By David R. Holland
NAPA, CA — At every dogleg, at every stray shot one might strike, the golfer can’t miss the stunning, 100-year-old-plus oaks and redwood trees that line the fairways of Silverado Resort & Spa’s North and South Golf Courses.
These massive trees loom large.
But so does the hospitality one finds at Silverado for September’s annual Fortinet Championship. PGA Tour player Justin Thomas is certainly a fan.
“The overall experience at Silverado is exceptional, the resort and course conditions were outstanding at this Troon-affiliated destination,” said Team Troon Ambassador Thomas in 2019. “We appreciated all of the hospitality; it was a great week at Silverado Resort and Spa.”
When the galleries return to Silverado every September they experience the best of Napa with world-class culinary and wine experiences, music shows, incredible golf, and it’s the tastiest stop on tour.
Fortinet Championship fans love the event too and it was voted the most fan-friendly event on the PGA TOUR.
Silverado Resort & Spa
Thanks to its hilly terrain and dry Mediterranean climate, Napa Valley has been making its mark as a world-leading wine region since the early 1800s.
Set on 1,200 rolling acres of oak groves and vineyards, the resort combines luxurious accommodations with state-of-the-art business facilities, world-class dining, full-service spa experiences, and endless recreational possibilities both onsite and in the surrounding valley.
Silverado was opened in April of 1967, but before that it was a private estate for 150 years. Specifically, today’s contemporary resort has 345 guest rooms and suites, a 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center plus 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
Today, there are more than 375 wineries and estates across the region, including the famous Beringer, Castello di Amorosa, and Domaine Carneros.
Naturally, your visit should include tours of the wineries’ vineyards, wine cellars, and mansions are a must, but what many look forward to most is having samples of their finest bottles lined up in front of us at the end.
But, in addition, the Napa Valley landscape does more than just produce countless wines, it evokes a sense of adventure. From hot springs and geysers to hiking trails, it’s all about the great outdoors in Northern California.
The golf courses of Silverado
Silverado’s North and South championship layouts are the premier courses of the Napa Valley. Milliken Creek comes into play along with the countless old-growth trees.
The North Course measures out to 6,793 yards and the South Course is a 6,685-yard gem. On the North Course No. 5 is the most confounding hole for the pros. It is a double dogleg par 5, 536 yards, that requires precise shots all the way.
The South Course finishes with a crescendo. The par-5, 18th-hole concludes below the Mansion Terrace. If you hole a long putt you just might get some cheers from folks sitting outside having a drink and some appetizers.
Bringing the South Course’s playing conditions to match the North Course has been a goal of Director of Club Operations Cody Sherrill and his staff. So when Silverado was named Course of the Year by the 2022 National Golf Owners Association (NGCOA) for Region 4 the staff took a victory lap.
Other recent renovations include large practice putting and chipping greens and a full-length driving range as well as a pro shop, equipment and electric or pushcart rentals, a private practice area and locker rooms.
New tech-centric golf carts have GPS, Bluetooth music and the capability for golfers to order food and drink while on the course.
Professional lessons for juniors and the Bird Golf Academy can help with golf game improvement. There are multi-day schools for adults and the Silverado Junior Golf Academy is excellent.
Golfers can get an easy snack or quick meal at the on-course Snack Shack — home to the famous Silverado Burgerdog, available on both golf courses.
For before and after golf dining, The Grill offers sweeping golf course views and classic American-style fare with indoor and outdoor seating and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How about other dining opportunities? The Silverado Market and Bakery offers soups, sandwiches, home-baked goods, snacks, coffee, local wines, craft beers and picnic items.
This specialty market is the perfect place to grab a meal or stock the fully equipped guest suite kitchens and kitchenettes.
Probably a favorite is the Forno Pizza option at Silverado Market with its outdoor wood-fired oven.
The Boost Café offers salads, sandwiches, fruit juices and smoothies.
The Spa at Silverado
Spanning 16,000 square feet, this great amenity offers luxury spa treatments and endless opportunities for a renewal. Enjoy fantastic massage service, couples massage, facials and a relaxing pool area away from the crowds of the main resort.
Silverado awards? There’s a bunch:
2022 Northern California PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Resort
2022 NGCOA Regional Course of the Year (Region 4)
2021 Golfweek’s Top 200 Resort Golf Courses
2020 Best Golf Course – Napa Valley Life Magazine
2020 Course of the Year – California Golf Course Owners Association
2020 Northern California Best Playing Conditions – GreensKeeper.org
Continuous winner of Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) Platinum Award since 2013
Silverado is forever upgrading the experience and coming next includes a 3-year project to improve golf cart paths, update meeting space, Mansion Guestroom renovation, golf shop enhancements and spa improvements.
In the Napa Valley it doesn’t get any better than Silverado.
