There’s a treasure amidst us, just east of Hwy. 101 in Scottsdale, on Indian Bend Road. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, with outstanding views of the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Pinnacle Peak, Camelback, Red Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains, the ‘treasure’ is Talking Stick Golf Club with 36 holes of championship golf. 

Located on and owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and managed by Troon Golf, the club butts up to the new Talking Stick Resort and Casino. For the purist of the Game, this is a golfing experience you do not want to miss. Not one house is located near the courses, nothing but nature abounds during your round surrounded by mountain range views and grasslands on the links style North course.

Golfweek Magazine voted the Club ‘Top 100 Modern Courses’ and ranked the North course #1 in State.

The course was in excellent shape even though they were about to overseed with the winter Poa Trivialis on the greens and the Perenial Rye on the fairways for Arizona’s peak golfing season. It should be perfect for play just as I write this.

My golfing buddies were truly challenged and enjoyed every minute of our round. The course is challenging, yet fair, greens putted true and held well, fairways were lush and the bunkering was thought provoking. It was easy to find trouble if you didn’t spend some time on your golf course management. And, it’s always nice to find women friendly courses. Don’t think you’ll be making up strokes on the par 3s…they are the longest ever and don’t make life easy but they are wonderful. It would be a fete to make or see a hole-in-one on these par 3s. The holes are named and live up to their names, i.e. Three Roads and Mummy Mountain.

The Club offers a large and complete practice facility along with private and group golf instruction available from the Tim Mahoney Golf Academy.

Hole #2, par 5, 552 yards from the tips. Talking stick golf course has more to offer than just golf, the peaceful tranquility of the golf course allows you to take a step back and enjoy the nature of the course. This hole is a beautiful par five that can be played down the left side of the fairway, but careful it doesn’t take much to end up out of bounds. Guess that’s why they named it ‘Boundary’. The green is reachable in two with a great second shot. It’s a fairly small and relatively flat green and with the right read you might end up with an eagle on the scorecard. – by Mike Stockley

Hole #4, par 4, 433 yards from the tips. This was my favorite hole, as well as the #1 handicap on the North Course. Great layout but doesn’t offer many locations to play a safe tee shot. There is a large sand bunker that consumes the middle of the fairway, that can easily get you in trouble off the tee. It doesn’t end there, if you’re going for the green that is surrounded by sand bunkers. This hole was challenging but makes for a wonderful golf experience. – by Mike Stockley

Hole #12, par 4, 392 yards from the tips. Named Red Mountain Gambler, it lets you know immediately by the name about the risk/reward on this hole. Right is the way to go, if you don’t hit like the pros. Great thinking man’s hole to weigh the risk…can you make that perfect Tin Cup shot?

The staff was outstandingly eager to please and always smiling with impeccable service. They even helped me try out a new product called Shadys and attached it to the cart.

Talking Stick Golf Club has an elegant, yet casual, 26,000 sq. ft. clubhouse which houses the award winning, well appointed pro shop (make some extra time to explore it), locker rooms, private dining areas for groups and the Wildhorse Grille overseen by Chef Patrick Karvis. Check out his Wine & Dinner events, next one is for November 4th and it makes your mouth water just reading the menu online. This will definitely be added to my list of fine dining to experience.

Whether you are grabbing a bite to go or taking time for a leisurely lunch the food is excellent. I had one of the best tuna sandwiches ever while making the turn and of course, my golf buddy had a fabulous grilled hot dog (so tempting and very important that a course offers a great hot dog…in my eyes.)

Make sure you get a round or two in on Talking Stick Golf Club, you’ll know instantly that you have discovered a treasure, right in the heart of Scottsdale.