PGA West Restoration brings Dye’s vision back to the “western home” of golf

It's hard to argue that the par 3 17th^Th Hole at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is not golf architect Pete Dye's most iconic design. But the penultimate hole of the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California – also known as “Alcatraz” – might be its most fearsome island green.

And now the island surrounded by rocks presents an even greater challenge.

This extends to the rest of the stadium course, which recently unveiled the fruits of a multimillion-dollar restoration process aimed at restoring Dye's original vision of a nine-course destination property that has been nicknamed “The Western Home of Golf in America.”

While some PGA West members and resort guests got a first look at the changes overseen by longtime Dye alumnus Tim Liddy, PGA Tour players this week at the American Express Tournament, the second full-field event of 2025 take a first look at this season. Among the most significant improvements is the enlargement of the greens to their original size, allowing holes to be placed closer to the edges and closer to the layout's dangerous bunkers and lakes. Meanwhile, the bunkers – many of which had “melted away” over the years – have been restored with flat floors and grass sides, adding a visual dimension to the intimidating dangers for which Dye is famous.

Low attendance has become the norm at the Coachella Valley's annual tournament, whose history dates back to 1960, when Arnold Palmer won the first edition of an event once named for Bob Hope. There has not been a winning player in the tournament who has failed to shoot at least 20 under par since 2007, when Charley Hoffman shot 17 under par to take the title. Amateur Nick Dunlap won the 2024 title with a par of 29 under, following Jon Rahm's overall win of 27 under last year.

Restoration project

Liddy, who has worked with Dye for nearly three decades, likened the project to an architectural excavation.

The laborious process involved careful hand digging around bunkers and greens to expose the original sand lines, removing up to five inches of accumulated organic material in some places and restoring the original contours.

A more efficient irrigation system was installed around the green areas, which also received a new type of grass, representing a dramatic improvement agronomically and aesthetically. The new grass is drought tolerant, cold hardy and ideal for reseeding (which is needed in the valley). But perhaps more importantly, it is more pleasing to the golfer's eye and provides a more consistent putting surface.

The stadium course changes were part of a three-year restoration initiative for all three of PGA West's Dye-designed resort courses. The investment, which also included the Dunes and Mountain courses, represents a remarkable commitment to playability and sustainability by owners Hankuk Industry, which owns golf courses in the United States and Japan, and its management company Century Golf Partners. Hankuk, led by chairman Shin II Yoo, acquired PGA West in 2020.

Ben Dobbs, executive director of PGA West, said the project cements the property's reputation as “one of the premier golf destinations in the world.”

PGA West's renovation is emblematic of a broader trend of successful golf facilities across the country that have invested in improving and modernizing their core product (the golf course) and related services.

The National Golf Foundation estimates that U.S. golf courses spent about $3.1 billion on significant discretionary capital investments in 2024 – in other words, any spending on a golf course, clubhouse or beyond would not be considered mandatory.

New amenities

At PGA West, which has three private courses and five publicly accessible resort courses, the improvements go beyond the greens and bunkers.

The Pete Dye Clubhouse, overlooking the Mountain and Dunes golf courses, has undergone a major upgrade that includes the addition of new event spaces, a remodeled golf shop and, most importantly, a new modern casual restaurant – The Bunker Bar – with soaring ceilings and breathtaking Views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The Bunker Bar, which like the rest of the clubhouse is open to the public, features two new state-of-the-art indoor simulators with Trackman technology.

It's an incredible place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of one of the richest golf regions in the country, whether between or after rounds.

The Tournament Clubhouse is now open to the public and is a prime location with panoramic views of the Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course each January during the American Express Tournament. Both have been part of the PGA Tour stop rotation since 2016.

This year, the focus will likely be on how the restored Stadium Course challenges many of the world's best players, from Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas to Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay. You can bet players will be attentive when they come to Alcatraz, where there is a firmer putting surface and no edges around the island green – meaning there is no buffer to slow a ball down. which could fly towards the rugged rocks.

It's all part of a return to Dye's original vision, carefully unearthed and restored at PGA West to ensure that his legacy not only continues to challenge and inspire players, but also that the Stadium Course and its Southern California siblings remain on the wish list the golfers remain the world.