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Featured Golf Course
September 2007
By: Shane Jensen

Siena Golf Club is a great choice for golf in Las Vegas during the month of September. They have great conditions, a challenging golf course and friendly staff.

Siena Golf Club is located in an age-restricted community in the Northwest section of Las Vegas. This facility is one of the few golf courses in Las Vegas that doesn't shut down for a prolonged period of time to overseed. This makes Siena a popular choice by golfers when planning to come out during the maintenance season. When Siena Golf Club was first built, course designers decided to use a special type of Rye grass to eliminate the need to overseed. This grass is very hearty and can survive in both hot and cold weather. They currently use a process called split seeding that only focuses on areas that are thin and need attention.

This is a big benefit for golfers wanting to come to Las Vegas during the month of September. Most golf courses are closed and in poor condition during this time of year. The lack of a need for overseeding makes Siena Golf Club a very attractive option for golfers in Las Vegas.

Siena Golf Club has a wide variety of holes that grab the golfers attention throughout the round. Although the golf course is built between homes, these homes are set back far enough so as not to disrupt play.

The par-5 3rd hole is a medium-length hole that gives the golfer a chance at birdie. Like most holes at Siena, the foremost troubles on this hole are the large bunkers that tend to swallow up golf balls. The first set of bunkers is positioned right in the landing area from the tee. Avoid the bunker on the left at all costs. The lip on this bunker is fierce and your ball could be deflected if it hits this wall.

There is another set of bunkers located on the right side of the fairway about 100 yards from the greens. I have heard they are going to install a ladder to get into these in the future. This green can be reached in two shots for the longer hitters.

The greens at Siena typically are some of the fastest in the city. They are undulating and sometimes quite large. The course architects, Schmidt-Curley, worked with Jack Nicklaus during their early career, and his green designs permeate their golf courses.

The 9th hole is a great finishing hole on the front nine. This medium length par-4 measures only 420 yards from the back tee. Muscles react differently when there is a huge lake down the left hand side. The landing area on this hole can only be about 40 yards wide with deep bunkers on the right. The only option on this hole is to hit down the middle. Anywhere else is dead.

Once you make it to the fairway, you'll find the fun has only begun. The left side of the green is bordered by the same lake, but there is a bail out to the right. If you have been hitting the ball left all day, the bail out area should be your target. Don't let a big ego ruin a good round. Caution is advised here.

As you stop by the half-way house be sure to grab a snack to give you energy for the back side. The back nine is not as long as the front but there are a few more slopes around the greens that make for long walks.

The 13th hole is a slight dog-leg left par-4. The tee shot must be threaded between bunkers on both sides of the fairway. Only the longest hitters will be able to fly the left bunker, so a good target is the left edge of the right bunker. The fairway slopes and pushes the ball toward the middle of the fairway. The second shot is relatively easy and should find the middle of the green.

During the middle of September Siena Golf Club is in great condition. They have finished their fall maintenance and can focus on putting players on the golf course. Until September 13th the golf course will be cart path only, but this should have little effect on play as the golf course is relatively flat.

Visit the Following Las Vegas Golf Courses for more information:

• Siena Golf Club