Nice championship layout in a desert setting.
I generally prefer desert layouts to old-style tree-lined layouts. Maybe that's because I'm intimidated by the trees, or maybe I always have the feeling that there's nothing in my way of my tee shots and I can just get up there and bust my drives. The Greg Norman course can be lots of fun if you are straight off the tee and end up hitting a lot of fairways, but if you are off these fairways, you will be usually hitting a provisional.
Tucked back in the southern end of La Quinta is the Greg Norman course. It's not physically connected to the other PGA West courses, so don't make the mistake of driving all the way to the PGA West club house just to find out you have to go all the way back out and keep driving to get to the course.
The Greg Norman course gives every golfer a chance to stretch their golfing "legs" and hit all the clubs in their bag. Most of the fairway borders simply end where the sandy brush areas begin. So there's very little standard rough on this course. But the deserty brush areas are vast and if you've been unlucky enough to send your ball in there, good luck finding it. A suggestion would be to hit a provisional and then try and find it.
Many fairways are dotted with fairway bunkers, some that are impossible to move your ball forward. It's either a wedge out, or pitch sideways. Most of the greens are somewhat elevated, and they have some mild undulation that at times, is hard to read.
Water is also placed well on this course as it comes into play everywhere that it appears. There are some long par-3's with all carry over water, and a par-5 with water down the right.
This is definitely a Championship golf course and a course you should play no matter what your skill level. The fees are good in the Summer and around $100.00 in season. There is a nice practice area, so you can come out and just practice if you want.
This is a must-play golf course!
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