Palmer Private Course at the Club at PGA West in La Quinta, California

The Arnold Palmer Private Course at the Club at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., is a truly tournament-worthy course.

David Duval would certainly agree. He shot a PGA Tour- and course-record 59 there in 1999. The 6,950-yard, par-72 private course annually hosts the Bob Hope Classic. This year's event runs Jan. 21-24.

The golf course incorporates five lakes and an in-play canal. It has five finishing holes that are carved along the scenic Santa Rosa Mountains. The Palmer features multi-level fairways and hard-to-read greens.

The golf course is a somewhat traditional design, with several holes requiring blind shots. Its rolling fairways have plenty of water hazards that will give golfers fits.

PGA West is one of the more popular golf resort destinations in the U.S. Opened in 1985, it is home to six championship-quality courses designed by golf legends Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman and Pete Dye.

It features three luxurious clubhouses, a state-of-the-art fitness center and world class tennis club.

PGA West - Palmer Private golf course - hole 1

The fairways on both sides of the first hole on PGA West's Palmer Private golf course are protected by bunkers. Aim your drive to the left side to position your second shot.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 2

The second hole on PGA West's Palmer Private golf course, known as Breakaway, is a reachable par 5 for longer hitters. Even if you lay up, though, an accurate third shot still gives most players a reasonable chance of birdie.

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PGA West - Palmer Private GC - hole 3

Most players will want to tee off with a mid iron on the Palmer Private course's par-3 third hole, Lite Touch. Warning: The green slopes from back to front and has lots of contour.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 4

Known as Rembrandt, the fourth hole on PGA West's Palmer Private course is a challenging par 4 that features a large lake running the length of the hole on the left side.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 5

The par-3 fifth hole on PGA West's Palmer Private course - known as Intimidator - features a green that is surrounded by water on three sides.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 6

Palmer's Runway, the sixth hole on PGA West's Palmer Private Course, is a par 5 that measures just over 560 yards from the back tees. Take your drive at the trees out beyond the fairway bunkers on the right side.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 7

Ominously named "Brutal," the seventh hole on the Palmer Private course is protected by fairway bunkers down the left side, and water down the right. Mounds in front of the green make it hard to see the exact hole location.

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PGA West - Palmer Private GC - hole 8

The eighth hole at PGA West's Palmer Private course is a short par 4 that allows players to hit a variety of clubs off the tee. Three bunkers protect a fairly flat green, but a good shot will allow some birdie putts.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 9

Water runs the length of the Palmer Private course's ninth hole down the left side and two fairway bunkers protect the right. A well positioned drive still leaves a long approach shot over water to the large, slightly elevated putting surface.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 10

Teeing off on the 10th hole at PGA West's Palmer Private course, opt for a forced water-carry right off the tee, as the left side of the fairway is bordered by water the entire way.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 11

Known as "Breather," the 11th hole at PGA West's Palmer Private course offers a final chance to breathe before seven rugged finishing holes. Long hitters should be able to reach in two.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 12

The 12th hole at PGA West's Palmer Private course is a lengthy par 3 that is well protected by bunkers. If you're long to a back pin, you'll face a rough up-and-down to an elevated green.

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PGA West - Palmer Private GC - hole 13

Your first two shots must carry water to safely reach the lengthy par-4 13th hole at PGA West's Palmer Private course. The green wraps around the lake on the right side and features a lower front tier.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 14

Known as Venice, the 14th hole on the PGA West Palmer Private course features a canal bordering the right side of the fairway. You must cross ig on your approach to a large green that slopes back to front.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 15

From the par-3 15th tee on the PGA West Palmer Private course, you will look down from the rocks to a narrow green just to the right of the canal. A front pin is toughest.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 16

From the tee on Double-Cross, the Palmer Private course's 16th hole, bite-off as much of the fairway as you can, leaving a short iron to the green that sits against a mountain backdrop.

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PGA West - Palmer Private course - hole 17

A hike up the mountain to the Palmer Private course's 17th tee affords golfers a stunning vista. Do your best to reach the deep green, which slopes from right to left toward the canal and is protected by bunkers and rocks on the right.

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PGA West - Palmer Private GC - hole 18

The 18th hole on the Palmer Private course, known as "Temptation," tempts golfers to go for the green in two, as all eyes are watching you from the PGA West clubhouse.

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