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PGA WEST Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course

4.6
1115 Reviews (1115)
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
1115 Reviews (1115)
5 Stars
680
4 Stars
300
3 Stars
90
2 Stars
29
1 Stars
16
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.6
Tooltip Information Icon
92.8%
Recommend this course
1003 out of 1115 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
46 Reviews (46)
5 Stars
36
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.5
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.3%
Recommend this course
42 out of 46 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
143 Reviews (143)
5 Stars
108
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.7
92.3%
Recommend this course
132 out of 143 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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Satellite Layout
Tees
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
Track Rounds
Scorecard
Scorecard for Nicklaus Tournament
Metrics:
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

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
1115 Reviews (1115)

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Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
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Default User Avatar
Bobheller
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 Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
u000006422487
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome experience

Had my best golf experience here. Beautiful layout and course conditions. Staff were friendly and helpful. Clubhouse amenities are top notch. Live to come back soon.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
NeilDonn
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course

Everything in this course is first class from Food to the golf course. The only one issue I have is the GPS system on the cart is very Mickey Mouse.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Toddtpace
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The golf course was in great shape!

Had a great experience golfing at this great course. The only drawback was on the back nine we encountered a fivesome that somehow got ahead of us and they played so slow. It made life miserable for everybody behind them. Do not know why the Marshal didn’t break them up.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
WalaDito
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tournament course review

Though we were not holding up the foursome behind, the marshal kept pushing us and watched every shot we did like a hawk for three holes; and we ended up messing up instead. He didn’t even consider the fact that it added time to walk to your ball on every shot since it was cart path only. Our round turned out to be miserable because of that marshal.

FYI, we also played Stadium the day before and the marshal was very helpful & offered us water as we played the course. We enjoyed that round.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
bearav
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
camer73
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very Slow

Round was over 4.5 hours. Brutal pace of play. Good thing it’s beautiful:)

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
golf1king
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course presents very well.

First time player. I enjoyed he plateaued fairways

and beautiful par threes. Bunkers were plenty but sand was not great. Lots of tee boxes to choose from.

Lots of challenging holes. 9. 16, 18 are tremendous holes with water.

Bring your '"A"game because this course is fairly hard.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Tim8217592
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
stronghorse
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Great layout!

Great layout and pace of play was good for a weekend!

Much more playable and enjoyable than the Stadium course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
glenlowe
Played On
Reviews 20
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Overpriced

What used to be one of the crowned jewels in the Coachella Valley for public play, PGA West definitely has become overpriced and overcrowded. They definitely need to have marshals helping with pace of play. 3.5+ hours for the front 9 is totally unacceptable.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
JeanneTB
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Cart Path Only is Torture

We prepaid for PGA West Nicklaus Tournament course. We were not told it would be cart path only. This is an extremely hilly course and having to run up and down large hills was torture. We quit after 9 exhausted. Make sure you call rgem before booking with Golf Now

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
zlavalli
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Unfortunately it was cart path only. Would like to try again later in season.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
JjeW2gcYyjo1xAtyduGq
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
u314163577367
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Darrald
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Going to play here again

I know all courses are over seating right now, but this course was exceeding my expectations very fair and challenging at the same time. Will definitely play here many more times.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
spbrasch
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Default User Avatar
BrownMikeof4
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Must Play

PGA West Nicklaus reopened from over seeding the day I played and was cart path only (Golf Now missed this fact). Pace of play was 4hr 15min which was excellent considering cart path only. Course was in phenomenal condition except for bunkers which had inconsistent sand amounts. Greens were fast and receptive to iron shots.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
u314162214346
Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
u658823216
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 Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
6 7 8 9 10
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