California, USA
PGA West - Nicklaus Tournament Course
Course Highlight
Designed by the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, and former host of the Bob Hope Classic, this championship course is renowned for its extreme challenge featuring over 100 bunkers, 18 water hazards, and severely undulating greens, making it the most demanding layout at PGA West.
Tournament History
The American Express (2018-2023), PGA Tour Q-School Finals (1986, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2002-present), PGA Grand Slam of Golf (1992, 1993)
About the Course
As a long-standing host of the PGA Tour Q-School Finals since 1986, the Nicklaus Tournament Course has witnessed countless dream-making moments for aspiring professional golfers. This 7,204-yard championship layout with a slope rating of 143 has hosted elite events including the PGA Grand Slam and the CareerBuilder Challenge, where David Duval famously shot a course-record 59 in 1999—one of PGA Tour history's iconic rounds. Today it serves as one of three host venues for The American Express championship, annually launching the PGA Tour's West Coast Swing as the first mainland U.S. event each season. The course's defining feature is its rare dual island green design—the 15th hole 'Long Island' presents a 572-yard par-5 with split fairways leading to an island green, while the downhill par-3 17th culminates at another island surface. Elevated plateau fairways rise like emerald carpets above desert scrub and cavernous bunkers, with the 16th hole's exceptionally deep greenside bunker and the water-lined 18th finishing hole creating a paradox: forgiving off the tee yet brutally demanding around the greens, where every short game shot becomes an ultimate test of precision.