Wente Vineyards

Napa Valley is the most popular wine tourism destination in the United States...so what is one to do if their winery doesn’t fall within that famous region? Although Wente Vineyards is renowned for its products, management must have assumed that adding a championship golf course to the brand’s offerings couldn’t hurt in luring tourists from the more famous valley to the north, to this establishment located more directly west of the San Francisco Bay.

They brought in Greg Norman to inject some of his noted heroism into the design, which can be seen from the very first tee. This is one of a few that involve launching the ball down into the valley below. No. 8 may be the most notable of the descending holes; although the drop from tee to green on this par three is not the most dramatic on the course, it does feature an alluring backdrop, showing off numerous holes well below the one in play. Don’t get distracted!

When one isn’t traveling downhill, they can admire the surrounding ridges that define the lightly mountainous region. The course is an 18-hole loop, not returning to the clubhouse until the round is complete.