The tournament in the California desert is unique on the PGA Tour: It's the only event that is played on three different golf courses.
The American Express holds a unique distinction on the PGA Tour: It's the only event that is played on three golf courses over the course of the four-day 72-hole tournament.
First held in 1960, the tournament has been played at six different courses over the years. In 2026, it will be at the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club.
Golfers play one tournament round at each of the three for the first three rounds, ther will then be a 54-hole cut and then the final round will see everyone take on the Stadium Course.
Here's a closer look at the three venues.
La Quinta Country Club
Opened in 1959 and designed by Lawrence Hughes, La Quinta Country Club tends to offer the best scoring opportunities in the American Express, with a 68.595 scoring average last year. La Quinta ranked the fifth-easiest golf course on the PGA Tour in 2025. It's the only private course in the AmEx rotation. It measures 7,060 yards with a par of 72.
Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
The Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course tied for 17th on Golfweek's Best 2025: Top public-access golf courses list in California. Designed by the Golden Bear and opened in 1987, the course plays to 7,147 yards with a par of 72. It played to an average of 68.248 last season. There were only three courses that played easier.
Pete Dye Stadium Course
The Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West opened in 1986 and is 11th among Golfweek's Best 2025: Top public-access golf courses in California. The 7,210-yard, par-72 course is, as mentioned, the only layout used twice during tournament week. It played to an average of 71.348 last season, which proved to be a little tougher after some renovations. In fact, the course played about two shots harded in 2025 than it did in 2024. It ranked as the 19th most difficult course on the PGA Tour's 2025 season. It ranked 47th in 2024.
What's the future of the PGA Tour in the Coachella Valley?
There's plenty of chatter but nothing concrete about the future of PGA Tour golf at these venues. If the PGA Tour does contract to a 20- or 25-event tour, the five events on the West Coast swing played before or on Super Bowl weekend could be at risk. One of those tournaments, the Sentry in Hawaii, was canceled for 2026 and seems unlikely to return. The Sony Open in Hawaii could find itself an orphan on tour without the Sentry played the previous week.
Then comes The American Express, the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego and the WM Phoenix Open. But Farmers is leaving as the sponsor of the San Diego tournament after 2026. As for The American Express, which has been played exclusively in January for two decades but was played in January or February before that, it has a sponsorship deal with the multibillion-dollar global financial company through 2028.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour's American Express is played on these three golf courses
Category: General Sports
