April/May 2014 63 LEFT TO RIGHT: COURTESY OF EAGLE VINES VINEYARDS & GOLF CLUB; COURTESY OF SONOMA VALLEY VISITORS BUREAU; COURTESY OF OXBOW PUBLIC MARKET THE VITALS • STATS Eagle Vines Vineyards & Golf Club, 580 Kelly Road, American Canyon (Napa Valley). 7,297 yards from tips, 18 holes, par 72, rating/slope 75.1/136. Green fees $69 Monday-Thursday; $89 Friday-Sunday; twilight rates. Golf shop, 707/257-4470, www. eaglevinesgolfclub.com. • SIP The final treat at Eagle Vines comes after your round of golf at the Eagle Vines Bar & Grill adjacent to the pro shop. Enjoy a glass of Eagle Vines chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon made from grapes grown alongside the golf course. The term “locally grown” doesn’t get much more local than this. The Grill provides a full menu and outstanding service. • SUP La Toque, located at the nearby Westin Verasa in central Napa, features contemporary French cuisine while taking full advantage of the region’s prodigious bounty of organic meats and fresh produce. The menu complements an extensive wine catalog featuring 1,800 bottles and by-the-glass selections. The restaurant is perennial winner of The Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Reservations recommended: 707/257-5157, www.LaToque.com. • STAY The Westin Verasa Napa offers golf packages with local golf courses, including Eagle Vines Vineyard & Golf Club. Package includes a complimentary round of golf for tee times Monday-Thursday before 8 a.m. or after 1 p.m.; $50 off green fee outside those hours. Package is good for stays Sunday-Wednesday, April-November. Room rates start at $244. Rooms are large, comfortable and well appointed. The hotel includes a fitness studio, saltwater pool and hot tub, spa services, the Bank Café and Bar and La Toque restaurant. Complimentary valet parking. For more information and reservations: 888/627-7169, www. westinnapa.com. • SEE View Napa Valley from the luxury of a historic Pullman train car while sipping a flight of varietals on the Napa Valley Wine Train, which boards within walking distance of the Westin. Lunch and dinner trains run regularly. For schedules and reservations: 707/253-2111, www.winetrain.com. Take an early morning excursion to nearby Calistoga, where you can soar over the valley in a hot air balloon. Contact Calistoga Balloon Napa Valley: 707/942-5758, www.calistogaballoons. com. Or browse the intriguing indoor Oxbow Public Market about one block from the hotel. NAPA VALLEY EAGLE VINES VINEYARDS & GOLF CLUB Set in beautiful Napa Valley, Eagle Vines takes full advantage of its location. Its name is your first clue: Eagles—the birds, not necessarily the score—are a common sight. And acres of grapevines are plentiful as you venture around this 7,297-yard course designed by former procum TV golf expert Johnny Miller. In fact, estate-grown chardonnay is produced from the grapes growing at holes No. 3 and No. 4, while the vines at hole No. 17 yield the fruit for cabernet sauvignon. The routing here is a big part of the fun, taking you among the vines on a rolling path marked by intriguing golf holes and super vistas of the valley. The first 10 holes are especially picturesque, including a waterfall, flower gardens, elevated tees and uniquely shaped greens. Some holes were once part of Club Shakespeare Napa Valley, a private course for nearby Chardonnay Golf Club members. The sale of real estate and re-routing of Chardonnay Golf Club in 2004 set the stage for Eagle Vines. The result certainly benefits golfers, who can be thankful that these holes were preserved. Of particular note is the island green at No. 6, a 165-yard par-3 from the tips. Although the hole may appear intimidating, it is rated an 18-handicap. The shot is an easy toss. The following hole, No. 7, is even more of a visual treat—a 396-yard par-4 that skirts along a rambling hillside down to a distant green, bordered by a vineyard to the left with views of the hills in the background. This is a postcard setting and a manageable par 4. If you must wait on the tee, consider it a photo opportunity. In addition to the grounds, several small lakes come into play and serve to enhance the scenery as well as refine your shot selections. The final 18th hole is a short par-5, less than 400 yards and an opportunity to win back a stroke. THE WESTIN VERASA NAPA OXBOW PUBLIC MARKET
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2014
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