Beautiful Closing Hole #18 South

Talking Stick Golf Club:

Coore and Crenshaw's Terrific Scottsdale Desert Duo

Posted by: Rick Parnham

Scottsdale has numerous superb golf resort options available to choose from but one of the more unique golfing experiences can be found at the spectacular Talking Stick Golf Club.

The design team of Coore and Crenshaw are quickly becoming household names when it comes to designing top -tier facilities throughout North America. Best known for their renovation and restoration of Pinehurst #2, the pair is also credited with many of the most highly regarded contemporary designs.  With a pair of highly acclaimed designs at Bandon (Trails and Preserve), Streamsong  Red, Dormie Club and most recently the spectacular Cabot Cliffs, resort golf has become a niche for this dynamic duo.

Opened in 1998 Talking Stick Golf Club is one of their earlier projects.  The club features two creative routings with the courses set gently on the desert landscape.  Each course is subtly different as the North Course is more rugged with a desert links-like feel while the South Course is more traditional in design with tree lined fairways and ponds in play on numerous holes. Both are splendid golf experiences each unique in both visuals and challenge.

North Course #2

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

The North Course: Playing longer and tougher The North Course is also the more driver-friendly of the duo. Wide, expansive landing areas give you plenty of room off the tee.  The strongest challenge comes with your approach shots into the generous windswept green sites. Most are protected admirably with steep-faced bunkers and plentiful ridges putting great demands on your flat stick for scoring.

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: North Course

Feature Holes Descriptions:

The third hole is one where several shot making options are available. Named Three Roads, the hole presents a trio of routes to the putting surface. The center, more direct route is surrounded by waste and deep white sand bunkers, but is the best line of attack to the long narrow green guarded well by a pair of green side bunkers. The daring route is right leaving little more than  a wedge for your second, but risking the wicked collection of bunkers short of the fairway. The safe route left lessens the fear factor with the drive, but leaves a mighty long iron approach to the green.The sixth is a beautiful lengthy par 3 presenting a stern test. Favouring a high right to left shot, the hole has a vast waste area left that continues all the way to the green. A ridge bisects the front from the back portion of the green making correct club selection a must.

Hole 12, Red Mountain Gambler, is a par 4 that pays homage to the beautiful backdrop and the tempting options available on the tee. Daring players will want to take a rip at the spit of fairway left of the huge waste gulch dividing the split fairway. All carry, a successful drive will avoid the OB left and leave a wedge into the crowned green.  The conservative line of play takes you to the undulating right fairway and leaving you a formidable approach across a dry gulch short of the green. The penultimate hole 17 is the longest par 5 on the course. Aptly named Sidewinder this snaking three-shoter has a cluster of bunkers left and right surrounding the landing area of your drive. The raised green is protected on the right by a deep bunker and multitude of slopes built into the putting surface.

Course Stats: North Course

The South Course: The shorter parkland-style layout plays to a par of 71 and features beautiful tree-lined holes. Water is well incorporated into the routing on the South Course with the majority of holes on the back nine adding a liquid challenge to your shot making decisions. Greens with wide openings make this a most playable course for both the high flyers and bump and roll players.

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: South Course

The fourth hole is a creative short par 4 featuring one solo trap located strategically dead center in the wide fairway. The right side is raised and provides a better roll for drives hit to that side. The left is a wider target but leaves a tougher angle to the raised green. The par 5, 15th hole has two routes to the target. A long straight fairway plays along an OB fence right. A wide sandy gulch runs along the left and must be traversed to get to the island of fairway and green. The safer play is to hit two straight shots to the end of the fairway and then cross, but the more direct route will require a fairway wood or hybrid second taking dead aim at the flag.

South Course #11 and Gorgeous Resort Hotel

Par 5, hole 16 doglegs left with a huge pond swallowing any tee shot pushed right. The second shot must contend with a creek that crosses the fairway from 150 yards on the right to 70 yards on the left.  Avoiding this hazard is essential to have a chance to make par on this green surrounded by bunkers. The final hole is a risk / reward beauty. Playing as a short dogleg right par 4 the entire right side is framed by a large pond. The best line of attack should flirt with the water but short of a series of bunkers lining the left side of the fairway near the green. The long narrow green wedged between the water and bunkers is filled with slope so be careful to pay attention to the pin location as a three putt is quite possible.

Course Stats: South Course

Available for public play, this 36-hole experience is best combined with a fun-filled stay and play at the Talking Stick Casino Resort. Towering over the golf course is the spectacular Four-Diamond Resort hotel. Abuzz with entertainment; dozens of gaming tables, slots and live shows along with fantastic dining and relaxing pools and spa facilities, the après golf compliments your time on the fairways perfectly.

Drive Times: Phoenix Sky Harbor International 25 mins.

Contact:

Talking Stick Golf Club

9998 Talking Stick Way,

Scottsdale, AZ

85256 

480 860 2221

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