Quick Answer
Talking Stick gives a Scottsdale golf group two genuinely different Coore and Crenshaw courses in one place. O’odham is the wider, more strategic layout, where angles and firm ground matter. Piipaash has tree-lined corridors, raised greens and a more direct parkland character. Play both before deciding which one deserves a second round.
Talking Stick Resort adds rooms, restaurants, pools, a spa, casino and live entertainment nearby. That combination makes the destination especially useful for a group that wants golf to lead the trip without making golf the only thing available after the round.
Why Build a Trip Around Talking Stick?
Talking Stick Golf Club opened in 1998 on land of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The names of its two courses recognize the Community’s Akimel O’odham and Xalychidom Piipaash peoples. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed both courses, but they did not repeat the same idea twice.
That contrast is the best reason to play here. O’odham stretches across broad desert ground with room to choose a line. Piipaash uses trees, bunkers and elevated putting surfaces to define the shot more clearly. A 36-hole day feels like two separate rounds rather than a replay on a neighboring course.
The location also works well for a Scottsdale trip. Talking Stick sits near Loop 101, so a group can stay by the resort and still reach other parts of the area without treating every golf day like a road trip. For travelers comparing regions, our Palm Springs versus Scottsdale guide explains how the two winter-golf options differ.
O’odham Course
O’odham, formerly the North Course, is the more distinctive of the two. Its fairways are generous, but the width is there to create decisions. One side may shorten the next shot while bringing a bunker into play; another may provide more room but leave a poorer angle into the green. The course makes more sense when you look from the tee all the way to the flag instead of aiming automatically for the center of every fairway.
The ground game is part of the design. Approaches can use firm contours, and a ball that lands short may feed onto a green rather than stop immediately. The split fairway at the par-4 12th is the clearest example of the course asking golfers to pick a route rather than simply hit toward one target.
O’odham is playable for mixed handicaps because there is space from the tee, but low scores still depend on position. It is the course to prioritize if the group enjoys architecture, walking lines and talking through different ways to play a hole.
Piipaash Course
Piipaash, formerly the South Course, is not O’odham with different scenery. It has a more traditional parkland look, with tree-lined fairways and raised greens that are often guarded along the sides. The preferred shot is usually easier to identify, but that does not make it automatic. Missing an elevated green in the wrong place can leave a difficult recovery.
The course asks for more carry into the putting surfaces and gives the ground less influence around the greens. Golfers who prefer a clearer target in front of them may settle into Piipaash more quickly. It also provides a useful change after O’odham’s broad corridors and diagonal choices.
Do not treat Piipaash as the extra course included only because it is there. Its value is the contrast. Play O’odham for width, angles and the ground; play Piipaash for framed tee shots and more elevated targets.
Should You Play Both Courses?
Yes, especially on a first visit. The two courses share designers and a clubhouse, but the shots do not feel interchangeable. One round on each gives the trip more variety than booking the same style of desert course several times.
A 36-hole day is possible and the club promotes same-day play. It works best during cooler months, when daylight and temperature are less restrictive. Groups that prefer a slower pace can play one course per day, leave time for lunch at the Golf Club Grill and use the practice area without rushing.
If only one round fits, choose O’odham for the more unusual Coore and Crenshaw experience. If the group wants defined targets and a more familiar presentation, Piipaash may be the better match.
Staying at Talking Stick Resort
Talking Stick Resort makes the golf easier to turn into a complete stay. The property has rooms and suites, two pools, a spa, casino, live entertainment and several dining and bar options. Orange Sky is the signature dinner setting, while the wider restaurant lineup gives a group casual choices without having to organize another transfer.
The resort also has a Cultural Center displaying Native American art connected to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. It is worth treating as part of the place rather than viewing Talking Stick as a generic hotel attached to two courses.
The hotel and golf club are nearby, but confirm daily transportation rather than assuming every part of the stay is walkable. A Scottsdale hotel or rental can also work when Talking Stick is one stop in a wider itinerary. Staying at the resort is the simpler choice when these two courses are the center of the trip and the group wants dining and evening options close at hand.
The Clubhouse and Practice Setup
The Golf Club Grill overlooks the course and works for breakfast, lunch or a drink after the round. This is a property where playing 18, eating at the clubhouse and going back out can be a realistic day rather than a logistical exercise.
The practice setup includes a full driving range along with putting and short-game areas. Arrive with enough time to use it. Desert conditions, firm turf and raised greens reward a better feel for rollout than a few hurried swings before the tee time.
Best Time to Visit
November through April is the main window for a Talking Stick golf trip. Temperatures are generally more comfortable for full days outside, but this is also when Scottsdale tee times and rooms are in greatest demand. Groups tied to a specific weekend should plan earlier than groups with flexible dates.
Late spring and early fall can work, particularly with morning tee times, but heat becomes a real scheduling factor. Summer requires very early starts and is not the right compromise for every group.
Arizona courses also use seasonal maintenance and overseeding schedules. Check the current course calendar before confirming travel, especially in the fall. The condition and playing style of a course can change during turf transition, so the date matters as much as the advertised season.
How Many Nights Do You Need?
Two nights is enough for a focused visit with one round on each course. It is most practical when arrival timing leaves room before the first tee time and the group does not need to add another Scottsdale property.
Three nights is the better fit for most golf groups. It allows one round per day, creates room for a second look at O’odham or Piipaash and leaves an evening to use the resort without turning the stay into a sequence of tee times and departures.
Four nights makes sense when Talking Stick is the base for a larger Arizona golf trip. The group can add a day at We-Ko-Pa or Troon North, then return to the same hotel instead of changing rooms. Those are separate properties, so the order should be built around drive times and tee-time availability.
Who Is Talking Stick Best For?
Talking Stick fits groups that want variety without moving between courses every day. It is particularly strong for mixed-handicap trips because O’odham provides width from the tee, Piipaash presents clearer targets, and both can be matched to several sets of tees.
It also works for groups whose evenings matter. Golfers can stay near the courses while companions or early finishers have access to the pools, spa, restaurants, casino and entertainment. That is a different proposition from a golf-only base where every meal and evening requires another plan.
Groups seeking the most dramatic mountain carries and elevated desert views may make another Scottsdale property the visual centerpiece. Talking Stick’s strength is different: two contrasting courses by major architects, a straightforward base and enough on-site activity to hold the trip together.
FAQ
How many golf courses are at Talking Stick?
Talking Stick Golf Club has two 18-hole courses: O’odham and Piipaash. Both were designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
What happened to the North and South course names?
The former North Course is now O’odham, and the former South Course is now Piipaash. The names recognize the two peoples of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Which Talking Stick course should you play first?
O’odham is the stronger introduction if your group likes strategic width, angles and ground-game options. Piipaash is a useful second round because its tree-lined corridors and raised greens provide a different test.
Can you play 36 holes at Talking Stick?
Yes. The two-course setup makes a 36-hole day practical, subject to tee-time availability, daylight and seasonal conditions. One course per day is the more relaxed option.
Is Talking Stick a good base for a Scottsdale golf trip?
Yes. The resort provides lodging, dining and evening amenities near the golf club, while the Loop 101 location helps when the itinerary includes other Scottsdale-area properties.
How long should a Talking Stick golf trip be?
Two nights can cover both courses. Three nights gives most groups a better pace and room for another round or more time at the resort. Choose four nights when adding other Arizona golf.
Plan the Trip
The main choices are how many times to play O’odham and Piipaash, whether to stay at Talking Stick Resort or elsewhere in Scottsdale, and which other courses belong in the same itinerary. Share the group size, dates and preferred rounds, and JEL can arrange the lodging and golf around those decisions.
