Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort: A Pete Dye desert gem in the Palm Springs area

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Most would agree that the Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort is one of Pete Dye's most playable and striking layouts.

Located next to the resort's Dunes Course and operating out of the same clubhouse, the course, which originally opened in 1981, has undergone some renovations in recent years following floods in both 2013 and 2014. Among the changes were new tee boxes, cart paths, drainage and changes on the 14th and 15th holes as well as a redesign of the par-4 finishing hole.

And while the course still has plenty of pitfalls for golfers who find some of Dye's difficult bunkers or miss the green on the wrong side, the fairways are still generous. There are also four sets of tees, ranging from less than 5,000 yards to around 6,800 yards, making it player friendly for all levels. (There are also junior tees in the fairways.)

There are so many great views on this course, which has been listed among American's best 100 golf courses on multiple national lists, but the last few holes really punctuate this stunning golf experience. The highlight is the par-3 16th, which has an elevated back tee that looks down at least 100 feet to the green. Even if you don't play the back tee (which is usually set at around 170 yards, but plays more like 140), you'll want to take a look just for the view.