3 minute read
Wine, Golf, and Friendship
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Lynne Harrosh, Resident since 2008
If you are a golfer, there are few better ways to spend your Friday than playing golf on a challenging and beautiful course in the Livermore Valley and connecting with friends while sipping on award winning wines. The Wente Vineyards offers its guests, golfers and non-golfers, all of that and more.
View from 10th Hole Blue Tee Box, looking out toward Del Valle Dam.
As you make your way towards The Course at Wente, you can spot the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, protected by the lush vines grown by the Wente Family since 1883. Pulling up to the public course will have your senses fooled as you are greeted by an associate who will help you unload your clubs and assign you a golf cart. Just steps away is the Pro Shop where you will check-in. The shop has the latest in trends with top brands of clothing and golf clubs. The beautifully landscaped grounds, attention to detail, the manners and etiquette of the staff, and the golf carts fully stocked with amenities suggest that The Course at Wente is private. I was so impressed by the whole staff, each associate is “guest-first focused,” said Cabe Jones, PGA, Golf Director.
There is also a well-maintained driving range with free range balls and tees. Located at the very top of the hill, the panoramic view overlooks The Wente Estate. The putting green is centrally located near the golf cart check-in. Whether you are playing in the early morning or afternoon, The Grill can serve up a “to-go” meal or you can dine on the patio facing the 18th hole & vast vineyard while enjoying a delicious crafted entrée and a glass of Riva Chardonnay or Charles Wetmore Cabernet. Don’t worry, there is a snack shack at hole 9 and the Snack & Drink Cart comes around frequently.
Julie and Lynne, friends for 32 years!
The Course at Wente is a PGA Championship 7,181, par 72 course designed by Greg Norman. It has 3 distinct topographies and not a single house on the course. At the 1st Hole, the Marshall is very helpful, especially if you have never played the course before. He explains the rules, the trickiest holes, where the best views are, and when and where to order your food and drinks! The white, blue & gold tees are quite elevated, giving you sweeping views of the Del Valle Damn and the Cliffs of Cresta Blanca. As you progress through the course, you will no doubt have to navigate through the rolling hills. At times, between the slope and the elevation it can be a bit tricky to navigate just where you should aim the ball so that its final resting place will make for a great next shot, especially on hole 6. On some days, you may need to factor in the afternoon wind as you tee up, however, on the warmest of days, the breeze is welcoming.
The Course at Wente’s very own “Lombard Street”.
The Course at Wente has a “Lombard Street” and it is as steep and windy as the one in San Francisco. However, on this Lombard Street, you drive up to the very top of the hill to come to Hole 12. When you look in the opposite direction of the hole, you will see the most open wide views of the entire Livermore & Pleasanton Valley. With the grasslands, rolling hills and valleys on this hole, it is an easy place to lose a ball. Laying it up just might be a good idea! The iconic grape vines protect the last few holes which lead you back to The Grill & Pro Shop.
For a Discount on a round of Golf at The Course at Wente: Mention this article and get a $20 discount on a round of golf: Monday – Friday through September.
Lynne Harrosh is an avid golfer and traveler. Follow her on Facebook & Instagram @TeeItUpTravel to get connected to the best places to golf, golf technology, golf equipment, discounts on green fees, stay & plays, and golf travel - lynneharrosh@me.com
