PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Toka Sticks Gc

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Toka Sticks Gc in Mesa, AZ.

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Toka Sticks Gc golf course

Toka Sticks Gc

Mesa, AZ
Tips tees · 6,870 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Toka Sticks Gc

Designed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s for Williams Air Force Base personnel and now owned by the Gila River Indian Community, Toka Sticks Golf Club is a traditional, tree-lined parkland layout in Mesa, Arizona. Unlike typical Arizona desert target courses, Toka Sticks features level, fully grassed fairways flanked by mature eucalyptus, mesquite, palm, and palo verde trees. Playing at par 72 up to 6,922 yards, the course relies on overhanging tree limbs, subtle doglegs, strategic water hazards on four holes, and small elevated greens to test course management and shot placement.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Toka Sticks Gc

Off the tee

Tee shots require accuracy to navigate corridors of mature trees and overhanging branches. Straight driving is essential because trees guard dogleg corners and narrow the landing zones, though missing into adjacent fairways often affords recovery opportunities.

Elevation & terrain

The terrain is virtually flat across the entire layout due to its history as an air force base location. Elevation plays no significant role in distance control off the tee or into fairways.

Approach play

Approaches demand precise trajectory and distance control to small, elevated, and tiered greens. Tree limbs frequently overhang the ideal approach lines on dogleg holes, punishing drives hit to the wrong side of the fairway.

Around the greens

Putting surfaces are renowned locally for being fast and smooth with subtle slopes and multi-tiered contours. Small elevated green complexes require accurate chip shots or crisp pitch play, with sand bunkers protecting the edges.

Best way to play it

Prioritize fairway positioning over raw distance to secure clean sightlines under or around overhanging branches. Favor conservative targets on approach shots into small elevated greens, avoiding water hazards on key holes.

Key takeaways

  • Traditional, fully grassed parkland style rather than target desert golf.
  • Mature eucalyptus and mesquite trees line fairways and guard dogleg angles.
  • Small, elevated, fast-putting greens require precise approach shots.
  • Water hazards impact decision-making on four specific holes.
  • Flat, level terrain makes it an enjoyable course to walk.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
383
13
Aim down the center of the fairway off the tee to avoid overhanging branches on the right and setup an open view of the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~143 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
5
485
17
Position your tee shot along the left-center of the fairway to create a clear angle around the tree-guarded right corner for your layup or second shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~245 yards remaining by raw distance. The green may be within range for your second shot depending on lie and conditions.
3
3
209
7
Take one extra club to ensure your tee shot carries the fronting water hazard safely onto the small putting surface.
4
5
568
3
Play down the fairway corridor rather than cutting over corner trees to leave a clean path toward the renovated green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~328 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
5
3
199
9
Select enough club to reach the middle of the green, ignoring pin positions tucked near guarding bunkers.
6
4
378
11
Target the fairway center off the tee to maintain an unobstructed line to the small green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~138 yards remaining by raw distance.
7
4
376
15
Use a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee if necessary to guarantee finding the fairway for an uncluttered approach shot.
Your 240 yd driver · ~136 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
225
5
Aim for the center of the green surface to avoid tricky greenside bunker saves and awkward chip shots.
9
5
543
1
Execute two controlled shots down the center of the tree-bordered fairway to setup a precise wedge approach to a tiered green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~303 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
10
4
381
10
Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee to clear the corner tree lines for a clean approach angle.
Your 240 yd driver · ~141 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
4
439
4
Focus on driving distance into the fairway to leave a manageable mid-iron into an elevated, bunkered green complex.
Your 240 yd driver · ~199 yards remaining by raw distance.
12
5
558
16
Lay up short of the narrowing tree lines on your second shot to set up an uninhibited short-iron approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~318 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
13
3
218
8
Choose a club that carries past the front water hazard and sand traps, aiming for the middle tier of the green surface.
14
4
311
14
Aim your tee shot toward the left-center of the fairway to avoid the water hazard on the right and establish a direct line to the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~71 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
15
3
196
6
Trust your yardage to reach the center of the putting surface, avoiding aggressive lines toward pins near front sand traps.
16
4
437
12
Drive for distance into the fairway center, accepting a middle-of-the-green approach target rather than hunting difficult pin locations.
Your 240 yd driver · ~197 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
5
511
18
Keep tee shots clear of left-hand tree coverage to allow a aggressive second shot toward the open approach channel.
Your 240 yd driver · ~271 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
18
4
453
2
Hit a strong drive down the middle to give yourself a clear shot into a well-protected green framed by mature trees.
Your 240 yd driver · ~213 yards remaining by raw distance.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.