"If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. I've loved this course from the first time I saw it. It's possibly the best in the world." ~ Jack Nicklaus
I totally agree with Jack Nicklaus! From the panorama of a blue-green sea and wind-swept cypresses, Pebble Beach calls to me every year. As there is so much to do in this part of California, my wife loves to accompany me on these golf vacations, giving us an added bonus for our own relationship.
This time, as we’ve visited the sights of Carmel and Monterey often, on our latest jaunt, we chose to explore the famed Napa wine area. Spring turned out to be an ideal time to visit as the temperatures were moderate and the peak tourist season (May to October) was still a ways off.
There were so many high points that I can only share a few that really stood out on this golf trip:
What would a Napa trip be without winery tours? Sure we stopped at several boutique wineries for tastings throughout our stay, but for a deeper introduction to wine-making, we really got a lot out of our tour at a winery where we followed the grape’s journey from the vineyard to the cellar to the finished wine. I was taken enough by the Fume Blanc to buy a whole case! My wife was snapping away with her camera nonstop as the sheer beauty of the area is incredible.
Great wines mean great dining, and we were lucky to get a reservation for the highly touted restaurant in Yountville. After a day of sight-seeing, we found it very peaceful to settle into the golden sunset haze that infused the dining room as we embarked on a 9-course culinary adventure, each delicious dish carefully paired with a complementary (but alas not complimentary!) wine.
The next day as part of a golf package, I had my day on the links at the Eagle Vines Golf course in American Canyon. Designed by Johnny Miller, it only opened a few years ago with 18 holes and 7,283 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72, and some of the best views you’ll ever have!
Meanwhile my wife let her inner artist out, dabbling in landscape painting with a private lesson at Alla Prima. Her surprisingly good oil rendition of a Napa hillside scene hangs on our wall as a treasured reminder of one of our best golf vacations ever. Maybe next time she’ll make it a painting of a golf course!
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