The American Express Golf Tournament: What it is, when it happens, and where to stay

If your visit to the Coachella Valley lines up with January golf, you're probably coming for The American Express, the PGA Tour's annual pro-am stop in La Quinta. It's one of the busiest weeks of the year for local short-term rentals, right alongside the Thermal horse show season. Here's what the tournament is, when it happens, and how to plan a stay nearby.

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN EXPRESS?

The American Express is a PGA Tour event held every January at three golf courses in La Quinta: the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, and La Quinta Country Club. It's one of the longest-running stops on tour, tracing its roots back to the Bob Hope Classic, and it has carried several names over the years, including the Humana Challenge and the CareerBuilder Challenge, before becoming The American Express.

What sets it apart from a typical PGA Tour event is the pro-am format: professionals are paired with amateurs, celebrities, and business leaders for much of the tournament, which draws a broader crowd of spectators than a standard tour stop. The 2026 edition featured a $9.2 million purse and 156 players, with Scottie Scheffler winning during his season opener.

WHEN IS THE AMERICAN EXPRESS?

The American Express is held every year in mid-to-late January, running Wednesday through Sunday over tournament week. The confirmed dates for the next edition are:

2027 (confirmed): January 18 to 24, 2027, at PGA West Stadium Course, PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club

The three host courses rotate throughout the week during pro-am play before the field narrows and the final rounds are played at the PGA West Stadium Course. All three courses sit within a few minutes of each other in La Quinta, which is part of why the surrounding neighborhoods see such heavy demand for lodging during tournament week.

Bottom line for travelers: plan on late January if you're coming for The American Express, and book your stay as early as possible. This is one of the highest-demand weeks of the entire year for Coachella Valley short-term rentals, on par with the busiest weeks of the Thermal horse show season.

WHY THE TOURNAMENT MATTERS FOR COACHELLA VALLEY VISITORS

The American Express draws tens of thousands of spectators to La Quinta over tournament week, on top of players, caddies, sponsors, and media. Because so much of the action happens across PGA West and La Quinta Country Club, homes inside or near those golf communities are in especially high demand, and many return year after year with the same group.

Whether you're coming to walk the course, watch the pro-am pairings, or just enjoy a golf-focused week in the desert, securing a rental near the host courses months in advance makes for a far easier week than scrambling for lodging in January.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Where is The American Express golf tournament played?

A: At PGA West's Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course, and at La Quinta Country Club, all in La Quinta, CA.

Q: When is the next American Express tournament?

A: January 18 to 24, 2027.

Q: Was The American Express previously known by another name?

A: Yes. The event has been held under several names over the decades, including the Bob Hope Classic, the Humana Challenge, and the CareerBuilder Challenge, before becoming The American Express.

Q: Why is this tournament different from other PGA Tour stops?

A: It's played in a pro-am format, pairing professional golfers with amateurs and celebrities for much of the week, which draws a wider crowd of spectators than a typical tour event.

Q: Where should I stay for The American Express?

A: Most visitors stay in La Quinta or nearby Indio and Palm Desert, often inside gated golf communities close to PGA West. See our companion guide on where to stay for The American Express for specific HOAs and neighborhoods.

BOOK YOUR STAY

Superstay manages a curated portfolio of vacation homes across the Coachella Valley, close to PGA West and La Quinta Country Club and set up for golf fans, groups, and families.

Browse available homes and book your stay: https://book.superstayrentals.com/en/properties?minOccupancy=4