PGA West – Stadium Course
Plan your round at PGA West – Stadium Course
The Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA WEST in La Quinta opened in 1986 and takes its name from the spectator mounds Dye built into the layout. Water and deep bunkers shape much of the round, and the back nine finishes with the island-green 17th, "Alcatraz", and the water-lined 18th. It hosts The American Express on the PGA TOUR each January and was restored by Tim Liddy in fall 2024. Par 72, 7,300 yards from the Black tees (rating 76.0, slope 148), with tees down to about 4,100 yards.
- Resort
- 18 holes
- Par 72
- Designed by Pete Dye
- Opened 1986
Course strategy
Read the card before you play it
Hole by hole
Walk the course
Hole 1
334
yds ·Gold
"Prelude" asks for two solid shots. Favor the middle to left-center of the fairway to stay clear of the bunker on the right, then play to a green that slopes left to right with a bunker guarding the front right.
Hole 2
320
yds ·Gold
"Craters" is a short but demanding par 4. Taking on the bunkers down the left leaves a short iron in, which helps on an undulating, tricky green.
Hole 3
356
yds ·Gold
"Crescent" plays best with a tee shot down the right side, away from the fairway bunker on the left. Club selection on the approach matters because several bunkers surround the green.
Hole 4
133
yds ·Gold
"Sand Pit" is a straightforward par 3 where a little long beats short. Stay away from the deep bunker on the right and par is a good score.
Hole 5
460
yds ·Gold
"Double Trouble" is a risk-reward par 5 with water on both sides. Keep the drive away from the water down the left, then favor the left side on the layup to avoid the water on the right.
Hole 6
146
yds ·Gold
"Amen" is one of the more intimidating tee shots on the course, but there is a bailout area to the left and the green is big enough to take almost any club.
Hole 7
281
yds ·Gold
"Black Hole" is the shortest par 4 on the course but needs a precise drive, with water running the entire right side and an unfriendly bailout to the left. Find the fairway and you will have a short iron in.
Hole 8
471
yds ·Gold
"Links" gives a break from the water after three straight holes with it, but bunkers line the hole from tee to green, so keep the ball in play the whole way.
Hole 9
362
yds ·Gold
"Reflection" is the number one handicap hole. Favor the left side off the tee, since the right brings a fairway bunker and water into play. The green is ringed by bunkers and breaks from back to front and left to right.
Hole 10
327
yds ·Gold
"Quarry" has water down the entire left side from tee to green. Favor the right side of the fairway to set up the approach.
Hole 11
482
yds ·Gold
"Eternity" is the longest hole on the course. Keep the drive clear of the bunkers on the left, and play the second shot farther right for a flatter lie into a long, undulating green.
Hole 12
287
yds ·Gold
"Moat" calls for a tee shot down the right side for a view of the green, since deep bunkers guard the left side of the fairway. Aim the approach at the center of the green regardless of the pin, because trouble surrounds it.
Hole 13
153
yds ·Gold
"Second Thoughts" is a long par 3 with water left and little room to bail out right. Anything pulled left finds the water; a drop zone is in place for this hole.
Hole 14
328
yds ·Gold
"Cavern" sets up best with a tee shot down the left side, leaving a short iron in. Avoid the greenside bunker on the left at all costs.
Hole 15
367
yds ·Gold
"Turning Home" needs a straight drive between bunkers on both sides. Take an extra club on the approach, since long is better than short here.
Hole 16
463
yds ·Gold
"San Andreas Fault" is a par 5 with a bunker left off the tee and a greenside bunker on the left roughly 20 feet deep. Laying up to a short-iron distance is the suggested play; if you go for it, keep the second shot to the right.
Hole 17
112
yds ·Gold
"Alcatraz" is the signature island-green par 3, ringed by boulders and water, where Lee Trevino made his famous ace in the 1987 Skins Game. Pick your club carefully and commit; a drop zone is available if you find the water.
Hole 18
318
yds ·Gold
"Coliseum" has water down the entire left side and one of the more intimidating drives on the course. Favor the right side while avoiding the bunkers; the approach has no bailout left, with water in play and bunkers guarding the front right.
ScorecardView the full scorecard
Distances in yards
| Hole | Par | Hcp | Black | Blue | White | Gold | Red | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 9 | 445 | 382 | 358 | 334 | 304 | 239 |
| 2 | 4 | 15 | 371 | 348 | 328 | 320 | 290 | 230 |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 471 | 448 | 383 | 356 | 327 | 262 |
| 4 | 3 | 17 | 192 | 170 | 151 | 133 | 111 | 106 |
| 5 | 5 | 7 | 535 | 514 | 496 | 460 | 437 | 335 |
| 6 | 3 | 5 | 255 | 223 | 187 | 146 | 133 | 112 |
| 7 | 4 | 11 | 346 | 309 | 295 | 281 | 240 | 190 |
| 8 | 5 | 13 | 559 | 526 | 486 | 471 | 429 | 358 |
| 9 | 4 | 1 | 452 | 430 | 382 | 362 | 313 | 231 |
| Out | 36 | 3,626 | 3,350 | 3,066 | 2,863 | 2,584 | 2,063 | |
| 10 | 4 | 6 | 416 | 380 | 351 | 327 | 294 | 237 |
| 11 | 5 | 8 | 617 | 591 | 530 | 482 | 442 | 350 |
| 12 | 4 | 18 | 363 | 347 | 308 | 287 | 249 | 220 |
| 13 | 3 | 10 | 214 | 195 | 167 | 153 | 105 | 94 |
| 14 | 4 | 12 | 389 | 372 | 348 | 328 | 293 | 209 |
| 15 | 4 | 4 | 468 | 436 | 404 | 367 | 338 | 270 |
| 16 | 5 | 16 | 600 | 517 | 474 | 463 | 428 | 343 |
| 17 | 3 | 14 | 168 | 146 | 131 | 112 | 83 | 66 |
| 18 | 4 | 2 | 439 | 405 | 387 | 318 | 276 | 232 |
| In | 36 | 3,674 | 3,389 | 3,100 | 2,837 | 2,508 | 2,021 | |
| Total | 72 | 7,300 | 6,739 | 6,166 | 5,700 | 5,092 | 4,084 | |
| Rating / Slope | 76.0 / 148 | 73.4 / 141 | 70.6 / 134 | 68.4 / 127 | 65.5 / 118 | 60.9 / 106 | ||
| Women's rating / slope | 82.3 / 154 | 79.1 / 147 | 75.8 / 138 | 73.2 / 132 | 69.7 / 125 | 64.0 / 112 | ||
Before you go
Everything to know on arrival
Know before you go
- Wear a collared shirt with long pants or walking shorts; no denim, T-shirts, tank tops, athletic or cargo shorts.
- Soft spikes only; metal spikes are not allowed.
- Check in at the Tournament Clubhouse, 56-150 PGA Blvd (shared with the Nicklaus Tournament Course).
- Cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid a penalty.
- Practice facilities are included with your green fee on the day of play, so arrive early to warm up.
- Bring extra balls: water is in play on many holes, especially 5, 7, 10, 13, 17 and 18.
- Drop zones are available on holes 6, 13 and 17.
- Plan for about 4 hours 15 minutes, the posted pace of play.
- No outside food, drink or coolers; Ernie's Bar & Grill is in the clubhouse.
- Check the maintenance schedule: the course closes for fall overseeding and hosts The American Express in January.
- Pick tees honestly: the Black tees carry a 148 slope, and five other sets go down to about 4,100 yards.
Arrival & check-in
The Stadium Course plays out of the Tournament Clubhouse at 56-150 PGA Blvd, which it shares with the Nicklaus Tournament Course and the PGA WEST Golf Academy. Resort guests staying at La Quinta Resort can take the resort shuttle to the course. Green fees include unlimited use of the practice facilities on the day of play, so arrive early enough to warm up.
Dress code
Collared shirts and long pants or walking shorts are required. Denim, T-shirts, tank tops, athletic shorts and cargo shorts are not allowed, and only soft (non-metal) spikes are permitted.
Carts & walking
Green fees include a shared cart. Check with the golf shop if you would like to walk or ask about forecaddies.
Practice facilities
Green fees include unlimited use of the practice facilities on the day of play, except during the fall overseeding period. The PGA WEST Golf Academy is based at the Tournament Clubhouse and offers lessons, golf schools, on-course instruction and club fitting; book lessons through the academy at (760) 564-7144.
Rentals & pro shop
TaylorMade rental sets (men's and women's, right- and left-handed) are available at all PGA WEST resort courses and include two sleeves of balls; extended or shortened lengths are not offered. Reserve through the Tournament Clubhouse golf shop at (760) 564-7101.
Food & drink
Ernie's Bar & Grill in the Tournament Clubhouse overlooks the Nicklaus Tournament Course and serves lunch daily, weekend breakfast and a full bar. All food and drink must be bought on site, and personal coolers are not allowed.
Pace of play
The scorecard sets an acceptable pace of play of 4 hours 15 minutes. A code of conduct and pace of play policy are available in the golf shop.
Policies
The course is open to resort guests and the public, with separate booking portals for each. Tee times can be cancelled without penalty up to 48 hours before play. The course closes for fall overseeding and is used for The American Express each January, so check the maintenance schedule before planning a trip. Local rules include drop zones on holes 6, 13 and 17.
Info last reviewed October 19, 2026. Policies change — confirm with the course before your round.
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