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October 2006
Championship Golf
 Silverado Resort and Spa
(NAPA, CA) — While people might be re-discovering Silverado
Resort thanks to the work that Chef Peter Pahk has been doing
at the Royal
Oak and The Grill, it is the
two championship golf courses that have long been the jewel in
this luxury resort’s crown.
Opening for play in 1955, these courses were first built when
purchasing acres of famed Napa Valley land was suitable for many
more pursuits than planting vineyards. Today, a developer would
be hard pressed to decide just how much land could be set aside
for the leisurely duffer’s play on meandering greens among oaks,
and creeks, and ponds, and how much should be planted in vineyards,
or even homes.
In the mid-1960’s, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., then working for
his father’s company, under took a redesign of Silverado’s south
course as his first course design project. It has been said that
Jones courses are noted for their artistic landscaping, innovative
use of bunkers, liberal use of water hazards, and deft placement
of greens and hazards that encourage a high level of strategy.
As a testament to that, the two golf courses have been the site
of many PGA Men’s Tour and Champion’s Tour Tournaments, as well
as the Kaiser International Open Invitational, among others.
Some of golf most famous names have played the greens at Silverado.
The course will certainly make you pay for your mistakes. It
rewards risk – well played, but is unforgiving if you blow it.
The typical golfer will delight in testing themselves against
this professional landscape, the above average golfer will find
more to compete against than their companions, and the beginner
will understand the true test that nature can offer in a well
laid out course.
If you are concerned that a course with this much history may
be a little old, do not fear. Silverado undertook a $3.5 million
renovation of both courses in 2003. Every blade of grass was
replaced and state-of-the-art irrigation and weather system was
installed. This intelligent system allows the precious commodity
of water to be deployed to only the places that need it – keeping
the course at its maximum health (no brown spots, or over watered
areas) and conserving water.
Rates:
April to October: $155
November: $100
December to March: Monday – Thursday $70; Friday
– Sunday $85
All rates apply to individual and group play and include a shared
cart.
For Group Tee Times call (707) 257-5460
For Individual Tee Times
call (707) 257-5444
Don’t forget to review Silverado’s web site for special offers,
include golf widow’s spa treatments: www.silveradoresort.com
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