PGA West Stadium Course
Pete Dye built the Stadium Course at PGA West in 1986 as a deliberately savage test, all sculpted bunkers, railroad ties and water, and it remains one of the most dramatic public courses in the California desert. A par 72 of about 7,300 yards, it hosted the Skins Game and now features in the PGA Tour American Express, and unlike many of its peers it is open to resort and public play.
Photo: PGA WEST Pete Dye Stadium Course via Google.
The verdict
Pete Dye laid out the Stadium Course at PGA West in 1986 on the desert floor at La Quinta, southeast of Palm Springs, and built it to intimidate. Deep, sculpted bunkers, railroad tie walls, water guarded greens and the notorious par 3 17th, Alcatraz, make it one of the boldest target courses in American golf, a par 72 of about 7,300 yards.
It hosted the Skins Game from 1986 to 1991 and now appears in the rotation for the PGA Tour American Express. Crucially for the travelling golfer, the Stadium Course is open to resort guests and public play, so a tee time on a genuine tournament venue is within reach. Green fees are highest in the prime winter season and fall sharply in the summer heat.
PGA West Stadium Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1986
- Designer
- Pete Dye
- Type
- Desert stadium
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,300 yds
- Green fee
- From about $150
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from PGA West and leading course databases. The Stadium Course was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1986, a par 72 of about 7,300 yards. It is open to public and resort play, with indicative green fees of about $150 to $265 in peak season, lower in summer. Always confirm current rates and tee time availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Stadium Course rewards precise, committed golf and punishes the timid. Dye frames each shot with sand and water so that the eye is constantly tested, and the greens are firm and full of movement, demanding the right club and the right line.
The signature is the par 3 17th, Alcatraz, an island green ringed by rock that has wrecked many a card, followed by a long par 4 18th around the water. It is a finish built for drama, exactly as Dye intended.
Play it from a sensible tee. The course stretches beyond 7,300 yards from the back, but the forward markers turn an intimidating test into a thrilling, fair one. Take enough club, respect the bunkering and enjoy one of the desert great theatrical rounds.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and resort; bookable by visitors and by guests of the nearby resort |
| Green fee | Indicative about $150 to $265 in peak season, lower in summer (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book online or through the resort; winter tee times go quickly, so reserve well ahead |
| Season | Prime season October to April; summer is hot, with early tee times and lower rates |
| On the day | Cart golf on a long desert course; play the right tee for an enjoyable round |
| Getting there | La Quinta, about 30 minutes southeast of Palm Springs and Palm Springs International Airport |
Green fees verified June 2026 from public rate listings and reported about $150 to $265 in peak season; figures are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base at the La Quinta resort itself or in the wider Palm Springs area, which is packed with hotels, dining and dozens of courses within a short drive. A desert base makes it easy to pair the Stadium Course with the other layouts at PGA West and beyond.
For a golf focused stay, a resort package puts the Stadium and its neighbours on the doorstep and often bundles tee times with the room. The desert is at its best from late autumn through spring.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near PGA West Stadium Course.
Build a Palm Springs golf trip
We book the Stadium Course tee times, pair them with the best of the desert and sort the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
PGA West Stadium Course questions
Who designed the PGA West Stadium Course?
The Stadium Course at PGA West was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1986, a deliberately dramatic desert layout at La Quinta near Palm Springs.
Can the public play the PGA West Stadium Course?
Yes. Unlike many tournament venues, the Stadium Course is open to resort guests and public play, with tee times bookable online or through the resort.
How much does it cost to play?
Indicative green fees are about $150 to $265 in peak winter season and fall in the summer heat. Rates change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
What is the famous hole?
The par 3 17th, known as Alcatraz, is an island green ringed by rock, one of the most photographed and feared holes in desert golf, followed by a testing par 4 18th around the water.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.