How the West Was Won
At PGA West in La Quinta, nine world-renowned courses unfold beneath the Santa Rosa Mountains, each offering its own challenge.
(All photos courtesy PGA West.)
With nine world-renowned golf courses and stunning natural scenery, PGA West in La Quinta, California, is a golf lover’s paradise. The surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains provide an impressive backdrop for this collection of courses, giving golfers their greatest challenge right off the bat: deciding which course to play first.
There’s a reason it’s often referred to as “The Western Home of Golf in America,” and it’s a description that shouldn’t be underestimated. Each golf course has its own distinct personality — and its own way of challenging even the best golfers.
Touring the Public Courses
The OG of the courses is the Stadium Course, Pete Dye’s notoriously bold design that opened in early 1986. Inspired by Scottish seaside courses, it leans into the rugged, dramatic California landscape to delight the senses. But deep bunkers, island greens, and Dye’s signature optical illusions pose both psychological and physical challenges for players. The most famous (and perhaps dreaded) hole on this course is the 17th; a par 3 floating island known as “Alcatraz” that looks beautiful but tests both the skills and sanity of all who play it.
The Nicklaus Tournament Course, which also opened in 1986, offers a different kind of challenge for players. The legendary Jack Nicklaus designed this bold and muscular course with the idea that golfers should have room to swing freely, and the wide fairways invite aggression. Long hitters can flex some muscle, but the elevated greens demand precision. It’s a course that rewards bravery but punishes carelessness, and it’s known as one of the most highly regarded courses in the Palm Springs area.
Designer Greg Norman took a completely different approach for the Norman Course, which opened in 1999 and sports a desert-minimalist design. Showing deep respect for the desert ecosystem, it features an abundance of sand areas, native vegetation, nine lakes, and wide corridors that frame the mountains. This Audubon-certified masterpiece feels wild and natural, reminding players that their game is often at the mercy of Mother Nature.
The final two public courses, the Mountain Course and Dunes Course, are Pete Dye contributions that showcase his versatility. Opened in 1988, the Mountain Course is dramatic and sculptural, with holes pressed up against the rocky foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. It’s a visual showpiece and is one of the most photographed golf courses in the desert.
The Dunes Course, which opened in 1989, channels a more traditional aesthetic. The links-inspired layout offers rolling fairways and classic bunkering that evoke the feel of vintage American golf.
Together, these nine courses turn PGA West into more than just a destination; it’s a pilgrimage that tests and rewards all who visit.
Beyond the fairways, the surrounding landscape at PGA West in La Quinta invites exploration long after the final hole.
Private Plays
Three private courses are open to PGA West members, their guests, and Residence Club members. They offer exceptional architecture, and two of them — the Nicklaus Private Course and Palmer Private Course — are world-ranked. That makes PGA West the only private club with two world-ranked courses.
The Palmer Private Course showcases Arnold Palmer’s belief that golf should
be fun. Opened in 1986, it offers sweeping fairways, forgiving landing areas, and greens that invite creativity. It encourages shot-making rather than survival and is where golfers can go to experiment, improvise, and rediscover the joy of the game.
The Nicklaus Private Course opened in 1987 as a quieter, more refined course with generous fairways, approachable greens, and mountain views that feel almost meditative. It’s the kind of course where golfers can slow down, take in the desert air, and remember why they fell in love with the game in the first place.
The final addition to the private courses came in 1999 with the Weiskopf Private Course. Tom Weiskopf’s design adds a modern twist to the lineup, with a sleek and strategic design. Risk-reward opportunities are found at nearly every hole, with drivable par 4s that tempt players into pushing their limits — and water features and sculpted bunkers that make them reconsider that decision.
Beyond the Fairways
While PGA West is a golfing empire, its setting in La Quinta means there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors even after stepping off the golf course. The surrounding landscape of the Santa Rosa Mountains is more than just scenery; it’s an invitation to explore.
Hiking is a mainstay of La Quinta’s outdoor culture. Trails including the Bear Creek Canyon Trail and the Cove to Lake Cahuilla Trail offer everything from gentle morning walks to challenging climbs that reward hikers with magnificent valley views.
For those who prefer to explore on two wheels, biking offers another signature experience. Smooth, scenic road routes wind through the valley, while mountain bikers can explore rugged single-track trails that weave through the foothills.
PGA West is more than a golf destination. It’s a desert sanctuary where sport, nature, and serenity coexist, and the real reward is simply being there.
55-955 PGA Blvd.
La Quinta, California
(760) 564-7101
pgawest.com
(All photos courtesy PGA West.)