Palm Springs
PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course
Desert tournament
Nicklaus Tournament is often the better Palm Springs round for normal humans. It has enough tournament weight without making everyone feel like Pete Dye personally audited their swing.
Course gallery
1 photos
The take
Nicklaus Tournament is often the better Palm Springs round for normal humans. It has enough tournament weight without making everyone feel like Pete Dye personally audited their swing.
Best for
PGA West balance and better broad-group fit
Watch out
Less famous than Stadium, but often more enjoyable
How to play it
Strong play
Course intelligence
What you need to know
Strengths
- More playable than Stadium
- Tournament pedigree
- Strong PGA West identity
- Good finishing holes
Watch-outs
- Still premium priced
- Less visually famous
- Can blend into the valley's course volume
Signature holes
9, 15, 17, 18
Book it right
Cost, access, and timing
Green fees
Premium seasonal PGA West rate; confirm current pricing.
Best season
Best window: November-April Peak cost: February-March Summer reality: Very hot, cheap, and not for everyone Shoulder value: May and October Packing rule: Desert layers,
Replay priority
Medium-high
Booking move
Choose the base first, then courses by zone.
Weather read
Pick the right window.
Best window: November-April Peak cost: February-March Summer reality: Very hot, cheap, and not for everyone Shoulder value: May and October Packing rule: Desert layers, sunscreen, and
Jan
68F / 45F
Sun Best; rain Low
Feb
72F / 48F
Sun Best; rain Low
Mar
79F / 53F
Sun Best; rain Low
Apr
87F / 60F
Sun Good; rain Low
May
96F / 68F
Sun Hot; rain Low
Jun
105F / 77F
Sun Very hot; rain Low
Google review
2/5 - a year ago
Upon arriving early morning on 4/24/25, 6:20 AM, I was greeted by the staff and he grabbed my bag to bring around back, very friendly. When I went to pay for the round, the lady, who looked like she may have been doing inventory, seemed bothered that I was there and was ready to
Upon arriving early morning on 4/24/25, 6:20 AM, I was greeted by the staff and he grabbed my bag to bring around back, very friendly. When I went to pay for the round, the lady, who looked like she may have been doing inventory, seemed bothered that I was there and was ready to
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Google review
4/5 - 5 months ago
4 days a go, Lost one approach bag containing 5 clubs during cart-only transit between Hole 11–12 at PGA West.
The round was enjoyable—the course was beautiful and golfing here was a pleasure.
Bag included XXIO clubs and a Scotty Cameron putter.
Disappearance was noticed within m
4 days a go, Lost one approach bag containing 5 clubs during cart-only transit between Hole 11–12 at PGA West.
The round was enjoyable—the course was beautiful and golfing here was a pleasure.
Bag included XXIO clubs and a Scotty Cameron putter.
Disappearance was noticed within m
Read full reviewClose review
Google review
1/5 - 2 months ago
I played the tournament course yesterday and it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in this area. I have been coming down here for several years now and have always enjoyed playing the best courses in this area. There was no control of the number of players allowed o
I played the tournament course yesterday and it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in this area. I have been coming down here for several years now and have always enjoyed playing the best courses in this area. There was no control of the number of players allowed o
Read full reviewClose review
Keep planning
What should you do next?
Use PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course as one piece of the Palm Springs trip. Build the routing, compare the destination, or ask how it fits your group.
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