In a recent issue of Golfweek, the national publication rated Apache Stronghold in Globe, Talking Stick (North Course) in Scottsdale and We-Ko-Pa near Fountain Hills as the No. 1, 2 and 3 public courses in Arizona, respectively.

Granted, these are just the “opinions’’ of the magazine’s rating team, but they do say a lot about the impact of Native American-owned golf in this state. Not surprisingly, Toka Sticks, a lesser-known, 18-hole course in southeast Mesa owned by the Gila River Indian Community, was not mentioned in the article even though its future is so bright the Gila River tribe might need sunglasses.

Located at the crossroads of Power and Williams Field roads, with Gilbert and Higley near its borders, this is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the East Valley. That Toka Sticks is surrounded by the ASU East campus to the south, the Williams-Gateway Airport to the east and north, and the new Gilbert Emergency Hospital to the west, also bodes well.

Also in the loop, so to speak, is the San Tan Freeway. It will be located just a half-mile to the north of Toka Sticks when that segment of Loop 202 opens in late 2006.

“This area is booming, and we’re right in the middle of it,’’ noted Dave Porter, who has been the general manager at Toka Sticks since 1989, when it was part of Williams Air Force Base. “Even though the course has been around for almost 50 years (the first nine was built in 1956), I think Toka Sticks’ best days are ahead of us.’’

It is a sad statement that the majority of the reservation lands granted to Native American tribes in Arizona by the federal government are vast desert, where only casinos and golf courses seem to flourish. What’s ironic about the Gila River Community’s purchase of this 135 acres for $3.5 million in 1997 is it now has become prime real estate.

The City of Mesa, which also was a bidder for the Toka Sticks property at the time, obviously has lost out on one of the true “bargains’’ in golf. In today’s market, most golf courses in metropolitan Phoenix start at $5 million, with north Scottsdale courses representing the higher end at $15 million and up.

Toka Sticks, which already is one of the most popular courses in the area because of its price point ($40 in peak season, $25 in the summer), will only get better in the coming years, said course liaison D.J. Jones. And it will always remain a golf course because of the conditions of the purchase agreement between the Gila River Community and the federal government, Jones added.

“We are quite aware that it’s a very valuable piece of land,’’ said Jones, a member of the tribe who works at the golf course, which is now a land-locked piece of the Gila River Reservation through a trust established by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“We’ve talked about building a new clubhouse, and making other improvements . . . possibly with ASU or even the airport as our partners. So there are all kinds of possibilities for the future when it comes to Toka Sticks.’’

At the moment, Toka Sticks is run by Gila River Business Enterprises, which is a separate entity under the tribal council. The Gila River Community also owns Whirlwind Golf Club south of Phoenix, which is run by the Whirlwind Development Authority and managed by Troon Golf in a similar deal.