fantastic time here and will keep working to provide outstanding experiences for all our guests.
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Late afternoon play

We had a 4pm tee time - pace of play was great to start but around the 5th hole the pace slowed - no Marshall was present which may have helped. We also had 2 players just ahead of us that played from the blacks and while they hit the ball long off the tee their second shot seemed a bit off causing delay to occur for those behind them. The course was in great shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 03/31/2025:
Thanks for the five-star rating. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your visit and appreciate your support. Our team looks forward to delivering the same level of excellence next time.
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
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 7
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
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 2
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 Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
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 A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

PGA west

Excellent In all aspects except play was a little slow from the two groups ahrad

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Response from on 03/25/2025:
Thanks for the five-star rating. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your visit and appreciate your support. Our team looks forward to delivering the same level of excellence next time.
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 7
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Challenging

Firm greens, LOTS of bunkers. Greens can be tough to read & run around 11+ on the stimp. Need good course management to score.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
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 Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Afternoon is a bargain

If you’re looking for a round on a high quality course at a good price, try Nicklaus after 2:30. We knew we’d only get 14 or so in, but the discounts in the afternoon make this one worth it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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