Always enjoy this track, played on Friday afternoon 6/14. tee boxes and fairways were in good shape. Sand was pretty hard for a resort course like this. Greens were very thin rolled true but would not... Continue »

Always enjoy this track, played on Friday afternoon 6/14. tee boxes and fairways were in good shape. Sand was pretty hard for a resort course like this. Greens were very thin rolled true but would not hold a shot with a sand wedge from a single digit handicapper so it tells you they were firm. had a great time cant wait to do it again.

Good Ole Jack. What a character. What a course.
Second round today, after playing Pete Dye, on our underpar voucher from 1100.
Easy pace, quiet day (3+50) just the two of us.
Every bit as well man... Continue »

Good Ole Jack. What a character. What a course.
Second round today, after playing Pete Dye, on our underpar voucher from 1100.
Easy pace, quiet day (3+50) just the two of us.
Every bit as well manicured and presented as Stadium, with the fairways a little drier and running longer. Greens just as firm and quick, smooth and no marks seen. All else was terrific. Engaging layout with strategy required for successful navigation; and bring your short game. Very impressive and worth a look/ worth a return.
BTW the pro-shop has proudly displayed the GK Award 2012 for Best Conditions.

Nicklaus Tournament Course PGA West Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews

I had way too much money in Roger Dunn store credit last Friday, I finally got to the point where I didn't know what to spend it on, so I bought a Birdie Savings Card for $49. I have no use for the e6... Continue »

I had way too much money in Roger Dunn store credit last Friday, I finally got to the point where I didn't know what to spend it on, so I bought a Birdie Savings Card for $49. I have no use for the e6 balls it came with or the Golf Digest subscription, but Sunday I decided to utilize the 2 for 1 at PGA West Nicklaus Tournament with a friend of mine. The service was impeccable, the practice facility was top notch, and the Marshall, Archie, (who was pulling an afternoon double-duty as Starter) was very helpful and did a very fine job.

The course was everything I'd hoped, tee boxes were laser-level and lush, fairways were perfect, first cut and rough were beautiful. The bunkers were very good for a desert course (my buddy was expecting fluffy white sand, not knowing that isn't right for this type of course) very consistent and definitely a hazard, but not too painful. The greens are dormant, which makes them difficult to read, but I'm used to much quicker greens. Your approach shot needs some good finesse out here, just the right amount of spin and decent shot shaping because the greens are nice and compact. You could practically bounce a bowling ball on them. Very memorable holes, a few island greens (well only one, but a few others that play like an island). My buddy is a 15+ handicap and didn't have much trouble here, but definitely burned through a good number of balls. I play a plus handicap and lost one. On 18. After a monster drive. With people watching from the restaurant.

If you have economical transportation, a few bucks to burn, and have at least one friend, get yourself a birdie card and get down there, it's definitely worth it! If you aren't a confident golfer, bring the dozen e6s, you may need them.

Played 3pm 5/3/13. Beautiful course and facility. It doesn't get much better out here in southern california. Service was excellent. Even as late as we played, they were great. Bag service was ni... Continue »

Played 3pm 5/3/13. Beautiful course and facility. It doesn't get much better out here in southern california. Service was excellent. Even as late as we played, they were great. Bag service was nice, expecially for me since I play mostly munis. Weather was quite hot in the upper 90s low 100s but not unbearable and not uncommon for la quinta. Pace was good initally, but slowed considerable after a few holes - but we weren't surprised given time of day. Because of this, we ended up just playing the front again instead. Cart GPS system was touch screen and one of the nicer ones I've seen with the ability to give you yardage to any spot you tap.

Conditions were amazing. Very green and maintained beautifully. Every sprinkler head on the course was precisely trimmed not just the greenside ones, that's how much attention to detail they put in. The greens were a little brown in color but smooth and quick nonetheless. Fairways were like carpet and rough was a nice medium length and consistent. Tee boxes all level and lush. Sand was good overall, but some were a little crusty.

Layout was fun and challenging at times. Not as difficult or punishing as I was expecting which was nice. Unfortunately, only saw the front nine so cant comment on the back. Island green par 3 is gorgeous. Some elevation changes to deal with but nothing too extreme. Definitely tempting opportunities to go for it in 2 on the par 5s from where we played.

Just a gorgeous course. Definitely worth the price just to experience it no matter how you end up playing. Of course, even better when you can find a deal. Cant wait to go back again.

Love the course and love the people. Had trouble off the 9th tee box stating 272 to the water on left. I hit a 3 wood to the right side saw it hit something and took off left found in lake. I do not h... Continue »

Love the course and love the people. Had trouble off the 9th tee box stating 272 to the water on left. I hit a 3 wood to the right side saw it hit something and took off left found in lake. I do not hit it that far so found something hard in fairway. traps are somewhat soft " dirt " . Was different texture or density than the practice area. Will go back for sure really enjoyed it.

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews

Tee Time: 715 Wednesday, 5/30
Weather- Hot but great golf weather, little wind
Green Fee- 69$. This golf course is worth 3 times this much in the condition and weather we played.
Condition- I typi... Continue »

Tee Time: 715 Wednesday, 5/30
Weather- Hot but great golf weather, little wind
Green Fee- 69$. This golf course is worth 3 times this much in the condition and weather we played.
Condition- I typically have started writing pros and cons per review. I am going to keep this one simple. If there is a heaven, golf in heaven will look like this golf course.

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews

The previous reviews have it right. This is in immaculate condition throughout, save for a few minor things. For instance, a few of the fairway traps are not conditioned like the greenside bunkers an... Continue »

The previous reviews have it right. This is in immaculate condition throughout, save for a few minor things. For instance, a few of the fairway traps are not conditioned like the greenside bunkers and tend to be more hard-packed (but not hard!) than the others. Minor stuff. Otherwise you are hitting off carpet and putting on billiard tables. I was first out at 6am so the course (as all desert courses are at this time of year) was pretty wet from overnight watering. Even so, the greens were still medium fast with the added advantage that they were quite receptive too. I imagine by later in the day they would be running about 10.5 or above.

They track beautifully and in a subtle comparison to the majority of courses I play, they were very consistent speed-wise from green to green. You could really get in a groove with putts and gain some confidence in your stroke. Oh that all greens were like this!

The course is typical PS desert golf - a good layout but not exceptional. A few memorable holes (like 9/18) where the approach has some pucker over water. Otherwise, you are teeing to raised fairways with steep drop-offs one side, usually coupled with severe mounding on the other side. Approaches are to heavily guarded greens - the greens have some good breaks in them (and today the greenskeeper wasn't in charitable mood for the holiday as a LOT of the pins were tucked or at the very edge or back of the surfaces).

All in all very good golf and an enjoyable track on which to yuck it up for all levels of players.

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews

Played here early this morning. Signed up for that awesome Underpar.com deal last week that was $89 for a round at any of the 5 PGA West/La Quinta courses AND a free same-day replay round on any of th... Continue »

Played here early this morning. Signed up for that awesome Underpar.com deal last week that was $89 for a round at any of the 5 PGA West/La Quinta courses AND a free same-day replay round on any of the courses PLUS a $15 lunch voucher AND another ticket good for a 2-for-1 green fee good until Sept. Crazy good deal, so couldn't wait to use up the voucher. I just wish I had bought more than one, though!

I played the Nicklaus course in the morning and La Quinta Mountain in the afternoon, as those were the two courses I hadn't played there yet. I didn't know much about the Nicklaus course coming in, but was very impressed with it. It's a worthy neighbor to the Stadium course and almost feels like Jack's ode to Pete Dye in its design. They put me off first, just after 6am and I finished in just over 2 hours, so it was a perfect start to the double-dip day.

This is a really nice track and fun layout. A lot of big mounds and sand traps/waste areas. No water comes into play until the awesome par-3 8th hole and then there's plenty on the back nine. A number of split fairways to mess with your decision-making off the tee on a few holes. Small greens (especially for a Nicklaus course) that are pretty well protected and generally somewhat elevated, making short shots tricky. Challenging, but fair layout.

The course was in excellent shape, as well. Fairways and rough were green and lush. A little soggy first thing in the morning since they water so much overnight. Greens very soft receptive and rolled pure. Tee boxes level and nice. I found a lot of sand traps today and those were all in nice shape, as well. Very nice course and great conditions make this a worthy stop if you are visiting the LQ/PGAW resort.

Only complaint was that the GPS in my cart did not work and the fairways aren't really marked much at all. I was flying blind on the front nine, but switched carts at the turn and all was well.

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews

I golfed here 4/22 Sunday 8:22AM. It was 80+ degrees when we started and 95+ towards end of our round. Condition of this course is top notch. Tee to green, everything was in immaculate tourney cond... Continue »

I golfed here 4/22 Sunday 8:22AM. It was 80+ degrees when we started and 95+ towards end of our round. Condition of this course is top notch. Tee to green, everything was in immaculate tourney conditions. Layout was good but it wasn't particularly memorable like Oak Quarry, Wolf Creek, or Sand Hollow. We got to play in a Deal Caddy deal so price was definitely worth it for us ($150 for round at Nicklaus and free replay at Stadium plus $15 lunch voucher). I probably wouldn't pay $190 to play this course again, but its definitely worth $100 to $125 range. Its a classic Nicklaus design with elevated greens and high lipped bunkers. Greens were fast but not ridiculously fast like some of the other PGA venues I've played. 9 and 18th hole have greens that are connected so that was pretty interesting. Both of the finishing holes are very beautiful and memorable. All in all, if you're looking for top notch course in immaculate shape to test out your game, this is the place. I recommend playing twilight or one of the local deals you can find out websites. They have very good 2 day package during shoulder season which I highly recommend to save some dough.

PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
La Quinta California Golf Course Reviews