Suggestions - Napa Holiday

[spoonhead]

Wine touring combined with golf

Hi Guys

We are planning on going down to the Napa area for a wine tour this spring, April or May. I was hoping that someone could recommend some wine related activities. The other issue is that I will be playing golf with 2 other guys that are going to shoot around 100, and I would like to take them to courses that their games are suited to.(my game won't be that sharp :rolleyes: , golf in April is pretty rare in my part of Canada)

I have searched in the WRX forums, and have a good idea of what golf courses I would like to play, but any suggestions as to whether April or May is a better time of year, and any insight into what to do in the wine region would be appreciated.

This is going to be 3 couples in their 50's +/- 3 years for 10 days.

Also, how long is the drive to Monterey? Thought I might try to play Pasatiempo as a treat and a look at Pebble Beach.

Thanks for any info.

[Inochi]

I won't be of very much help answering questions about the good courses in napa since I have never played there but I can answer some of your other questions.

April and May for the most part will be the same with weather. Though we do get "April Showers" which do not last very long. So May would be a better bet for dry weather.

Monterey is about 3 hours away, south.

If you can spare a couple days I would recommend going to Monterey/Carmel and enjoying time there as well as some golf.

[lvphil702]

Eagle Vines would be a good choice for a course. Kinda cool since the back 9 meanders through vineyards...plus it's not that over priced for Napa. Don't overlook the Sonoma County courses either. It's a short drive for better prices...and great wine to boot. Remember, in Sonoma we make wine, in Napa they make auto parts.

 

 

3 hours is about right to Monterrey but keep in mind when you go....Bay Area freeways can be hell. Don't just make a day trip out of it, spend a few days in Monterrey.

[spoonhead]

Thanks guys, I think a couple of days in Monterey would be nice, I will suggest that to the others. I must confess, that my wine knowledge is mostly European, I have been drinking California wines without paying much attention to them. I loves my Zinfandel, and Merlot and Cabernet. Now I have to find out who gives out the best tours and tastings.
I have been to Covina CA and Seattle, man thats going to be tough traffic to beat, but we will make sure to plan of it.

Thanks again

Spoonhead

[lvphil702]

For a really good cave tour try Pine Ridge on the Silverado Trail. Beringer is a good tour. Once you've done one tour you've really done them all.

You might want to head over to Geyserville to check out Coppolas place. He has most of his movie memorabilia there now.

[pappaf2]

I would agree that April or May would both be great times to go the Napa Sonoma area. May might be a little better weather. I agree with lvphil720 in that you should try to get over to sonoma county if you can. They have great wines, that is where we go tasting mostly. Also if you want you can head a little more towards the coast and hit the Russian River Valley area. As far as courses to play up there I've only played one in the area. I played the executive 18 at Oakmont in Santa Rosa and thought it was a nice course.

If you think you are going to Sonoma to taste I suggest Imagery Winery. They make fantastic wines and many varietals of wine that would won't see many other places.

[slocagolfer]

If wine testing is going to be a major part of your trip and you are interested in checking the Monterey Bay area, you can combine the two. There's plenty of wineries in that area. http://www.montereywines.org/ might provide you with some ideas. If you do go there, by all means check out Pebble.

[ProjectX]

Eagle Vines and Chardonnay are both great courses and are right door to each other on Highway 12. They can play 7000 yards from the Tips and be a challenge or there are about 5 tee boxes on each course so golfers of all levels can enjoy the round. Both courses wrap in and out of the vineyards in the area which makes for some interesting play.

 

Hiddenbrooke is probably the most raved about course in the area. Just a short drive east to Vallejo and you can play an Arnold Palmer signature course.

 

Pasatiempo is actually in Santa Cruz which is about a half hour North of Monterey which is closer to Napa/Sonoma anyways. For about half the price though you can get on the e-mail list at Half Moon Bay Golf Links and play two of the nicest courses in the area and I'm sure the women will enjoy the coast. Half Moon Bay is about and hour and a half from Napa/Sonoma.

 

Half Moon Bay Ocean Course #18

 

 

Half Moon Bay Old Course #18

 

 

That is the Ritz Carlton in the back drop. They have some wonderful stay and play packages as well.

 

Bottom line, you won't have trouble finding good wine or good golf in Northern California.

[scotchblade]

Have you looked into Silverado? It's right in Napa. Golf and Spa Resort. I'm sure they have packages. Get on their email list.

http://www.silveradoresort.com/

[chickenpotpie]

If you have time, try to go up towards Healdsburg at the northern end of the Sonoma valley. Its a nice little town with some character, and some good wineries. I like Rosenblum personally, and they have some really good Zins. And some of them are actually affordable! My wife and I regret having this be the last stop on our trip, because we probably would have spent a little more time there I think. Sonoma is pretty laid back...we liked it better than Napa. That said, if you want big Cabs, tthen Napa's the place to go. We found a cool place, almost right across from the big Mondavi estate called Sawyer Cellars. We stopped there on a whim, just because of its name (also my son's name). They taste by appt only, but they were very gracious and served us. We've bought several cases since, and are now planning to buy one of their large formats to keep for awhile.

 

I recently played the Old Course at Half Moon Bay. The last two holes were spectacular. The rest was just OK. Very soggy, with new houses lining every fairway. Not very "old course-ish" in my opinion. #18 was a blast. I hit a wicked slice that went perfectly straight because of the wind off the ocean.

[spoonhead]

Thanks for the input, I will get on the Silverado mailing list, looks promising. The brother in law is thinking Laguna Seca might be fun to check out, so I may get down to see Pebble Beach!
Anyone know if Bodega Harbour is any good? Looks interesting and the price is right, thinking it would be nice to take the high handicaps to play.

Thanks

[scotchblade]

[quote name='spoonhead' timestamp='1294786631' post='2889657']
Bodega Harbour is any good? Looks interesting and the price is right, thinking it would be nice to take the high handicaps to play.
[/quote]
The opening nine is not good for high handicaps! The back nine is more friendly. It was originally a nine hole course and the back was it. Then they added nine more and they are some hard holes, quite severe, steep elevation changes, mounding, I don't really care for them. The area is beautiful. Hitchcock filmed The Birds there and it's worth a drive if only to have lunch and take in the scenery.

[_MS22_]

As far as courses go I can not comment but I'll PM you an attachment I made for my uncle on his recent trip to Napa based on a few trips I've made myself on which wineries to favor over one another. And they are not all the same! Honestly. Even head over to the WS forum and get some opinions.

[spoonhead]

Thanks for the great responses. We are going to be going the end of this month, and I am really looking forward to playing.(and [s]drinking[/s] tasting wine) I will take a handfull of the recomendations made here with me and see what happens.
I will try to give a mini report when we get back home.