PGA West (TPC Stadium)

Overview: The TPC Stadium Course at PGA West is a desert layout situated in La Quinta, California. Designed by Pete Dye, the course features deep bunkers, large water hazards, and severe mounds that create a demanding strategic challenge. The design was conceived to host television-friendly tournaments, requiring players to execute precise approach shots to avoid penal hazards. It is widely considered one of the most physically and mentally exhausting tests of golf in the country.

History: Commissioned to be an exceptionally difficult test of golf, the course opened in 1986. It immediately became a focal point of the PGA Tour, hosting the Bob Hope Classic. Pros famously complained about the extreme difficulty, leading to a temporary ban from tour events, though it returned to the rotation in later years.

Did You Know? The par-3 17th hole features a green surrounded entirely by water and is named Alcatraz. Lee Trevino famously aced the hole during the 1987 Skin Game, winning a massive skins prize and cementing the hole's place in professional golf history. The feat remains one of the most celebrated moments in televised golf, showcasing the high-stakes nature of the layout.