PGA West Nicklaus Tournament
Jack Nicklaus opened his Tournament Course at PGA West in 1987, a par 72 of about 7,204 yards laid through the desert and mountains of La Quinta. Playable through La Quinta Resort and Club, it is the half of Nicklaus golf here that travelers can actually book, and it spends each January in the rotation that opens the PGA Tour season.
Photo via Google.
The verdict
PGA West is the busiest concentration of championship golf in the Coachella Valley, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course is its most accessible marquee test. Where the fearsome Stadium Course wears its difficulty on its sleeve, the Nicklaus Tournament is the more rounded, more playable design: wide desert fairways, island greens, deep bunkering and water that gathers in at the right moments, all framed by the Santa Rosa Mountains. It carries genuine tour pedigree as one of the courses that hosts the season opening event each year.
Our verdict: this is a smart anchor for a desert golf trip, a real PGA Tour venue you can play without a private invitation. It rewards thoughtful, accurate golf over raw power, photographs beautifully against the mountains, and pairs naturally with the resort's other layouts. For the wider desert and state picture, see our best golf courses in California.
PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1987
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Desert resort
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,204 yds
- Green fee
- From about $200 (indicative)
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from La Quinta Resort and Club and leading course databases: Jack Nicklaus, 1987, par 72, about 7,204 yards. Desert resort rates are dynamic and seasonal, running from roughly $200 in the 2025 to 2026 winter high season and lower in summer. Treat the figure as indicative for the 2025 to 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Water and sand define the signature stretch. The course features a pair of island style green complexes where the desert gives way to a ring of bunkering, and the approach must carry cleanly or pay the price. Nicklaus favored a left to right ball flight in his design era, and several tee shots set up best for a controlled fade between the desert edges.
The par 3s are the photographs you take home, set against the mountains with water short and bunkers long, while the par 5s give the bigger hitter a chance to make a move if they flirt with the hazards. Through the green the course is fair and visible, with generous landing zones that keep it enjoyable for the resort guest, then it tightens around the greens where the real scoring decisions are made.
It is a course you can play aggressively or conservatively and score either way, which is exactly why it works as a tour venue and a resort headliner at once. Pair it with the Pete Dye desert test next door at our La Quinta Resort Mountain Course profile.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course playable through La Quinta Resort and Club; open to resort guests and public play, unlike the members only Nicklaus Private course at PGA West |
| Green fee | Dynamic seasonal pricing from roughly $200 in the 2025 to 2026 winter high season and lower in summer, indicative and subject to change (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Resort guests get the best of the tee sheet and rates; public tee times can be reserved in advance, with winter dates filling early |
| On the day | Carts standard with desert cart paths; a strict pace is expected and the practice facilities are first class |
| Getting there | In La Quinta in the Coachella Valley, about 30 minutes from Palm Springs and 2 hours east of San Diego or Los Angeles |
| Best months | November to April for warm, dry desert golf; summer is very hot and rates fall sharply |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from La Quinta Resort and Club. Desert rates swing widely by season and by day under dynamic pricing, so confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
La Quinta Resort and Club is the obvious base, a historic desert hotel of casitas and pools that unlocks the best access to the PGA West courses on a short shuttle. The wider Palm Springs and Coachella Valley area offers a deep choice of resorts and rentals within a short drive, ideal for a group taking over a villa for a week of golf.
The desert is built for the multi course buddies trip, with dozens of championship layouts inside half an hour. Anchor the week on the Nicklaus Tournament and add the Pete Dye mountain golf and Tom Fazio's quarry, then compare them all at our The Quarry at La Quinta profile.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near PGA West.
Build a Palm Springs golf trip
We secure PGA West tee times, pair them with the best of the Coachella Valley desert, and book 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 Nicklaus Tournament Course questions
Who designed the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course?
Jack Nicklaus designed the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, which opened in 1987 in La Quinta, California.
What is the par and length of the Nicklaus Tournament Course?
The Nicklaus Tournament Course is a par 72 of about 7,204 yards from the back tees, set among the desert mountains of the Coachella Valley.
Can the public play the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course?
Yes. The Nicklaus Tournament Course is a resort course playable through La Quinta Resort and Club, open to resort guests and public play, unlike the private Nicklaus Private course at PGA West.
How much does it cost to play the Nicklaus Tournament Course?
Desert resort rates are dynamic and seasonal, running from roughly $200 in the 2025 to 2026 high season and lower in summer. Treat this as indicative and always confirm directly before booking.
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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.