The Salt River Community Golf Enterprise’s Board announced the renaming of two courses at the Talking Stick Golf Club to represent the two Native American tribes that comprise the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). The “O’odham Course” replaces the “North Course” and represents the Pima, or “Akimel O’odham” (River People) and the “Piipaash Course” replaces the former “South Course” representing the Maricopa, or “Xalychidom Piipaash” (People who live toward the water).  

“We are proud and excited to present the new names of the two courses at Talking Stick Golf Club to reflect the heritage of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. We hope that all guests take away not only a wonderful golf experience, but also some knowledge of the people who have been living on this treasured land for centuries,” said SRPMIC Vice-President and Salt River Golf Board Chairman Martin Harvier. 

To enhance the cultural experience of golfers visiting the Talking Stick Golf Club, the individual golf holes on each course have also been renamed using the traditional language of both tribes, with English subtitles, on the corresponding course. New tee monuments and signage have also been installed with the new names. Native art and special culinary offerings with Native-inspired ingredients are an additional feature that promote the culture and enrich the visitor experience at Talking Stick Golf Club.

“We are honored to have been part of this process,” said Talking Stick Golf Club General Manager, Steve Leonard. “We take very seriously the history and culture of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and hope that the representation of the two tribes in the course names are a new point of pride for the Community members and guests to the facility.”

Many on-site visits and meetings by the SRPMIC Cultural Resources Department, Community elders, Board members and Century Golf staff were conducted to produce the new names. 

The award winning courses have provided golfers of all abilities a memorable and enjoyable challenge since opening in 1998 and were designed by the renowned design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.   

Century Golf Partners (Arnold Palmer Golf Management) is the management company that oversees the operation of the facility.

About Salt River
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is a sovereign tribe located in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Established by Executive Order on June 14, 1879, the Community operates as a full-service government and oversees departments, programs, projects and facilities. Bounded by the cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Fountain Hills, the Community encompasses 52,600 acres, with 19,000 held as a natural preserve. With two distinct backgrounds and cultures, the Community is comprised of two Native American tribes: the Pima, “Akimel O’Odham” (River People) and the Maricopa, “Xalychidom Piipaash” (People who live toward the water). Today, more than 10,000 individuals are enrolled tribal members. The Community proudly owns and operates several successful enterprises including Salt River Materials Group, Talking Stick Golf Club, Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale AutoShow at Salt River, Saddleback Communications, Salt River Devco, Casino Arizona at Salt River, the Beeline Hwy Pit Stop, and Salt River Landfill.