What Men Should Wear to Play Golf at Talking Stick in Scottsdale

To play golf at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, wear a moisture-wicking collared polo, tailored golf shorts or pants, a brimmed hat, and golf shoes with soft spikes. Talking Stick's two courses run open and exposed across the desert flats, so sun protection and breathable fabric matter more here than at a tree-lined layout. Here's the full rundown for a round at one of the Valley's best public tracks.

What the Course Conditions Ask of Your Outfit

Talking Stick is flat, open, and links-style, with very little shade and plenty of wind coming across the desert. That's a beautiful walk and a brutal one for anyone dressed wrong. Full sun for four-plus hours means your shirt is doing real work, not just looking sharp.

Prioritize fabric that moves sweat and blocks UV over anything heavy or cotton. The wind that keeps you cooler also dries out a soaked cotton shirt slowly and unevenly. Performance fabric handles both the heat and the gusts without turning into a wet rag by the seventh.

The Polo: Collared, Breathable, and Built for Heat

A collared performance polo is the non-negotiable at Talking Stick, same as any course worth playing. Go for a fitted cut in a breathable knit. The Tom Polo in navy reads sharp against the desert backdrop and keeps wicking deep into a hot round.

Prefer a cleaner, more modern collar? A blade-collar polo like the Chris Blade Collar Polo holds its shape in the wind and looks put-together whether you're grabbing lunch at the turn or a drink after. Either beats a limp cotton shirt by the back nine.

Bottoms: Shorts or Pants at Talking Stick

Shorts are the right call for most of the year here. The desert runs hot well into fall. Tailored golf shorts in a stretch performance fabric give you the range to swing freely without riding up. A pair of Drew Shorts in a 7-inch inseam hits the sweet spot: long enough to look right, short enough to stay cool.

Save the pants for winter mornings and any invitational with a stated no-shorts rule. From roughly December through February, an early Talking Stick tee time can start near 45°F before climbing, so a lightweight golf pant earns its spot in the bag those months.

Sun and Wind: The Hat and the Small Stuff

With almost no shade on the course, a brimmed hat isn't optional. It's the difference between a comfortable round and a cooked one. A Brooks Rope Hat keeps the sun off your face and reads right on a resort-style track like this.

Round it out with high-SPF sunscreen, polarized sunglasses for the glare off the flats, and a spare polo in the bag for summer rounds. Changing shirts at the turn keeps you sharp for the back nine and whatever comes after, instead of finishing soaked.

Dress Code and Vibe: Public Resort, Not Private Club

Talking Stick is a public, resort-access course, so the dress code runs relaxed, but relaxed still means a collar. No tank tops, no gym shorts, no denim on the course. Get the collared-shirt-and-proper-bottoms basics right and you're covered.

Because it's not a private club, you've got room for personality. A bolder polo color or a fun hat fits right in. The desert backdrop actually rewards it. Just keep it clean and put-together rather than careless, and you'll look like a local who plays here often.

One Bag, Nine Months of Talking Stick

Here's the short version: two performance polos in colors you like, a pair of tailored golf shorts, one lightweight pant for winter mornings, a brimmed hat, and clean shoes. That kit covers a Talking Stick tee time from spring through late fall with nothing left to figure out.

Dress for the sun and the wind, keep the collar on, and the course takes care of the rest. It's one of the best public rounds in Scottsdale. Show up ready for the conditions and it plays even better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should men wear to play golf at Talking Stick? A moisture-wicking collared polo, tailored golf shorts (or pants in winter), a brimmed hat, and golf shoes with soft spikes. The courses are open and sun-exposed, so breathable performance fabric and sun protection matter more than at a shaded layout. Skip cotton, denim, and gym shorts.

Is there a dress code at Talking Stick Golf Club? Yes, but a relaxed one. It's a public resort course, not a private club. A collared shirt and non-denim bottoms are required; tank tops, gym shorts, and jeans are not allowed on the course. You have room for bolder colors and personality here.

Should you wear shorts or pants at Talking Stick? Shorts for most of the year, since the desert runs hot into fall. A tailored 7-inch short like the Drew Shorts keeps you cool with room to swing. Save lightweight pants for cold winter mornings when early tee times can start near 45°F.

Do you need a hat for a round at Talking Stick? Effectively, yes. The courses are flat and open with almost no shade, so a brimmed hat like the Brooks Rope Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are the difference between a comfortable round and a cooked one across four-plus hours of full sun.