Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Silver Oak Golf Review


Welcome to Carson City, a true rugged, western town in Northern Nevada which is home to several world class golf courses including Clear Creek Tahoe and Montreux.

I had heard tell of a great public course in Carson City, Silver Oak, a course where the front 9 and back 9 were two totally different experiences and boy, they weren't wrong!

The front 9 side might be short but what it lacks in length it makes up for in elevation. Every hole seems to use the severe terrain to its advantage and while you might laugh at playing a sub-500 yard par 5, when you see the mountain you have to climb, you start sweating.


The course was in fantastic shape. The fairways were running fast, the greens were in excellent condition and the views were outstanding.

Speaking of outstanding, I don't think I have ever played a hole quite like the 337 par 4 5th hole.


The hole is a severe dogleg right but don't go too far right or you do down into the canyon. You aren't quite sure how much room you have to maneuver around the dogleg as you are partially blocked out by trees. Your best bet to stay far left and hit about a 200 yard shot.

The downside of that strategy is then you are faced with one of the most severe second shots I have ever seen.


Hmm, that doesn't quite show the craziness, let me see here...


ah yes, there we go. Basically I hit 3 iron, 8 iron, and prayed to the golf gods I hit my SW close (I did) and I escaped with a par. Of all the holes at Silver Oak, I would love to play this one over and over again.

Upping the craziness factor after that par 4 are back to back par 3s one, set on top of a plateau


and the next one going down a wild and wooly mountainside


Alas, the crazy front side cannot last and the course settles down into somewhat normality for holes 8 and 9.

Eventually all good things must come to an end and you come to the disappointing backside. I am not a huge fan of Palm Springs because most of the courses feel wedged into a housing development. Silver Creek takes that concept to the extreme by putting houses not just on one side of the fairway, not just two side of the fairway but rings the houses around all sides.


Especially when compared to the front 9, I have never felt like I had been playing in a fishbowl until I played the back 9 at Silver Oak.

After slogging through the claustrophobic back 9, 18 brings it home with a fantastic par 5. A blind tee shot (with no houses!) leading to a risk/reward second shot to an island green. Walking over the bridge to the green and looking back over the course, it gets you energized to play Silver Oak all over again.


Overall, Silver Oak's front 9 is a crazy, hilly ride which is almost completely marred by the back 9 until the last few holes brings it home. If you ever wanted to play the definition of a schizophrenic course, Silver Oak is it.

For more information about Silver Creek, check out this link: http://silveroakgolf.com/

2 comments:

  1. this is set on such a perfect plain to golf. makes me want to visit here and spend a day so carefree in the amazing breeze. thank you for posting

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