La Quinta at La Quinta Resort Citrus Course

The Citrus Course at La Quinta Resort occupies a distinctive place in the resort's collection of layouts, designed by Pete and Alice Dye and opened in the early 1980s. The course takes its name from the citrus groves that once covered much of the Coachella Valley, and the routing incorporates mature trees and water features throughout the property. Unlike the more dramatic desert courses that emerged in the region during subsequent decades, the Citrus Course reflects an earlier era of resort golf in Southern California, with parkland characteristics and a more traditional feel.

The design showcases Alice Dye's influence in the partnership, with strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward precision over power. The course plays through relatively flat terrain compared to the mountain-backed desert courses nearby, but the Dyes introduced elevation changes and mounding to create visual interest and strategic variety. Water comes into play on several holes, and the mature landscaping provides definition and a sense of enclosure uncommon in desert golf.

La Quinta Resort has hosted professional golf over the decades, and the property's courses have served as venues for various PGA Tour events, though the Citrus Course itself has primarily functioned as a resort amenity. The course remains part of the resort experience, offering guests a contrast to the more modern desert-style layouts in the area. The Dyes' work here predates their later, more severe desert designs and represents a transitional moment in their architectural evolution.