O'odham Course

at Talking Stick Golf Club

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona | Style: Desert-links | Par: 70 | Designer (Founded): Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1997-1998)

Ranked 25th in Arizona by Top 100 Golf Courses

The O'odham Course at Talking Stick Golf Club offers a unique desert-links style experience that blends expansive fairways and subtle movement with the arid beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the layout was built on flat terrain yet has been sculpted to provide strategic interest through angular holes, contouring, run-up zones, and aesthetic desert vegetation.

Visitors will notice that instead of typical lush parkland surroundings, the O’odham Course emphasises openness, minimal tree interference, and the raw desert setting - giving a refreshing contrast to many resort courses in Arizona.

Signature Holes

One standout hole is the par-4 12th, which features a split fairway built into the minimalist contours of the desert. From the tee, you must choose your route with care - one side offering a better angle, the other perhaps safer - but both leading into a green guarded by subtle slopes and bunkers, embodying the strategic nature of the layout.

Clubhouse & amenities

At the Talking Stick complex, golfers on the O’odham Course have access to full resort-style amenities: a large clubhouse, pro shop with high-end gear, spacious locker rooms, and practice facilities including a large driving range and short-game areas.

After your round, wind down at the clubhouse terrace overlooking the desert vista. The Talking Stick venue links easily with nearby resort accommodations, restaurants, and leisure options, making it a strong choice for a full golf travel experience.

Did You Know?

According to course architect Bill Coore, the land used for O’odham offered “almost nothing” in terms of natural topography (a virtually blank map), yet the design team shaped 18 architecturally distinct holes using subtle earth-moving and landscape-driven strategy.