JAN/FEB 2007
Combining golf and grapes
By David Haugh 

Golf and beer anybody? No problem finding volunteers in Wisconsin ready and willing. How about golf and wine? Maybe not quite as many takers, but with the steady increase in wine sales throughout Wisconsin, Bacchus, the god of wine, is making his mark in the land where beer reigns supreme. So if you happen to be one of those who likes the idea of playing a round or two while enjoying a round or two with jolly ol’ Bacchus, then perhaps a trip to Sonoma, Calif. – home to world-renowned wine and some impressive golf – might be an ideal late-winter excursion.

While Wisconsinites anxiously wait for winter to give way to spring, the grass is never so green and lovely as it is in late February through April in Sonoma County. It’s also a time of the year when the wineries and their tasting rooms aren’t crawling with people, nor are the golf courses jam-packed with players, making it an ideal time of the year to visit.

Here are a few suggestions for those interested in mixing golf with their grapes:

Sonoma GC Sonoma

 A “classic” in every sense of the word, Sonoma GC was designed in 1928 by the famed golf architectural duo of Sam Whitting and Willie Watson, best known for creating the prominent Olympic Club in San Francisco, host to a number of U.S. Opens.

Originally built as the Olympic Club’s “sister course,” accommodating those visiting the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, Sonoma GC is the home of the Champions Tour season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship held each year in late October. Jay Haas, the 2006 Champions Tour player of the year, said in a recent interview on the Golf Channel that, “Sonoma is one of the best courses our tour plays all year.”

And many less-than-tour-caliber golfers will share Haas’ enthusiasm for Sonoma GC. Although the course stretches to a formidable 7,100 yards, the rough is usually trimmed to a player-friendly length, and the views of the bordering Mayacamas Mountains and rolling vineyards have a way of making players of all levels forget about the wayward shots.

Many of the holes stand out as good tests, but one in particular caught the admiration of another well known golfer – the late, great Sam Snead. A number of Sonoma locals tell the tale of when “back in the day” the golf icon once remarked to a San Francisco Chronicle reporter how much he liked the layout of the golf course, and in particular, was fond of the par-3, 220-yard seventh. The hole sits in a little glen, having the look of an outdoor amphitheater, with bunkers surrounding the green while a creek runs along the right side.

Although a private golf course, hotel guests staying at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa are welcome to play. Check out the packages offered by the resort by visiting: www.fairmont.com/ sonoma.

There are a number of wineries to hit after your round within 15 minutes of the golf course and the resort. To name a few – and there are many more – worth the visit: Benzinger Winery, best known for making distinct Cabernets; Buena Vista Winery, which has the unique distinction of being the oldest winery in California (est. 1857), and Chateau St. Jean Winery, celebrated for its Chardonnay and offering a spectacular outdoor setting to sit and sip among the hills and vineyards.

Fountaingrove Golf and Athletic Club Santa Rosa

 Secluded glens, numerous granite outcroppings, old oak trees, and even wild turkeys, characterize this distinguished Ted Robinson-designed golf course. Voted four-and-a-half stars in Golf Digest’s 2006 “Places To Play,” Fountaingrove has established itself as one of Sonoma County’s premier golf courses.

The course has a rather spread out feel; it only has a few fairways and holes that run parallel to each other, making for a unique, wide-open country-like experience while remaining within the city of Santa Rosa. A good number of the shots feature elevation changes, demanding extra attention to club selection.

At one time a public facility, Fountaingrove recently has become a private club. However, guests staying a mile away at the 124-room Fountaingrove Inn can purchase play and stay golf packages.

The Fountaingrove Inn serves as a great location for the tourist, allowing easy access to the Interstate, downtown Santa Rosa, and to the nearby Wells Fargo Center For The Arts, offering a variety of musical productions throughout the year. Contact the Fountaingrove Inn for details at www.fountaingroveinn.com.

Chardonnay GC Napa

Technically, Chardonnay GC is located in Napa County, near the Sonoma-Napa county line. It’s a short 20-minute drive from the Sonoma Mission Inn Resort and the golfing experience is too good to not mention. And, frankly, with a name like “Chardonnay,” it has to be included in an article such as this.

The facility offers 27 holes of championship golf, meandering around lakes, pesky Fagan Creek, which comes into play repeatedly, and mature Chardonnay and Merlot vineyards. Originally designed in the late 1980s by Algie Pulle, the layout has been reworked by Jack Barry and Johnny Miller. The pair essentially took the two existing 18-hole courses and created a layout that now features three nine-hole courses.

Many of the tees offer awesome views of 100-year-old-plus oak trees, the surrounding Jamieson Canyon, and on a clear day, a glimpse of San Pablo Bay. Each of the nine-hole courses (Lakes, Meadows and Vineyards), offers natural attributes, as their names imply. The Lakes course, however, is also well known for its enormous greens. For example, the 176-yard fourth has a monstrous 22,000-square-foot, four-tiered putting surface. Hitting the green with your tee shot might look good for your greens in regulation stats, but if you’re not close to the hole, well … let’s just say you’ll be left with a unique opportunity to make a par.

For those who love to share the course with wildlife, the property maintains a wildlife preserve alongside the vineyards and fairways. With a little luck, players may have a gallery consisting of fox, bobcat, and even golden eagles.

After the round, be sure to partake in a glass of Chardonnay at the Sandtrap Bar and Grill. Visit: www.chardonnaygolfclub.com.

Northwood GC Monte Rio

 Legendary architect Alister Macken-zie, known for masterpieces such as Augusta National and Cypress Point, crafted a truly special golf course in 1928 in the heart of the Russian River Valley, where golfers must weave their way through and around a majestic redwood forest. Located just outside of the redwood-shaded town of Monte Rio, the nine-hole course was originally built for the members of the exclusive Bohemian Club.

The impressive stature and beauty of the redwoods cannot be overstated, but the giants have a funny way of playing tricks on a golfer’s sense of perception regarding distance. For example, players may strike what they feel is a solid shot off the tee, but as the ball flies down the redwood-lined fairway, an optical illusion occurs which makes it appear as though the ball traveled a much shorter distance than it really did. The same goes for approach shots into the greens, which look as though they’ll come up short. But then, as if somehow defying the laws of nature, the ball falls onto the green (or greenside bunker, as the case may be). Visit: www.northwoodsgolfclub.com.

Have a desire for more experiences among the giants? Then put Armstrong Woods State Reserve on the to-play list. The park, home to trees reaching more than 450 feet, is located only a few miles away from Northwoods GC, just outside of the town of Guerneville. Also, Korbel, famous for its champagne – as well as one of Wisconsin’s favorite libations, brandy – is nearby, along Highway 116.
 
The links at Bodega Harbour Bodega Bay

 “Bodega,” as it is simply referred to by the locals, is about 20 miles west of Northwoods GC, perched along the jagged Sonoma coastline. Combining impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, rolling fairways, undulating greens, and native coastal rough, this golf course offers a Scottish-style links experience.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course enjoys a four-star rating in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” One may look at the scorecard and assume that at only 6,275 yards from the tips, this course plays pretty short. But be forewarned. With dense morning fog giving way to strong afternoon wind, the course can play much longer than expected.

The final hole shines as one of the most challenging on the course. The par-4, 461-yard 18th demands a long, straight tee shot in order to see the green situated far down below. Playing into brisk sea breezes, many golfers scratch their heads wondering what club will produce the right distance. To say the least, many a round has ended with a hard-earned (but exciting) bogey. Check out www.bodegaharbourgolf.com.

Sea Ranch Golf Links, Sea Ranch

If the links-style golf experience is your thing, and if playing Bodega Harbour has whetted your appetite for more of it, then head another 25 miles north to Sea Ranch Golf Links. You’ll definitely feel off the beaten track. You kind of gets the feeling that the mystical character Shivas Irons from Michael Murphy’s “Golf In the Kingdom” might be playing somewhere on the course.  However, if there aren’t any Shivas sightings, odds are in your favor of coming across any number of authors, artists, composers, consultants and others who don’t typically occupy an urban office on a regular basis. In other words, the area is a bit of an artistic community.

The highly regarded golf course architect Robert Muir Graves designed a memorable course at Sea Ranch with a number of unique and challenging holes. One in particular – “Snags,” as it’s commonly known – is a par-5 requiring golfers to contend with two large, dead cypress trees centered in the fairway. If one makes it past the branches unscathed, a testy approach shot to a narrow green protected by bunkers on three sides awaits the next shot.

For a truly scenic aaahhh! moment, be sure to stop and smell the sea salt when stepping off the eighth green. From this vantage point, a picturesque view over the cliffs showcases the Pacific Ocean, the Gualala River, and the quaint artist town of Gualala.

For some wine tasting and more stellar vistas while in the Sea Ranch area, visit Annapolis Winery, a short seven miles from the golf course on Soda Springs Road. The winery is situated on a sunny hilltop 1,000 feet above sea level next to a grove of redwood trees.

Lodging is available at Sea Ranch, and there are bed and breakfast options in the town of Gualala. Visit www.searanchlodge.com for details.

Another option is the Sonoma Coast Golf Trail Triple Play, an offering developed by three Sonoma County golf courses allowing visitors an affordable golf package experience. For $150, green fees are covered at Northwood GC, Bodega Harbour Golf Links and Sea Ranch Golf Links. The Sonoma Coast Golf Trail offers challenging golf among magnificent redwoods and along the rugged Sonoma coastline. Contact any of the participating courses for more info.

Finally, GolfVino Tours can assist travelers who would rather have someone else book their wine tasting tours and rounds of golf in Sonoma County. Through GolfVino Tours, guests may visit preeminent privately-owned wineries, enjoy culinary delights by private chefs and stroll the fairways at exclusive clubs. For more information, go to www.golfvino.com.

So maybe it should be asked again: Golf and wine anybody? Aha! Thought there might be a few more takers other than Bacchus and Shivas.

Want to go to school?

Golf school that is. The Kris Moe Golf Academy offers private and group golf school packages
for those wanting to improve their golfing skills at the hands of some of Northern California’s most respected teachers. The academy has locations at both Sonoma GC and Chardonnay GC. Packages can be custom-made to include lodging, instruction, meals and rounds of golf. Visit: www.krismoegolfschools.com