Course Spotlight Fall 2014 - Siena Golf Club

Fairways and Greens

Siena Golf Club

Story by Bill Bowman

The first thing players will notice before they hit their opening tee shot at Siena Golf Club is the lushness of that first fairway…and every other fairway.

But here’s a tip: Keep that visual in mind during the round because the fairway is definitely the place to be when taking on this Schmidt/Curley design.

Siena Golf Club, located in Southwest Las Vegas, is 6,843 yards of pure golf paradise. But with that paradise comes a price…such as deep-faced bunkers (97 of them and they are perfectly placed), deep-blue ponds, desert outcroppings and fairway-narrowing arroyos.

“The bunkers are our thing,” says Tony Lenzie, general manager and director of golf. “The bunkers give the golf course some teeth and help protect it. The hardest part is a lot of them are deep and not traditional shallow bunkers, so they can definitely penalize golfers.”

Remember…the lush fairways and large greens are your friends.

The opening nine holes at Siena are definitely the more challenging nine. The par 5 third hole is a prime example. At 562 yards, it’s got plenty of bite. There are fairway bunkers that cut down the landing area off the tee so accuracy with the drive is a must. Going for it in two (for the big hitters) makes this a great risk/reward hole. And a huge green will test even the best putters in your group.

The back nine closes with four great birdie chances. The first is 15^th, a reachable (just 514 yards) par 5. You don’t have to be a brute to get home in two…just accurate. That’s followed by the 16^th, a 323-yard, par 4. Play for position off the tee and take dead aim at the flag. The 17^th is a very short par 3, playing just 138 yards from the tips…and it’s downhill. A short-iron tee shot under the pin will give players an uphill putt.

The finale is everything a finishing hole should be…good looking, dramatic and playable. At 400 yards, it’s an uphill driver (or 3-wood for control) and a short iron into a green guarded on the right by a pond.

“The last four holes for the course are really where players can right some wrongs from earlier in the round,” Lenzie says.

Overall, Siena is one of those courses that’s just plain fun. There are obstacles to overcome, but think your way around the course and you’ll be rewarded.

Lenzie also pointed out the work of Key Golf as one of the main reasons for the course’s recent move back into an impressive layout. “They’ve been in charge of agronomy and maintenance for about the last nine months,” Lenzie says. “They’ve done a great job. In fact, the course is in the best shape it’s been in for awhile.”

Before or after the round, the Siena Bistro is a nice place to relax. With a wide variety on the menu (including hot dogs, sliders, quesadillas, wraps, fish tacos and much more), you’ll find a little something to satisfy everyone in your group.

“It’s just a fun golf course to play,” Lenzie says. “You’ll use every club in the bag.”

Siena Golf Club

10575 Siena Monte Ave., Las Vegas

702-341-9200 or 888-823-5523

www.sienagolfclub.com