Prior to playing, I was expecting a wide-open course with elevation changes, since the golf course sits on the base of the mountains on the North side of Carson City. My goal was not only to keep the ball in play, but hopefully be able to take advantage of plenty of fairway room for my tee shots. I thought Silver Oak would be a nice course that may not be as challenging as some other courses in the area.

At a $50 weekday rate and $60 on the weekends, this is a nice course with value for the money. The twilight rate (after 2 p.m.) cuts the cost in half.

The day started off surprisingly on the first hole as I was looking at a small fairway, nothing like I was expecting. My first shot was a nice shot down the right side of the fairway. My second shot was a slightly blind shot over a hill to what appeared to be a flat green. I hit my wedge into the green for a nice birdie putt. Sinking my putt for birdie was a great way to start the day.

I found out by No. 5, if you haven't played this course before, make sure to pick up the yardage/picture card in the Pro Shop prior to playing. Looking at a blind shot into a narrow fairway with trouble on the right, I decided to bring out my driver and see what would happen. Wrong choice. I hit a good drive, which as I was going to my ball, I found out this was a dog leg right, needing a lay-up shot, then a short iron up to an elevated green. I had hit my ball through the fairway, finding myself in a tough shot. I was able to hit out of trouble, hit into the bi-level green and bogey.

Hole No. 6 is one of the most intimidating par 3's I have ever played that did not have water. This hole is on the side of a mountain and has a narrow fairway, steep canyon on the left, and hill with sagebrush on the right. If you hit too long, there are rocks and brush. Luckily, I hit my short iron into the green and was able to par the hole.

The back nine plays entirely different than the front nine. The front nine is at the foot of the mountains with elevated greens and plays like a mountain course in wide-open area. The back nine was flat with houses surrounding several of the holes. This was like playing two different courses all in one.

The back nine begins with a deceiving hole at first look as the start of the fairway is wide open. Upon closer look, you notice the landing spot is considerably smaller than the tee area, making your tee shot more difficult. I aimed at the 150-yard markers in the fairway (rule of thumb I used when playing this course) and hit into the middle of the fairway. This was a pretty hole with a dry riverbed running through the fairway a short distance in front of the green. There was a long bunker running the length of the green on the left, which was exactly where my second shot landed. The greens on the course seemed very predictable all day, although I struggled mightily with judging the speed of the greens and never really figured them out.

The par 5, 536-yard No. 15 is the signature hole on the course. This is a pretty hole with water short on the left and long on the right and a bunker on the right side. At first look, my thought was to hit left. Upon closer look, I decided the bunker on the right was a "warning sign" for me and the safest way to play the hole would be to attempt to go over the water. From there I hit a lay-up shot as there is a dry river bed and rough in front of the green, and I do not hit the ball far enough to go for the green. From there, I hit a short iron into the green. Almost every green on this course requires you to hit into the green from the air, as the greens are all well protected with elevated greens, rough, or some other sort of obstacle in front. If you like to have your ball roll onto the green, this is not the course for you.

The final hole of the day has a wide-open fairway with water on the left side. This is another hole you have to lay-up (if you hit like me) on your second shot prior to hitting into the green. The green is pretty much surrounded by water so you need to finish your day with a final accurate shot over water. I hit into the rough behind the green but had a nice chip shot out to save par.

I had an enjoyable day playing from the blue tees although the whites are recommended for average players. Silver Oak has a lot of acreage, with grass and open areas in between all of the holes. All of the holes were entirely on their own (no track course here). The approach shots into the greens were challenging with many obstacles in front of the green, forcing you to make good shots. I was able to hit the ball on the day very well. I was just not able to putt, not the course's fault, just a bad day of putting.

Next week's feature course is Genoa Lakes in Genoa, Nev. If you would like us to feature a course, please send your recommendation to smikkelson@dailysparkstribune.com