PGA West, Stadium Golf
PGA West, TPC Stadium Golf, is a Semi-Private, 18 hole golf course located in La Quinta, California. PGA West has six courses. The Arnold Palmer Private Course, Jack Nicklaus Private Course, Tom Weiskopf Private Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course, Greg Norman Course, and TPC Stadium Course.
Designed by Pete Dye, ASGCA, the Stadium golf course opened in 1986
At 7,300 yards, TPC Stadium Course has the highest stroke (76.1) and slope (150) ratings of all the courses at PGA West. With five sets of tees, the TPC Stadium lures all skill levels. Golf Traveler named it the second most challenging course in America. Most everyone ranks it at least in the top five for toughness. It is ranked No. 18 on Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Playlist
TPC Stadium Course has two of golf's most challenging finishing holes. On #17, you must navigate the island green known as Alcatraz. and #18 is a water lined challenge.
The course was named "Stadium" because of spectator seating carved from natural terrain, thanks to Pete Dye's vision.
This course has been reviewed 9 time
Day 2 - 100 days, 100 courses (Friday, March 15, 2019)
You know how you will be watching a movie and you see all the signs that disaster is about to come and yet you are still surprised when it happens? That is the PGA West Stadium Course.
Three days ago a buddy of mine emailed me and said "Oh, I see you're playing PGA West Stadium Course. That is HARD!". Two days ago, my playing partners at JW Marriott Desert Springs asked where I was playing next they said: "Wow, that is one tough course." Yesterday before starting the starter said, "If it's your first time you have to play the white's because it's really challenging." Finally, Dean, my cart mate said: "you'll lose 8 balls."
So where do you go from there?
What can I say about PGA West Stadium, other than that they were all right. The course was incredibly challenging. Lots of water, even more, sand, (played with 3 members that had names for the worst of the bunkers) and not a flat lie anywhere in the fairway (at least where I was).
However, the setting was absolutely beautiful and although it's one of those courses that beats you up, you'll still want to go back to try it again.
My game could be summed up as tremendous swings. I would hit a long drive into the water and then without fail my next shot would be brilliant. I also learned a new term - PBFU. It stands for "Post Birdie F*** Up". I had a great birdie on number 14 and then 15 I carded a horrendous 7.
I finished the round with a 99 (51 on front and 48 on the back) and lost a total of 6 balls (take that Dean, you were wrong).
Tally over two days - 197 strokes and 8 lost balls. (Handicap heading up.)
The starter was on our case after finishing the front 9 in 2:05 while letting 2 groups play through,and we finished in just over 4 hours.
Do not play early morning among members at the PGA West Courses if you want a relaxing round as they play very fast as they all drive their own individual carts.