Chardonnay Golf Club: A Fabulous Setting, Special Ambience, and Stellar Service

We experienced Chardonnay early one spectacular morning this summer. Making up the 27- hole tract are the aptly named nines: Vineyards, Lakes, Meadows that wind through 150 acres of Chardonnay, Syrah, and Merlot vineyards and feature numerous lakes, creek crossings, and a wide variety of native flora and fauna. Several areas of the property are designed as wildlife habitat. As the little creatures awoke on this morning we saw rabbits and several species of birds, including a beautiful hawk, several egrets and graceful herons. The groundskeeper told us that he even sees a golden eagle occasionally.

With spectacular flowers everywhere on top of the native plants, our senses were bombarded. We left the clubhouse on our way to tackle the course, which unlike virtually all courses today, is not set in a residential community, and literally dropped into nature. Welcome to priceless beauty at the gateway to the world-famous Napa Valley. We did stop snapping pictures long enough to play golf! And with the slope of the nines at 141, 137, and 136 we had to pay attention. There are some elevation changes which provide spectacular views of the surrounding Jamieson Canyon, but most of the slope rating comes on the greens. There is an interesting combination of green sizes throughout the tract. There are very large greens such as the enormous Lakes’ #4 with 5 tiers, small greens such as the one at the end of a very tight fairway on the Vineyards’ #7 hole, and the very wide but shallow #8, a scenic par-3 beauty on the Vineyards nine.

Most of the bunkers have been totally renovated recently and come into play most spectacularly on the Vineyards nine, eight of those holes being taken from what used to be the private Shakespeare Course. The third and fourth holes have a combined 14 bunkers!

There are three par-3’s and three par-5’s on the Lakes which ends with one of those par 5’s sporting another three-tiered green sitting very near the trees and in front of a huge bunker. The Meadows nine starts and ends with par-5s. In the middle are two par- 3s that require negotiating through an opening in the oak trees and over the vineyard. The sixth hole is a long par 5 that doglegs right around a large bunker with a creek that forces you to make a ‘go’ or ‘lay- up’ decision as you ponder another large green with huge oaks on the left. Each of these nine hole courses have their own distinct character and obviously will test the skills of all levels of golfers. If those skills need to be honed, there is also a 50-station driving range and full practice facility. The Kris Moe Golf School is well established at Chardonnay and will design a program of instruction that is right for each individual or group. The John Jacobs

School is also on property to cater to instructional needs.

The facility itself is also multifaceted as it caters to the individual golfer, plays host to hundreds of tournaments and group golf outings annually, and has seen hundreds of brides and grooms celebrate their wedding on the property. The facility boasts five venues: the View Bar and Grill, the Banquet Dining Room, the Patio Lounge, Moonlight Grove, and the Chardonnay Room. With amenities ranging from sunset verandas to fireplaces and the ability to accommodate anywhere from a small group of 12 to a large group of over 400, Chardonnay has the flexibility to handle a wide variety of activities both indoors and outdoors.

After the round we spoke to Rick Voigt, Director of Tournament Sales. He stressed that service and ambience were the motto of the entire staff. “Whether playing a round with your favorite foursome, taking part in a corporate golf outing, or spending your wedding day here, Chardonnay Golf Club’s management team and staff are dedicated to assisting you with every phase of the event and making your experience at this facility a pleasant and memorable one.”