Silverstone lets the big dogs run wild

If golf course architect Robert Cupp was trying to establish a reputation for Silverstone Golf Club, he succeeded. Boasting Nevada's longest par 5 at a staggering 653 yards and several others exceeding a third of a mile in distance, Silverstone has been known since it opened a decade ago as a place where heavy hitters can unleash their drivers with impunity. However, there is far more to this course than its prodigious length, and shorter hitters should not be dissuaded by Silverstone's intimidating statistical attributes.

A 27-hole layout, Silverstone offers players a choice of three 18-hole combinations ranging in length from 6,958 yards (Desert/Valley) to 7,159 yards (Desert/Mountain). What makes the course unusual, however, is that most of its distance is concentrated in the par 5s.

For instance, on the Desert/Valley combination, the longest of the par 4s is only 426 yards. There is also an enormous gap between tee boxes; for example, the 627-yard fifth hole on the Desert track plays only 530 yards from the resort tees. Played from the appropriate box, Silverstone is definitely manageable for shorter hitters.

Case in point is the Desert nine's opening hole, which at 535 yards from the tips is the shortest of the par 5s. Played from the appropriate set of tees, this dogleg right is definitely a two-shot hole. Avoiding the bunker along the left edge of the landing zone is crucial, because finding it virtually eliminates any possibility of reaching the green with the second shot.

However, there is a steep price to be paid for attacking the green and coming up short; a pair of center-fairway bunkers -- one about 40 yards short of the green, another off its front edge -- defends the putting surface. Finding the first one can quickly turn an eagle opportunity into a frustrating bogey. Players should choose to run up the approach left or right of the traps depending upon the pin position.

After the aforementioned 426-yard par 4 comes the Desert nine's gargantuan 627-yard par 5. This three-shot hole requires a moderate carry off the tee, while desert lines both edges of the fairway.

Given that reaching the green in two isn't a realistic possibility, a conservative approach is warranted. In fact, although most players would consider bagging the driver on such a long hole to be heresy, it may be worth clubbing down from the tee in order to stay short of the fairway bunkers jutting in from the right.

Similarly, the second shot should be directed short and right of the bunker that intrudes from the fairway's left edge. With a wedge in hand, the approach isn't overly taxing, although the cavernous bunkers that block the front left and right portions of the green must be avoided.

The Desert track closes with a 404-yard par 4 that plays far more difficult than it looks. Although the fairway bends only slightly to the left, it crests a slight hill, making the target line difficult to discern from the tee box. There is ample room along the fairway's right edge, which is the ideal position from which to approach one of Silverstone's few water-flanked greens. From the safety of the short grass, the putting surface can be attacked, although any pin left of center should be approached with extreme caution.

Like the Desert track, Silverstone's Valley nine opens with one of its trademark par 5s, although this one spans 631 yards from the back. This hole's fairway is noticeably more narrow than most of the other par 5s, so those whose big dogs tend to stray out of the yard should again consider using a fairway metal from the tee, since this is a three-shot hole anyway.

Played in control, this hole will yield the occasional birdie and should be a solid par opportunity. Those who swing for the fences may find themselves staring at double bogey.

Although the following hole -- a 162-yard par 3 -- looks innocuous enough on the scorecard, the perspective from the tee box is entirely different. Water wraps all the way around the green's left side, virtually ensuring that any miss short, left or deep will get a bath. While there is some margin for error along the right, the green slopes significantly toward the water, making any chip from that direction a nerve-jangler.

After a relatively short but vexing par 5 that ranks as the Valley track's toughest hole, Silverstone gives one back at No. 6, a short and relatively stress-free par 4 that is little more than a driver and a wedge. The fairway's left side provides the best angle of attack to a wide putting surface barricaded from the center to the right edge by a steep-lipped bunker.

This nine-hole stretch closes with the second of back-to-back 400-plus-yard par 4s. Although desert fronts the tee boxes, it doesn't require a significant carry to clear. The wide, inviting fairway practically begs players to crush one last drive. While water lurks along the green's right side, the putting surface is wide enough to provide a safety margin for those unsure of their wedges.

For those who select their tee placement based upon competence rather than confidence, Silverstone is eminently playable for players of all skill levels. Greens that are quick but not irritatingly undulating will not steal any strokes, while the modest length of Silverstone's par 4s offsets any difficulty golfers may have stringing together three solid strokes on the par 5s.

Silverstone Golf Club is located at 8600 Cupp Drive, north of the Las Vegas Beltway in the valley's far northern reaches. For more information or to reserve a tee time, visit www.silverstonegolf.com or call 562-3770.