PGA West Restoration Brngs Dye’s Vision Back To Golf’s ‘Western Home’
by Erik Matuszewski · ForbesIt’s hard to argue that the Par 3 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, isn’t golf architect Pete Dye’s most iconic design. But the penultimate hole of the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California – aka “Alcatraz” – might be his most fearsome island green.
And now, the rock-ringed island poses even more of a challenge.
So does the rest of the Stadium Course, which recently unveiled the fruits of a multimillion-dollar restoration process aimed at restoring Dye’s original vision at a nine-course destination property that’s earned the nickname “The Western Home of Golf in America.”
While some members and resort guests at PGA West have gotten a sneak peek at the changes overseen by longtime Dye disciple Tim Liddy, PGA Tour players will get their first look this week at The American Express tournament, the second full-field event of the 2025 season. Among the most significant improvements is the expansion of greens back to their original sizes, allowing for hole locations closer to edges — and in closer proximity to the layout’s perilous bunkers and lakes. Meanwhile, the bunkers – many of which had “melted away” over the years — have been restored with flat bottoms and grass sides that bring back a visual dimension to the intimidating hazards Dye is famous for.
Low numbers have become the norm at the annual tournament in the Coachella Valley, which has a rich history dating back to 1960, when Arnold Palmer won the first edition of an event that was once named after Bob Hope. The tournament hasn’t seen a winning player fail to reach at least 20-under-par since 2007, when Charley Hoffman shot 17-under to take the title. Amateur Nick Dunlap claimed the 2024 title at 29-under par, following Jon Rahm's 27-under winning total the previous year.
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Restoration Project
Liddy, who spent nearly three decades working alongside Dye, likened the project to an architectural dig.
The painstaking process involved carefully hand-digging around bunkers and greens to unearth the original sand lines, removing up to five inches of built-up organic material in some places and reclaiming the original contours.
A more efficient irrigation system was installed around the greens, which also got a new strain of grass that’s a dramatic improvement agronomically and aesthetically. The new grass is drought-tolerant, resistant to cold, and ideal for overseeding (which is needed in the valley). But perhaps of greater importance, it’s more appealing to the golfer’s eye – offering a more uniform putting surface.
The changes at the Stadium Course were part of a three-year restoration initiative across all three Dye-designed resort courses at PGA West. The investment, which also extended to the Dunes and Mountain courses, is a noteworthy commitment to playability and sustainability from its owners, Hankuk Industry, which owns golf courses throughout the U.S. and Japan, and its management company, Century Golf Partners. Hankuk, led by Chairman Shin II Yoo, acquired PGA West in 2020.
PGA West Executive Director Ben Dobbs said the project solidifies the property’s “standing as one of the top golf destinations in the world.”
The PGA West renovation is emblematic of a broader trend among successful golf facilities nationwide that have been investing in improving and upgrading their primary product (the golf course) and related services.
The National Golf Foundation estimated that U.S. golf courses in 2024 spent approximately $3.1 billion on significant discretionary capital investments – in other words, any expenditures on a course, clubhouse or beyond that wouldn’t be deemed as mandatory.
New Amenities
At PGA West, which has three private courses and five resort courses open to the public, the enhancements extend beyond the greens and bunkers.
The Pete Dye Clubhouse, which overlooks the Mountain and Dunes courses, underwent an extensive update that includes the addition of new event spaces, a revamped golf shop, and most notably, a new contemporary casual restaurant – The Bunker Bar – that has soaring ceilings and jaw-dropping views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Within the Bunker Bar, which like the rest of the clubhouse is open to the public, are two new state-of-the-art indoor simulators with Trackman technology.
It’s an incredible spot to relax and soak up the natural beauty at one of the richest golf regions in the country, whether between or after rounds.
The Tournament Clubhouse, meanwhile, is also open to the public and is a prime spot every January during The American Express tournament, with its panoramic views of the Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course. Both have been a part of the PGA Tour stop’s 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 there will be heightened attention when the players come to Alcatraz, which has a firmer putting surface and no fringe around the perimeter of the island green – meaning no buffer to slow a ball that might be headed for the craggy rocks.
It’s all part of a return to Dye’s original vision, one that was carefully unearthed and restored at PGA West to ensure his legacy continues to not only challenge and inspire players but keep the Stadium Course and its Southern California siblings on the bucket list of golfers around the world.