The summer heat in Las Vegas can cause for a lot more commitment to maintain conditions at golf courses throughout the valley. For TPC properties, the summer is no different from any other time of the year, they are required to uphold tour conditions every day of the year. This was definitely the truth, when I stepped onto the first tee box up at TPC at Summerlin this past weekend, the golf course was in mint condition, despite the heat. Both TPC Properties in Las Vegas, TPC Summerlin and TPC Canyons, are home to the Frys.com Open held annually in Las Vegas, if you're planning a golf trip to Vegas, make sure you book TPC Canyons right after the 14th of October, as the golf course will be fresh from the Open and in top conditions as required by the PGA.

TPC at Summerlin is a private club that has wide fairways and large undulating greens. Playing this golf course is almost nostalgic, when you consider the legendary golfers such as John Daly, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk who have played some of their best runs right here. The golf course is not overly difficult but if the wind blows the greens can be some of the fastest in Las Vegas.

TPC Summerlin takes no prisoners right from the start. The second hole is a long downhill par-4 that has a bunkers guarding the left and a long desert area down the entire right hand side. A well placed tee shot will leave the player with a medium iron into this long green. Getting the ball close to the pin is imperative on these fast greens. The greens usually run faster than 11 on the stempmeter.

If you can safely navigate the front nine, the back nine gives you several opportunities to shoot low. The par-4 15th is a drivable hole that tempts many of the touring professionals to risk hitting at this green. The green is guarded by several bunkers and mounds that surround the green. I you don't find the green your ball will catch one of the slopes and end up in a bunkers. Caution is the key word on this hole.

Although TPC at Summerlin has wide fairways the difficulty lie in the severe slopes that are everywhere. Slightly missing a shot could result in the ball being 50 yards from your intended target. The golf course also features several holes that have forced carries over large desert canyons.

The 18th hole is one of the best finishing holes in Las Vegas, it measures over 450 yards from the back tee. In order to find the perfect landing area off the tee you must avoid a bunker on the right and a desert abyss on the left. With the fairways running so fast it can be hard to stay in the fairway. Missing right is the only safe play off the tee.

Once in the fairway the fun has only begun. This long narrow green has a water hazard on the left and a bunker on the right. The ideal shot is to aim for the middle of the green and take your chances putting. If you are lucky you might get a tucked left Sunday pin placement. Resist the temptation to fire at the pin. The green slopes toward the water and will push your ball toward the hole.

TPC at Summerlin is one of those golf courses that thrills the players when they stand on the first tee. Any golf course that hosts a PGA Tour event is going to be very popular with the golfing public. This is one tour stop that will be a fun time for the average player.

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