Napa Valley is usually about the juice. You go there for the Cabernet, the Michelin stars, and the rolling hills that look like a postcard from Tuscany. But for a specific breed of traveler, the real draw isn't in a bottle. It’s on the tee box. Specifically, the tee boxes at Silverado Resort.
Silverado isn't just another resort course. It’s got history that smells like old leather and cedar.
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The place has been a fixture of the PGA Tour for years, most notably as the home of the Fortinet Championship (formerly the Safeway Open). When you walk onto the North Course, you aren't just playing a weekend round; you're walking the same narrow, oak-lined fairways where Johnny Miller—who actually owned part of the resort for a while—cemented his legacy. It’s intimidating. It’s beautiful. Honestly, it’s a bit of a heartbreaker if your driver is acting up.
The Tale of Two Courses: North vs. South
Most people think "Silverado" and think of the North Course because that's what they see on TV. But the resort is a 36-hole monster.
The North Course is the alpha. It’s longer, coming in at about 7,166 yards from the tips. Robert Trent Jones Jr. put his fingerprints all over this place in the late 60s, and then Johnny Miller came back in 2011 to freshen things up. What did Miller do? He made it tighter. He tucked the bunkers. He made it so that if you aren't hitting it straight, you’re basically playing from the forest. It’s a ball-striker’s dream and a slicer’s nightmare.
Then there’s the South Course.
Don't call it the "easier" one. That’s a mistake. While it’s shorter (around 6,612 yards), it’s much more technical. It’s quirkier. You’ve got more water to deal with and some seriously awkward lies. If the North Course is a power hitter’s game, the South is for the person who knows how to work a wedge. It’s "resort golf" in the sense that it’s pretty, but it’ll still take your lunch money if you get complacent.
Why the North Course Rules the Conversation
There is something visceral about playing a PGA Tour-tested track. You stand on the 18th hole, a par five that looks reachable on paper, and you realize the pressure of the narrow corridor. The trees here are massive. Centuries-old oaks that don't care about your $600 driver. They will swat your ball down without a second thought.
The greens are another story entirely. They’re fast. They are often described as "poa annua," which basically means they get a little bumpy as the sun goes down and the grass grows. Pros complain about it; locals just learn to read the grain. If you can putt well at Silverado in the afternoon, you can putt anywhere.
The Reality of Staying at Silverado
Let’s be real for a second. Silverado is an older property. It’s got that classic, "Old California" vibe. This isn't a glass-and-steel modern monstrosity. It’s spread out. You stay in condos or "fairway homes."
Some people find the layout a bit annoying because you might have to drive your car or take a shuttle from your room to the pro shop. It’s not a centralized hotel tower. But the upside? You feel like you live there. Waking up with a coffee on a patio that overlooks the 4th fairway while the dew is still on the grass? That’s the "lifestyle" part of the silverado resort and spa golf experience that people pay for.
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The spa itself is massive—one of the biggest in Napa. 16,000 square feet. After 18 holes of getting beat up by Johnny Miller’s bunkers, you kind of need it. The "Golf Performance Massage" isn't just a fancy name; they actually try to work out the knots in your lead shoulder.
What Nobody Tells You About the Wind
Napa gets a "marine layer." That’s a fancy way of saying it’s foggy and chilly in the morning. When that wind kicks up through the valley in the afternoon, the North Course changes completely.
A hole that played like a gentle par four at 8:00 AM becomes a grueling slog by 2:00 PM. You have to account for the heavy air. Your ball just doesn't travel as far here as it does in the desert or even in the Central Valley. Most amateurs under-club at Silverado. They see the yardage and forget the atmosphere.
Pricing and Access: The "Private-Public" Hybrid
Silverado used to be much more exclusive. Now, it’s accessible, but it’s still "Napa pricing." Expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $400 for a round on the North Course depending on the season and whether you’re staying at the resort.
Is it worth it?
If you’re a golf geek, yes. Just to say you’ve played the same holes as Rahm or Homa. If you’re a casual golfer who just wants to drink wine and hit a few balls, the South Course is probably your better bet. It’s a bit more relaxed, a bit more "vacation vibes."
- Pro Tip: Look for "Stay and Play" packages. Booking the room and golf separately is almost always a losing move financially.
- The Burger Dog: You cannot go to Silverado and not eat a Burger Dog. It’s a hot-dog-shaped hamburger served at the snack shack. It’s a Northern California golf tradition that started at the Olympic Club, but Silverado does it justice. It’s probably the best thing you’ll eat all day, especially if your scorecard is looking rough.
The Technical Side: Managing the Course
If you want to score well, you have to realize that the North Course is all about the "leave." You cannot miss long. The bunkering behind the greens is treacherous.
- Off the Tee: Leave the driver in the bag on the tightest par fours. A 3-wood in the fairway is infinitely better than a driver in the mulch.
- The Rough: It’s thick. This isn't wispy resort rough. It’s grabby. If you miss the fairway, don't try to be a hero. Take your medicine, wedge it out, and try to save par with your short game.
- The Par 3s: They are deceptive. The 11th hole on the North Course is a beast. It’s long, usually plays into a breeze, and the green is protected by a hungry bunker on the left.
Silverado demands respect. It’s not a "bomber’s paradise" where you can just spray it everywhere and find your ball. It’s a chess match.
Common Misconceptions About Silverado
People often think because it's in Napa, the courses must be flat. Nope. While it’s not mountainous, there is plenty of elevation change, especially on the South Course. You’ll have side-hill lies that will make you question your stance.
Another myth is that it’s always sunny. It’s Napa—it rains. In the winter, the course can get quite soft. If you’re playing between November and March, don't expect much roll on the fairways. On the flip side, the course stays incredibly green when the rest of California is turning brown.
Beyond the 18th Green
When you’re done with the silverado resort and spa golf experience, you’re literally minutes from some of the best wineries in the world. Signorello is right there. Darioush is down the road. You can finish your round at 4:00 PM and be at a tasting by 4:30 PM.
That’s the real draw. It’s the pairing. Golf and wine are the two pillars of the Napa lifestyle, and nowhere else does the integration feel quite as seamless as it does here. You aren't just at a golf resort; you're at the epicenter of Wine Country.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- Book the North Course for the morning: Avoid the afternoon winds and the "bumpier" poa annua greens. You'll get the best conditions and have the rest of the day for wine.
- Check the PGA schedule: They usually close the North Course for a few weeks before the tournament in September for maintenance. Don't get caught booking a trip when the premier course is closed.
- Bring your "A" game for the par fives: They are the only places where you can really make up ground on the North Course. The par fours are too stout to count on birdies.
- Walk if you can: The North Course is a great walk. It’s relatively flat and much more immersive than buzzing around in a cart. Plus, it helps work off the inevitable wine and cheese from the night before.
- Visit the Academy: If your swing is feeling "off," the Silverado Golf Academy is actually top-tier. They have some of the best instructors in Northern California who deal specifically with the "resort golfer" funk.
Silverado remains a benchmark for California golf. It’s not as flashy as Pebble Beach, and it’s not as rugged as Pasatiempo. It’s refined. It’s challenging. It’s a place where the history of the game feels alive in every gnarled oak tree. Just remember to bring extra balls—the trees have a habit of keeping souvenirs.