La Quinta Resort and Club – Mountain Course Review
Introduction
The Mountain Course at La Quinta Club and Resort is one of 5 courses that you can play (PGA West Stadium, Nicklaus Tournament, and La Quinta Resorts, Dunes Course). Built in 1981, it was designed by the legendary Pete Dye.
It stretches 6732 yards along or near the mountains in the Palm Desert area, it isn’t the longest by any means. With a rating at just 72.7 and a slope of 135, it isn’t any where near some of Pete Dye’s legendary toughness (PGA West Stadium is 76.1 and 150)
The back 9 is truly where you play next to, around and on the edge of the nearby mountains. For those few holes, it’s an incredible course.
The Pro Shop and Practice Area at La Quinta Resort and Club – Mountain Course
The pro shop is ample and would have anything you need. Nothing impressive but not small either. The staff member that checked us in was not overly excited to be there and thus created a cold experience at check in. The bag drop attendants were much more energetic and helpful.
The range is good sized and has a beautiful mountain back drop. This is rather good as it needs to be large with two courses here. There are two chipping greens with a total of 3 bunkers. There is also a nice putting green.
Course Conditions
The course conditions overall were really good. If you compare them to other course in the area such as PGA West Stadium, SilverRock, Desert Willow or Classic Club, it doesn’t match their quality. Therefore, I think you need to get a good deal to put this course on your list to play.
But the greens rolled good with the fairways and tee boxes being in good shape. You can tell this course gets a lot of traffic, but overall was in good shape.
The Front 9 at La Quinta Resort and Club – Mountain Course
Hole 1 starts you off with a fairly easy par 4. Just keep it right of the long bunker that runs down the left side. A fairway wood is fine here if you don’t mind a long approach. Just right, between the green and cart path is the best spot for a miss.
Hole 2 is a generic Pete Dye par 3. At 205 yards, it’s the longest on the course by 20 yards. Just short or right of the green is fine. Just don’t go swimming with the fish here.
Hole 3 is a par 4 with a fun tee shot. Hitting slightly down hill, just keep it right of the bunker that runs along the left. A fairway wood may be a better play for longer hitters. Just right is the place to miss, but you will really want to hit this green.
Hole 4 is a par 5. You will want to keep your tee shot down the right, either just left or short of the bunker on the left. This is really one you can go for it in two. Best spot to miss is right of the green. The bunker isn’t bad as long as you’re not 20 yards away from the green. If you need to lay up, just lay out to the right for a better angle. Still miss right for the best chance and getting up and down.
Hole 5 is fun down hill par 3 at 162 yards. You need to hit this green. Stay out of the mountains left, and miss short or short in the front bunker.
Hole 6 can be a difficult par 4. Make sure to find the fairway, keeping left of the water. You do not want to be long into this green. Anything long will end up in the mountain. Any of your misses need to be just right of the green.
Hole 7 is a nice par 5 with water running down the right. Keep your tee shot left of the water and trap. A good tee shot will let you get to the green in two. Missing just in front or left with your second shot is fine. If you need to lay up, take it just past the bunker and water, taking them out of play. Need to hit this green in from a lay up. Keep it just short or just left if you do miss.
Hole 8 is only a 400 yard par 4, but plays much longer. Keep your tee shot left of the large fairway bunker on the right. Left is the bunker free miss, but might not be the best. Missing short would be better here.
Hole 9 is a very tough par 4. Playing at 433 yards, it’s going to test your long approach game. Going right of the bunker off the tee will give you a better look at the green, and keep you away from the water. With your approach, any misses need to be short, or just long. Missing short should be an easy up and down.
The Back 9 at La Quinta Resort and Club – Mountain Course
This is where the course starts to play into the mountains and is why you would be willing to pay the hefty green fee.
Hole 10 is a shorter par 4. Keep it out of the large fairway bunker on the right with your tee shot. Right just over the bunker is the best miss. Also missing long will be fine too, but a tougher up and down.
Hole 11 is another par 4. Keep it short or just left of the fairway bunker down the right. Although the large bunker on the right looks terrifying, it’s less penal than the two pot bunkers on the left. Keep in mind, if you are not a good bunker player, than missing short would be the best option.
Hole 12 is yet another par 4. It plays the toughest of the group of par 4’s that starts the front even though it’s only 373 yards. Most players should be able to fly the bunker down the left. Longer hitters may be able to reach the far bunker on the right, which would not be good. A fairway wood may be the play off the tee if you are struggling with your driver. With your approach, just be over the front bunker. Just make sure if the pin is left, you do not miss left.
Hole 13 is the second longest par 3. Left or just over the front bunker to the right would be the best misses. Just make sure you are over the front skinny bunker that runs deeper from right to left.
Hole 14 is a fun par 4 with a semi blind tee shot. The line is between the two larger fairway bunkers. You should be able to easily clear these bunkers. Someone who hits a fade may want to go over the left. Someone who wants to draw the ball may want to go over the right bunker. The miss here is left. Anything right will find the mountain and not likely come back.
Hole 15 is a decently long par 5, but still reachable in two by better players. Keep your tee shot in the middle. With trouble left and right here, you have to hit a good shot. Someone who can hit a fade will have a better chance going for it in two here. With your approach, whether its your second or third shot, the best miss is short left of the green. Take note that the large bunker right is better than going far left. If you need to lay up, keep it short of the larger bunker on the right. This will leave you about 110-120 yards.
Hole 16 is probably the reason you came and played this course. Playing 167 yards from the back tees downhill, this can be a tough hole. Make sure to take note of the green, as it gets skinny towards the back. Just hit it on the front of the green. Take your 2 putts and move on.
Hole 17 is a very long par 4. It is the longest on the course. With the wide fairway, hitting it should be no problem. Just keep it out of the left bunker. short or short right is the miss here. Long is in the rocks, and left you could find a very penal bunker.
Hole 18 is a par 5, and honestly a let down after the previous 5 holes. Be left of the far 3 fairway bunkers. Anyone taking a shot for it in two will need to navigate the bunkers in front of the green. For a lay up, hit is just beyond the bunker on the left. This should leave 110 yards or less. Take dead aim here with any misses being short or deep left.
Conclusion
The Mountain course at La Quinta Resort and Club has some fantastic holes. the course as a whole is not incredible. Just holes 14, 15, and 16, are memorable. There isn’t anything special about the front 9.
For the money, there are far better courses that you can play in the Palm Desert Area. If you get a deal or staying in the area and don’t want to drive too far than it is a good course. The condition of the course was not what I thought it would be.
With all that being said, holes 14-16 are great holes and worth playing if you have been to the Palm Desert area multiple times.
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