Hole 3 at PGA West (TPC Stadium course)

Par 4 • 471 Yards • La Quinta, California

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Brutal

The third hole at PGA West's Stadium Course sets an early tone for Pete Dye's demanding design philosophy. This straightaway par 4 requires precision from tee to green, embodying the strategic shot-making that defines tournament-level golf. It's a classic example of Dye's ability to create pressure through thoughtful architecture rather than sheer length.

Tees:

471y448y383y356y327y

Green:31y × 35y

Fairway @250y:47y wide

4 Bunkers dogleg

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PGA West (TPC Stadium course)

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 471 yds
Green: 4598 sq ft
Bunkers: 4
Course Slope: 150
Course Rating: 76.1

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Recommended Gear

Bunkers everywhere — a versatile wedge is your scoring club on this hole.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

At 471 yards, this demanding par 4 requires precision off the tee. The fairway widens from 39 yards at the 200-yard mark to 47 yards at 250 yards, so longer hitters can take advantage of the extra room by carrying their drive past the 200-yard bottleneck.

hazard warning

Bunkers positioned at 220.6 yards from the tee create a strategic decision point. Conservative players should lay up short of this hazard with a 3-wood or hybrid, while aggressive players must ensure they carry well beyond this distance to avoid trouble.

approach

After a well-positioned tee shot to the wider 250-yard fairway area (47 yards wide), you'll face a long approach into a relatively small target. The green measures just 4,598 square feet, making accuracy crucial on your second shot to this Pete Dye design.

green

The compact green dimensions of 31 yards by 35 yards demand precise approach shots. Given the hole's 471-yard length, most players will be hitting mid to long irons into this target, making club selection and distance control absolutely critical.

tee shot

With the total length of 471 yards and bunkers at 220.6 yards, consider playing a controlled tee shot that positions you in the optimal 250-yard landing area where the fairway opens up to 47 yards wide, leaving you with the best angle and lie for your approach.

train this shot at home

This 471-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 471-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 3?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: long par 4.

How big is the green on hole 3?

The green is medium-sized with moderate targets. Pay attention to pin placement when selecting your approach club.

What's a good score on hole 3?

This hole is one of the tougher holes where par feels like birdie. A challenging par 4. Accept that bogey happens and avoid big numbers.

Can I practice hole 3 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for PGA West (TPC Stadium course). You can play this exact 471-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →