Oakland and Napa

[al3h]

Course suggestions?

I'll be heading out to Oakland for a wedding at the end of June and will be getting in a couple of days early to play a few rounds in the area. I'll actually be staying up in Napa before coming back to Berkley for the wedding over the weekend.

1) I get into Oakland at noon on Tuesday and want to get 18 in during that afternoon. I figure it will take me at least an hour to pick up my luggage and the rental car so I was wondering if there any suggestions of where I should play? I know there are a few courses near the airport. Are they worth it? Or how about 2PM tee time for Tilden Park? Any other possibilities? Or would it be too much of a trek to get a round in up at Napa before the day ends?

2) I will probably play 36 on Wednesday. Looking at Hiddenbrooke and Eagle Vines. What do you guys think about those choices?

3) Thursday, I'll be heading back to SF for an afternoon Giants game. Is there anywhere I can get 9 holes in during the morning before driving south?

4) I'm not sure what other obligations I will have with the family on Friday and Saturday but if I can, I would like to play 18 each morning . I have read that pace of play can be a problem especially during the weekend at many of the courses in the East Bay area. Any course suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
Anthony

[ceyoung]

Metropolitan Golf Links (Johnny Miller course) is right near the airport. I haven't made the trip yet, but hear it is very good. Reasonably priced too. Better bet than playing Tilden. Takes a while to get up the hills, but the view is nice from the top.

Hiddenbrooke is really good. Depending on your handicap, but if you're under 8 you'll want to play the back tees. It's short but tricky and the greens are very tough. I'd recommend the yardage book cause there are a couple blind tee shots so better to know where you're going.

Never played Eagle Vines. Chardonnay is in Napa and supposed to be good as well.

Livermore has Poppy Ridge (NCGA home course with 3 9's) and Wente (Nationwide tour stop). Both are very good, most people like Wente better. I prefer Poppy, mainly because I think Wente isn't worth $110. Expect 4.5 - 5 hours at Poppy on a weekend. Wente will be more like 4-4.5 hours. Unless you go out really early it'll be slow. Tee it at like 7-730 and you'll be 3.5-4 hours.

Calippe in Pleasanton is fun too. I prefer Poppy and Wente though.

Tony Lema might be worth looking at, but the only time I've played it it was like 6 hours on a weeekend. Never went back.

Bridges in San Ramon is the toughest course in the area, and can be unfair.

[sharkiesj]

Call Silverado Resort and see if you can play there. Senior Tour used to play there and they loved the place. The North has recently been restored by Johnny Miller and looks really, really good. The South might be for members only? Not quite sure about that but if you're up in Napa, you've gotta try and play here.

One other side note. Will you be in the Napa area on Fri. or Sat? The reason is the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi is located up Howell Mtn. Road and down into Pope Valley. It's called Aetna Springs (nine hole course) but has recently been renovated by Tom Doak and a round there will certainly take you back in time for history's sake. They are only open on Fri. and Saturdays though, but it's a place only a true golf lover can appreciate. It will bring out the adventurer in you and you can lay claim to playing the oldest game on one old course!

Other than that, ceyoung covered everything well.

[scotchblade]

I'm looking forward to the new Silverado. Not sure if it is limited to resort guests and members though. They don't send me email specials anymore. Before the Senior Tour, it was a PGA Tour stop - the Kaiser International.

By the way, the burgers served at the halfway houses are the same as the ones you get at the Olympic Club...same vendor. Yum!

[RoscoeCoaltrain]

I play at Silverado every year (both north and south). The north is better course. Lots more elevation change and shotmaking needed. The south course has more water and I believe is longer. Both good tracks though. And yes, the burgers are to die for.