The Stadium Course at PGA WEST in La Quinta, California, USA | GolfPass
PGA West Stadium Course: #17
PGA West Stadium Course #17: Welcome to “Alcatraz.” Home to Lee Trevino’s “Hole in One” – one of the most famous shots in golf history – which gave him the “Skins Game” victory over Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Raymond Floyd.
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4.4
1074 Reviews 1074 Reviews
5 Stars
676
4 Stars
247
3 Stars
89
2 Stars
37
1 Stars
25
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.0
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.5
87.7%
Recommend this course
945 out of 1074 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
86 Reviews 86 Reviews
5 Stars
61
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
89.5%
Recommend this course
77 out of 86 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
115 Reviews 115 Reviews
5 Stars
84
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.2%
Recommend this course
106 out of 115 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 7300 yards
Slope 148
Rating 75.8

This is the monster of all monsters, the one that carries so many folktales of golfer terror with it that it should qualify as its own myth. The developers asked Pete Dye to make this "the toughest golf course in the world" and many argue he succeeded. Too well.

The Stadium Course at PGA WEST in La Quinta is one of those tracks that any self-respecting golf nut has to play once. Just to experience it. Just to say you did. Just to have stories of golf cruelty to tell at the office water cooler. There's a 19-foot deep bunker on the 16th hole. That's right. A 19-foot deep bunker. Your ball won't get out. Heck, you might not get out. From the back tees it measures 7,300 yards with an incredible 148-slope rating.

Every hole is a story waiting to be told. Either in success to be bragged about or failure to be even more bragged about. The PGA players moaned about this course so loud that it's no longer a regular stop on tour. Yet for average hackers, it's often a joy of punishment. Go in with the right attitude and it's liable to be one of your most unforgettable days of golf.

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PGA WEST - Pete Dye Stadium Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1987
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye (1987) Alice Dye (1986)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
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, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code No denim, collared shirt and bermuda shorts required

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis
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Accolades

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Reviews

4.4
1074 Reviews (1074)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 42
Patio Dining 28
19th Hole Scenic Views 26
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 70
Water Hazards 67
Forced Carries 49
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 61
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 52
A Weekend Splurge 31
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 42
At a Resort 34
Convenient to the City 18

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 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Terrible pace of play

5h20 to complete 18 holes. Tons of groups spending time as if they’re playing on the PGA only to shank a shot or 3 putt. Marshall was useless and told us to take more time to make space (yeah great idea. Punish everyone behind us even more!) and refused to admonish the slow group of amateurs using Aim Point at every hole… I guess he did not hear of etiquette and the basic rules of golf. Not only that, some genius accountant brilliantly decided to book a corporate competition of 12-14 foursomes who thought they were in the Ryder Cup without telling regular visitors. Nice touch for a $600-700 green fee. Horrendous.

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Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very well run

I had an early am tee time. Pace of play was awesome: four hours precisely for our threesome. Course conditions were great, though greens were firmer than I would expect especially for morning. Holding a shot on famed 17th was an extra difficult challenge. Ernie’s for lunch was fantastic. One note: I picked up my clubs post round with no oversight or security. Made me a bit concerned about their safety.

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Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
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
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course but slow

It is really good course, but management is poor and the play was delayed.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
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 13
Handicap 15-19
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Immaculate

This course is an absolute treat, pristine shape, even the driving range is perfect.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The stadium course had a 2.5 hour frost delay. By the time my tee time rolled around I would have only been able to play 6 or 7 holes. Because it was prepaid thru golf now, they couldn't refund but they said if I did contact golf now they would support getting a refund. They proshop offered me an immediate e date tee time on the Nicklas course if I wanted to do that, which I did and was able to squeeze in 18. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and did the best they could do.

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Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tough but fair

A great golf course. Tough but very fair. TV does give the gully on 16 on how deep it hs. Can’t wait to play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Played right after the American Express

Was fortunate to get on a couple of days after the American Express. Course was in great condition and a lot of the grandstands were still up. Front 9 is definitely easier than the back in my opinion and you definitely need to manage where you are missing. Some places are way better to kiss into than others. Very challenging layout and fast undulating greens with lots of bunkers. The dormant Bermuda rough helps with ease of finding wayward shots and we were lucky it wasn’t windy. Staff was great and the course was awesome! Definitely want to play it again as well as the other PGA West courses.

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Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

spoiled bucket list outing.

We knew that booking our group to play following a marquee tournament would be memorable but we left feeling jaded by the experience due to what we noted as lack of service-oriented staff coupled with poor communication and management. We expected better!

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Conditions Excellent
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

"a great day, but not perfect"

never received notice of frost delay; long delay to tee off made completing the round before darkness very challenging. never saw a marshal on the course to help with pace of play - which was close to 4 hours 50 minutes. never received a pin sheet making approach shots more difficult. However, course conditions and greens near perfect (only two days after Amex Tournament).

Show All
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
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
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