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
1127 Reviews (1127)
5 Stars
687
4 Stars
303
3 Stars
90
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
17
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
91.6%
Recommend this course
1013 out of 1127 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
29 Reviews (29)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.5
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
4.6
89.7%
Recommend this course
26 out of 29 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
104 Reviews (104)
5 Stars
78
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
90.4%
Recommend this course
94 out of 104 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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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
1127 Reviews (1127)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
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
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
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 Average
Played On
Reviews 7
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 1
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

So much sand

Great course but lots of sand . It’s a little expensive

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not a Good Value

Course is in excellent condition. Staff is super friendly. Awesome pro shop. Course layout is not the best with too many deep sand traps and severe elevated greens. Green speed seemed inconsistent. Deep bunkers had not enough soft sand to get a ball out. Not a good value for the price.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Amazing course

The course was amazing. We caught the Tee Time during the Super Bowl so our time was during the game but freed the course up for the evening. Greens and fairways were in great shape.

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 Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very Enjoyable

Tough layout from the tips. Strategy and good ball placement required on most holes. Greens are elevated-don't leave yourself short.

The greens were magnificent, probably the smoothest I have ever played.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Fun Time

Snuck in a twilight round in February and got in 12 holes holes for $111. The PGA west clubhouse is a good time and I'm glad we played here. The rack rate at prime time was a turn off but it all worked out with a last minute deal.

Layout is fun. Interesting but not overly punishing. Fairways and greens were top notch.

If youre staying in La quinta or PGA West. Keep an eye on the app for last minute deals. We golfed all weekend and this course was a great time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
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 Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Added this one to my favorites

Fantastic turf conditions throughout. While providing challenges, the track is designed to be playable for most with generous off-fairway lies on most holes ( unfortunately, verified myself a time or two). The marshal was affable and ensured a good pace for us, even facilitating a play-through on the back nine which enabled getting 18 in on a twilight rate. We will return.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
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