Talking Stick Golf Club

Piipaash Course Reviewed

Talking Stick’s 18th Hole Playing 323 yards, par 4

Talking Stick Golf Club Piipaash Course

Website: www.talkingstickgolfclub.com

Phone: 480.860.2221

Address: 9998 Talking Stick Way
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256

General Manager: Steve Leonard, PGA
Golf Operations Manager: Jeff Sorkness, PGA
Head Golf Professional: Min Park, PGA
Group Sales Manager: Bentley Nakasawa
Superintendent: Paul Blumke
Course Architects: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw

About this Course:
Par 71– 6833 yards from the tips
Rating/Slope: 72.7/127; 69.91/121; 67.6/116; 65.4/111; 75.2/130; 72.0/123; 69.1/117

 


By By Carl Hellman

Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. This 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), with two distinct backgrounds and cultures. This carries into the two courses that are available for play. Talking Stick Golf Course is conveniently located off the 101 and is a golfing gem in this Cultural and Entertainment Destination area. The Piipaash Course is a blend of traditional course design with lakes and streams on several holes. An enjoyable and challenging course that plays 6833yards from the tips. It’s a virtual want through nature along with your golfing experience. You will see wild horses, Jack rabbits, road runners, Bobcats, geese and all manner of wildlife as the course moves through this beautiful desert setting. The pace of play is well managed by the highly professional golf staff and you should easily play the Piipaash Course in 4 hours and 15 minutes. 

Their practice area is one of the very best in all of Scottsdale.  Make certain you roll a few putts before you leave the practice area. After warming up, this scenic course awaits you.

Hole #1, Par 4, 405 yards – This is a friendly opening hole with a wide fairway and one fairway bunker about 210 yards on the right. Place your drive to slightly left of center and you have a mid iron into an elevated sloped green with two deep bunkers on the right side. On the well-sloped green is when things start getting a tad more interesting. Getting too aggressive can easily get you back in the fairway. A par is a good score and will get your round off on a positive note. Directly behind the green is the very impressive Talking Stick Resort and Casino. By all means, on your way out stop in and visit one of the best resorts in The Valley of the Sun.

Hole #7, Par 5, 516 yards – This demanding hole requires a good drive slightly to the left of center towards the lone tree and then a long wood to the front of the green. Several deep bunkers on the right side await any errant shots. With a slightly rounded fairway your golf ball can easily roll off…so stay in the center as much as possible. This golf hole has one of the most difficult greens on either of the courses, a three tiered huge green with several ridge lines awaits your putt. Having played the course for years, this hole will have  you speaking in some strange language as you walk off. A par on #7 is an excellent score. Walking down this fairway you see some of the best scenery on the course.

Hole #16, Par 5, 548 yards – A thinking hole given the location of a lake on the right side of the tee box and a fast flowing stream that runs diagonally across the fairway. The smart play is to stay slightly to the right of center on your drive. Moving left off the tee box begins all sorts of difficulty with nature. There is a big tree down the fairway with a “V” in the trunk that is an excellent aiming point. The second shot will make the score. Laying up in front of the stream with a mid to long iron is the play. Then you can take a pitching wedge to the sloped green from back to front. Should you get a bit strong on your approach shot, then you will be in the lake that is on #11. This is without question the one hole that makes you think carefully about your shots and layups. The name of this hole says it all…”Waters Edge”.

Hole #18, Par 4, 323 yards – A fun and a risk reward hole to finish your round. The shortness of the hole is well compensated with a lake that runs the entire right side of the dogleg right hole. The fairway slopes…guess where…to the lake. So, if you are a long hitter be careful to keep it slightly to the left of center. If the ball is on the right side of the fairway, you will be donating to the Golf Gods. This hole has a very small green with lots of bunkers and with a severe slope back to the fairway. Be careful with your approach shot. Below the hole is the only way you can score. If you get on the high side of the green, trying to stop that ball requires glue. This is a good hole to finish on and then move to the Grille for a beverage.

Talking Stick Piipaash Course is a really enjoyable golfing experience. A good blend of golf challenge with beautiful scenery backdrop. The Talking Stick Community keeps their two courses in fabulous condition. A great layout and a good golf value…Enjoy!