The South Course at Silverado Resort opened in 1966 when Robert Trent Jones Jr., then running the west coast operations of his father's firm, redesigned the original Silverado layout and added the South as a second 18 holes on the 1,200-acre Napa Valley property. The resort grounds trace back to General John Franklin Miller, whose 1870s mansion still anchors the property and now houses the clubhouse and Mansion Bar.

On the course

The par-72 South measures roughly 6,612 yards from the tips and plays through gently rolling parkland terrain on the valley floor, with stretches of relatively flat ground giving way to undulating sections that produce frequent uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. Mature oaks line most fairways and Milliken Creek, a tributary of the Napa River, winds through the property and feeds the course's many water hazards. Compared with its sister North Course, the South brings more water into play: a lake threatens the left side of the par-5 11th, a pond fronts the green at the par-5 13th, another pond must be carried on the par-3 15th, and a creek crosses the par-3 17th. The course is managed by Troon and reserved for resort guests and members.

Who it suits

From 1989 through 2002 the South hosted Champions Tour events under the Transamerica, Transamerica Senior Golf Championship and Napa Valley Championship banners, while PGA Tour events at Silverado have generally been staged on the North. The South suits resort golfers who want a walkable, scenic Wine Country round with strategic decisions off the tee and around the greens, rather than the longer championship test next door. Bermuda fairways, oak-lined corridors and vineyard views frame a layout that rewards accuracy and short-game touch over raw distance.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr. · Opened: 1966