You’ll get little argument that California’s Wine Country is one of the
most romantic spots you’re likely to find in the US. The mere mention
of a Wine Country Weekend conjures images of a handholding, shop-strolling,
cracker-and-cheese nibbling, bubbly-sipping extravaganza. It’s
a Couple’s Paradise.
But what about a foursome? Not talking here about double
dating; talking instead about four guys looking for fun in Wine
Country — namely, the kind of fun that can only be found on 18
holes. In addition to the couple’s thing and the girl’s spa weekend, Wine
Country is a great destination for a guy’s getaway. In today’s world of
the metrosexual, the pampered guy is not unusual in these parts. There are
dozens of places in the region where men can find their bliss, whether in
the mud, the steam, or on the massage table.
Usually, however, the aforementioned
involves a romantic partner. No, when it comes time for guys
to get out for a swinging good time, they usually head for the golf course.
Napa and Sonoma are great places for a guy’s weekend getaway. The valley
golf courses provide enough challenge and drama to keep golfers of all abilities
interested. And when the round is done, the guys are within a chip shot
of some of the world’s best man-size steaks and cabernets.
Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa is one of my favorite choices for
a round with the guys. It’s affordable, fun, and diverse. It’s
comprised of three 9-hole courses, allowing you to perfectly
tailor your day: play only 9 or play all 27, depending on how
long you want to wait before the martini.
Equally well known in Napa
is Silverado Resort, where your group can chose between the two
18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed courses. The courses play among
ponds, lakes, and creeks; with tricky trees coming factoring into several
holes. For the post-round cocktail and dinner, Silverado has two good choices:
the recently refurbished Royal Oak, and the venerable Grill at
Silverado, a casual atmosphere ideal for lying to your friends about your
score.
Also worth considering in Napa is the Napa Golf Course at
Kennedy Park, an excellent municipal course designed by Jack
Fleming along the banks of the Napa River. Beautiful and affordable,
this verdant, oak-studded course gives every skill level in
your group a chance for a memorable round.
In Sonoma the standard-bearer
for the game is Sonoma Golf Club, at the gracious Sonoma Mission
Inn. Straight, flat, and with wide fairways, it’ll cause the big
hitters in your group to salivate uncontrollably. That is, of course, until
they get onto the green and watch their putts go rolling wildly left and
right – yes, they’re that tough to read.
Easier, and arguably
more fun to read are menus. After the round, the guy’s getaway
gets into gear at one of Wine Country’s many places for a dry martini
and dry-aged steak. My favorites are Saddles in Sonoma and Cole’s
Chop House in downtown Napa. Saddles, located at MacArthur Place
Hotel, is an excellent post-round watering hole. Serious bartenders pour
serious martinis into huge glasses, and the dining room—unfussy
and barnlike—is the perfect setting for huge steaks expertly prepared. A
side order of steak fries is mandatory for every golfer.
In Napa, though it’s not super convenient to any golf course,
Cole’s Chop House is worth the effort. Start with a round of
‘maintenance free’ martinis (what could be more apt for a guys-only
weekend), served with blue-cheese stuff olives. Before long
you’ll be forgetting about those bad shots and digging in to
one of 21 dry-aged steaks on offer, all served unadorned and
just the way guys like it.
Of Swings and Steaks