Palm Springs Review Series- PGA West Stadium Course

The second course review in our Palm Springs Review Series is the Stadium Course at PGA West. Having played this course multiple times, I knew this would be a challenge. Ranked the 8th toughest course by Golf Digest, and designed by the perennial tough course architect Pete Dye. Like I mentioned in my review of the Dinah Shore Tournament Course, there’s a special place for Pete Dye and it’s not in my heart.

You know PGA West is a premier facility as you valet your car and they take your clubs down and put them on a cart for you as you head for the Pro Shop. As you enter you will see the Ernie’s Bar and grill. We played SilverRock earlier in the day and decided we would eat there for lunch. While there are a few seats with a nice view overlooking the Nicklaus Tournament Course, they were all taken so we decided to sit at the bar. Service wasn’t that great, and our food took over 40 minutes (club sandwich). We had to eat pretty quick to get to our tee time. Luckily this being our second round of the day, we didn’t need much warming up.

As you start your round, you face 2 par 4’s that don’t need driver (maybe from the back tees on 1, maybe) to stay out of trouble. that sets the tone for the rest of the course. Play smart, and don’t try to overpower the course. The undulations around the green are severe, so playing for the green and not the pin will make your day a lot better.

The par 3’s on the Stadium Course are some of the tougher ones you will face. Hole 4 has an assortment of bunkers you need to avoid. Hole 6 is a long forced carry over water, but there is a small bailout left and long. Hole 13 is an intimidating tee shot, with water left, and large hills right. And of course, the island green of 17. Alcatraz as its named it very fitting.

There are several par 4’s in which you don’t have to hit driver. You may be left with a longer iron than pitching wedge, but you’ll be happy not to be in any trouble. If you can hit a solid 6 or 7 iron, it will pay off tremendously. Like mentioned above, holes 1 and 2 don’t require driver to hi the widest part of the fairway. Hole 7 you can hit a fairway metal or long hybrid and take out all the trouble. On hole 9, if you tend to cut or slice you drive, but hit a straight fairway or hybrid, then you would be better off. Holes 12 and 13 trouble can be avoided by keeping the driver in the bag as well.

The par 5’s on the front are iconic Pete Dye. The require a tee shot to the right, and a layup to the left. Hole 11 is one of my favorite holes. Wide fairway for a tee shot, if you can avoid the bunkers on the left. make sure your layup stays to the right or you will have an uphill approach shot to a very guarded green. The last par 5 on the course, hole 16, has one of the best views in all of Palm Springs. Don’t get so caught up in that and keep you drive right, as well as your layup and approach. Don’t be like me and hit your ball left into the 20 foot bunker to the left of the green.

One thing I judge a course on is it’s finishing holes. Typically the last 3. PGA West has 3 of the best finishing holes of any course. Between the views and trouble on 16, Alcatraz on 17, and the finish at 18 will make you ready to play the game again, even if you don’t shoot well.