On Location: Silverado Resort & Spa

Arnold Palmer has poured his heart and soul into Bay Hill in Orlando (Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge) and Jack Nicklaus takes immense pride in Muirfield Village, an upscale golf-oriented community in Dublin, Ohio. For hall of famer and NBC golf broadcaster Johnny Miller, the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, California is that extra special place.

Miller, a 25-time PGA TOUR winner and U.S. Open champion, is part of an investment group that purchased the resort in 2010. Since that time, Miller and his group have worked diligently to improve all aspects of the golf and overall resort experience.

Spread out over 1,200 acres in Napa Valley, the Silverado Resort & Spa is the ideal resort for golf and wine lovers. Miller makes sure the courses are in top notch condition and you're within an hour's drive of more than 750 tasting rooms in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. You can play golf in the morning and in the afternoon explore the wineries by private car, limousine, van, train or trolley.

Rest assured, you don't have to be a scratch golfer or wine sommelier to enjoy this part of the world. Miller's courses are very playable and enjoyable for all skill levels and the friendly folks at the tasting rooms will educate you in a light-hearted way about all things wine.

GOLF

Silverado has two 18-hole championship golf courses, which are managed by Troon Golf. The North is the headliner layout and is the site of the PGA TOUR's Frys.Com Open (October 6-12, 2014). Miller has meticulously improved the North course with the clearing of trees, adding new trees, creating new bunkers and adding new fairway grasses.

"Johnny Miller has probably played more rounds of golf at Silverado than anywhere else," Silverado's director of golf Tim Geesey told me while we enjoyed some ice tea at The Grill on my visit. "He played in several junior and amateur tournaments here and then later won PGA TOUR tournaments at Silverado in 1974 and 1975. He knows the courses very well and is doing everything possible to make them great places to play for every type of golfer."

Dotted with redwood and oak trees--some that are as old as 300 years--the courses have a parklike feel. Add in some beautiful landscaping around the tee boxes and the golf experience is exceptional. If you want to play a leisurely, somewhat quiet round, play in the afternoon because Geesey says, "Nearly 80% of our rounds are played before 1:00 p.m. because everyone heads to the wineries in the afternoon."

North Course--Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the course stretches to 7,200 yards for the pros. For the average golfer, the blue tees are at 6,793 yards and white tees at 6,302 yards. Keep in mind, too, when examining the yardages, that the ball doesn't travel as far in Napa Valley air. Miller put a lot of thought into the placement of the bunkers and when you're standing at the tee box, you can't just grip it and rip. You've got to think you're way around this layout. Everything is in front of you on this course and it's very playable for the mid-handicapper. Miller's enhancements have created an exceptional resort course experience and a worthy site for a PGA TOUR event.

South Course--Overshadowed by the North, the South Course with it's 6,612 yards from the blue tees and 6,207 yards from the white tees is a bit kinder and gentler.  If you only play a few times a year, I suggest playing the South first before moving on to the more difficult North. The South, also originally designed by Jones, Jr., offers tree-lined fairways, water hazards and undulating greens.  For the ladies, it plays at 5,376 yards from the burgundy tees.

For a video view of the courses, click here to Golf Travel Guru T.V.

ACCOMMODATIONS/AMENITIES

Silverado Resort has 380 rooms and suites. The menu encompasses standard guest rooms, junior suites with spacious king rooms with sitting areas and one-and-two bedroom suites, which have a full kitchen, dining room, living rooms, master bedroom and bath. Each suite has a wood-burning fireplace and balcony with views of courtyards, swimming pools or golf courses.

I stayed in a one-bedroom suite, which was decorated in soft muted earthtones that evoked a sophisticated Napa Valley feel. The full kitchen came in handy as there's a great Safeway grocery store about ten minutes from the resort, where you can load up on snacks and other items to make quick meals. As you would imagine, Safeway has a superb wine selection as well. A couple of small details I really liked about my suite were the large oversize showerhead, the bar style counter in the kitchen and the luxurious Euro-style linens. Too bad it was extra warm on my visit in July because I would've loved to have cranked up a fire in the fireplace.

Some highlights of my unit include:
--King bed
--Wifi access
--Coffee bar
--Egyptian cotton sheets
--Robes
--Private balcony
--Living room
--Dining room
--Wood burning fireplace
--Stainless steel kitchen appliances

Here's a partial list of the resort amenities:
--Two signature restaurants
--16,000 square foot spa
--10 swimming pools
--13 tennis courts
--Main Lounge's Patio Terrace
--Bicycle rentals
--Jogging trails
--3 Bocce courts

10 Little Things I Liked:

1. The Burger Dog available at the snack shacks on the Silverado courses. Yes, these are the same phenomenal delicacies that became famous at the Olympic Club.

2. The displays of Johnny Miller's old MacGregor golf clubs in the clubhouse.

3. Great pace of play. The members at Silverado play at a good clip and the resort guests follow the lead so a four hour round is possible.

4. The laid back atmosphere throughout the resort. The beautiful landscaping makes you feel like you're strolling through some upscale college campus loaded with great amenities like a spa and terrace bar.

5. You can walk to the William Hill Estate Winery from the resort.

6. The frosty and delicious Napa Smith Brewery pilsner I enjoyed at The Grill bar after a round on the North Course.

7. The spectacular view of the surrounding mountains from my balcony.

8. The Keurig single serve coffee maker in my one-bedroom suite.

9. The bagpiper that marches up the 18th hole in front of the Terrace Bar at Silverado on Fridays and Saturdays.

10. Tim Geesey, Silverado's director of golf, who is profoundly dedicated to making the golf experience at the resort one of the best in the world.


DINING & LOUNGING

The Grill at Silverado--Overlooking the golf courses, this casually elegant restaurant offers indoor and alfresco dining, Happy Hours on the weekdays and complimentary corkage fees on Sunday. Popular entrees include Pablo's Pollo Loco (pictured below), American Kobe Burger and Cabernet Braised Lamb Shank.

Royal Oak--It was closed for the season (I visited in July). Specialities include Angus Beef steaks and fresh grilled fish.

The Mansion Lounge--On cool evenings, it's a great place to sit around a stone fireplace and enjoy a Napa Valley wine or cocktail. You can also enjoy an outdoor setting on the patio terrace, which overlooks the golf course. From 10:00 p.m. till close, a late night bar menu is offered.

THINGS TO DO

--Visit the more than 400 wineries within a 45-minute drive from the resort. Some of the largest wineries are Beringer, Castello di Amorosa (pictured below) and Robert Mondavi. Most of the wineries in Napa Vally are smaller and family owned and fun and interesting to visit. Some of the wineries Silverado has close ties with include, Artesa, Andretti, Bell Wine Cellars, Chimney Rock, Black Stallion, William Hill and Silverado Vineyards to name a few.

--Hot air ballooning
--Olive Oil tastings
--Dine in the town of Napa, about a 5 minute drive, which has numerous restaurant options in a revitalized downtown area. Enjoy a gourmet experience on the St. Helena Highway (the main wine road for Napa Valley), where there are several Michelin starred restaurants.
--Take in a concert at Uptown Theatre in Napa.
--Shop at the Oxbow Public Market, Napa Premium Outlets and Napa General Store.

For more information on things to do in the area, click to Visit Napa Valley.

LOCATION

The resort is located at 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, California 94558, about 55 miles from the San Francisco International Airport and 45 miles from Sacramento International Airport.

GET THE SCOOP

For more information on the resort, go to www.silveradoresort.com To check on rates and availability, call 800-532-0500 or 707-257-0200.

10 Annoying Golf Televison Cliches

Like most golfers, I watch lots of golf on television. 

I'll even watch tournaments with the insufferable Chris Berman at the mike, so you know I'm either dedicated or nuts.

Regardless of who's at the microphone, the instant a golf telecast starts, the cliches start rattling off faster than balls flying off mats by hackers at 2-for-1 bucket night at the local driving range.

Here are ten of the most tired and overused cliches that annoy The Golf Travel Guru:

1. "Better than most."--Gary Koch

2. "The pageantry, the majesty, the beauty of the Masters."--Jim Nantz

3. "The Masters, a tradition like no other."--Jim Nantz

4. "You'll never know how good of shot that was."--Mark Rolfing

5. "Tiger's on the prowl."--Just about every golf announcer with a microphone

6. "There's a fried egg."--Chris Berman, king of the cliches

7. "Looks like a bad lie, back to you Johnny."--Roger Maltbie

8. "What a courageous shot."--Ian Baker-Finch

9. "It's in the hole"--Boozed up golf fans at the tee box on par five hole, followed up, of course, by the obligatory "You da man."

10. "It's a 4-metal, not a 4-wood."--Johnny Miller

5 Best U.S. Opens in the Modern Era

1. 1973--I've never seen a more mesmerizing round of golf than Johnny Miller's 63 on the final day. I remember watching the then 26-year old Miller pin-seeking on just about every hole at Oakmont resulting in a phenomenal birdie barrage that left players like Nicklaus and Trevino behind. The U.S.G.A. was so miffed that Miller essentially embarrassed them by soundly defeating its tough set-up that they came back the following year with near shin-high rough at Winged Foot where winner Hale Irwin shot a 7-over par for the victory.


2. 1999--Staged on Pinehurst No.2, this one had spectacular drama. Payne Stewart, with his wind shirt with cut off sleeves, sunk a treacherous 15-foot par putt on the final hole to beat Phil Mickelson. It was the pinnacle of Stewart's career. Sadly, he never got to defend his title. Stewart died tragically in a plane crash four months after he hoisted the U.S. Open trophy.


3. 2008--Tiger Woods won on a bum leg at Torrey Pines. Limping around the course like he'd been floored by a linebacker, Woods amazingly played at a championship level. Woods bested Rocco Mediate on the first hole of a sudden death playoff following an 18-hole playoff. Then came the fire hydrant at Isleworth, a slew of personal and knee problems and Woods hasn't won a major since.


4. 2011--This was the Rory McIlroy coming out party following his flame out at the Masters two months earlier. The 22-year old Irish lad broke the U.S. Open record by 4 shots with his 268 total at Congressional Country Club. He shot an astonishing 16 under par to win by 8 strokes. He also set the record for the 54-hole record at 199, the 36-hole record at 131 and the most under par at any point at 17 under. Here's what's truly amazing: He finished 8 shots ahead of Australian Jason Day, whose score of 8 under 276 would have been good enough to win 26 of the previous 30 U.S. Opens.


5. 2000--Up until Rory in 2011, this was the gold standard in U.S. Open play. Tiger Woods destroyed the best golfers in the world by shooting 12 under 272 and winning by a whopping 15 strokes over Ernie Els at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The Best and Worst Golf Announcers, Analysts and Commentators

Nick Faldo-At the top
of his game.

From the bland and downright annoying to informative and fun, golf’s on air personalities entertain and sometimes irritate viewers.

Here’s a review of the best and worst of golf’s more notable announcers, analysts and commentators:

(Listed alphabetically)

Tom Abbott (Golf Channel)--Although he tends to get a bit wordy at times, it doesn't really annoy me because of his melodic English accent. A native of London, England, Abbott likes to incorporate an entertainment flair with his golf telecast performances. Known primarily for his work on the LPGA, he's also been the co-host of the Golf Channel's "Big Break" since 2010 and has been showing up on some PGA Tour telecasts recently.

Paul Azinger (ESPN)—“The Zinger” is opinionated and he draws his opinions, analysis and assumptions from a career that included a major championship and captain of a Ryder Cup team. I liked him better when he was teamed with Nick Faldo on ABC, but I still enjoy his game whenever he shows up on golf telecasts.

Ian Baker-Finch (CBS)—“Finchy” as he’s often called on broadcasts, has one of the greatest accents ever.  The Aussie, who also does golf for TNT, is knowledgeable and can certainly turn a phrase. Just like Henry Longhurst and Peter Aliss, I can’t get enough of Finchy’s accent.

Notah Begay (Golf Channel)--He's a buddy of Tiger's going back to their days at Stanford, so Begay is, not surprisingly, a Woods apologist. That said, he offers up some interesting takes on playing between the ropes. Begay's PGA Tour career was disappointing, but with some seasoning and enough T.V. reps he could turn out to be better analyst. Just, please, don't ask this guy any Tiger questions because he'll never bum kick his friend.

Brandel Chamblee (Golf Channel)—He comes off as somewhat of a know-it-all frat boy with his dapper outfits and Prince Valiant haircut, but Chamblee knows golf. He can break down a swing as well as anyone on T.V. and he’s not afraid to criticize golf’s biggest stars.

Jane Crafter (ESPN)--She's the female answer to Ian Baker-Finch with her soothing Aussie accent. A pharmacist before she bean playing professional golf, Crafter may not have a marquee name, but she knows the game and works diligently to explain the nuances to viewers.

Nick Faldo (CBS)—It’s hard to believe Faldo was so mum with the media when he played. Sir Nick can talk endlessly about golf. He seemingly has a well thought out opinion on just about every aspect of the professional game. Faldo is at the top of his broadcasting game because he’s superb at telling the viewer exactly what’s it’s like to play between the ropes.  Nobody gets inside the minds of superstar players like Faldo.

David Feherty (CBS/Golf Channel)—He’s just not that funny. Feherty always seems more interested in desperately trying to come up with zany one-liners than actually analyzing the golf action around him. It’s sad, most of his jokes crash and burn. I cringe every time the announcer says, “Let’s go to Feherty.”

Terry Gannon (Golf Channel)--A smooth talker who typically works on LPGA telecasts, Gannon is one of the best set-up men in the business. No matter who he's working with, Gannon asks pertinent questions to the analyst and moves the coverage along effortlessly.

Brian Hammons (Golf Channel)—Even though he’s been with Golf Channel many years, most golf fans couldn’t pick him out of a line-up. That said, the smooth talking, well informed Hammons is one of the best in the business.

Dan Hicks (NBC)—He’s a solid announcer that never seems to say anything too offensive or annoying. Hicks does a great job of setting up Johnny Miller and making the broadcast flow effortlessly.

Gary Koch (NBC)--The analyst who coined the phrase, "Better than Most" tends to agree with Johnny Miller too much rather than expressing his own opinion. That said, you can't deny Koch's knowlege of the game as he has was a star junior and college player, middle-of-the-pack guy on the PGA Tour and a Champions Tour player.

Peter Kostis (CBS)—He gets a bit technical on his swing analysis and I’m not a big fan of his interviewing, but Kostis is extremely knowledgeable and adds a lot to a broadcast. A member of Golf Digest’s teaching staff, Kostis has worked with Bernhard Langer, Steve Elkington and Mark Calcavecchia, so he knows the ins and outs of the PGA Tour game.

Rich Lerner (Golf Channel)--A smooth talker, adept at reading a teleprompter and well versed in statistics, Lerner is a thorough professional who rarely makes a mistake. He's very comfortable in front of the camera and never seems to get rattled.

Verne Lundquist (CBS Masters Coverage)—It wouldn’t be the Masters without veteran Verne.  He’s been in a tower at the Masters for 28 years. This guy was born to be a sports announcer. He’s one of those golden voices that’s never annoying or grating, and he always adds to the drama, not detract from it.

Roger Maltbie (NBC)--A former PGA Tour player, ol' "Rodge" is a reliable, venerable, on-the-course reporter who has that comfortable, drinking buddy kind of demeanor that is never irritating. You can easily imagine having a single malt or a pint with Maltbie and listening to his colorful golf stories.

Gary McCord (CBS)—I enjoy McCord, the author of “A Range Ball in a Box of Titleists”. Even though many of his lines seem rehearsed before the broadcast, he’s funny and adds a lot to the production. Too bad, the hierarchy at the Masters doesn’t feel the same way.

Johnny Miller (NBC)—You get the feeling Miller couldn't care less what anybody on Tour thinks of his commentary. That’s what makes Miller so appealing. He’s the antithesis of a butt kisser. I trust his analysis and opinions because the guy had a serious golf game in his day. He knows what he’s talking about and you never know what he’ll say next. The feelings of anticipation and unpredictability when you’re watching a telecast with Miller make him must watch T.V.

Jim Nantz (CBS)—Nobody in the business does it like Jim Nantz. While you can criticize him for being too mushy or overdramatic when talking about the Masters and Augusta National, Nantz is always well prepared and unruffled on the air. He makes few mistakes and doesn’t impose his personality on the viewer. It’s an art to be on the air for so long and not annoy the heck out of people.

Frank Nobilo (Golf Channel)—With his great New Zealand accent and an ability to talk on every aspect of life on the PGA Tour, Nobilo is one of the best golf analysts on television. He’s not afraid to criticize, but always does it fairly with facts to back up his assertions.

Dottie Pepper (ESPN)--A two-time major winner, Pepper is excellent at describing the physical and mental intricacies of playing professional golf at the highest level. She's also not afraid to ruffle a few feathers once in a while. If you want a strong opinion, she delivers. Although she's mellowed since her recent return to televised golf last year, who can forget her legendary line calling the 2007 Solheim Cup American team "choking freaking dogs."

Judy Rankin (Golf Channel)--She exudes class and knows both the men's and women's game. In fact, she was the first woman to work full-time on broadcasts of men's events. Rankin know the LPGA better than anybody (after all, she served as the Tour president in 1976-77.  Articulate and knowledgeable, Rankin never gets flustered and always puts the viewer in a good mood.

Tom Rinaldi (ESPN)--I used to like Rinaldi's soft approach and heart-warming human interest pieces and post game interviews. I can't take it anymore, though. Everything he does now has a certain sameness and predictability. He asks the same old and tired three questions: "How do you feel?", "What were you thinking?" and "Why did you cry?" 

Charlie Rymer (Golf Channel)--He sounds a bit like Gomer Pyle's long lost cousin with his syrupy southern accent, but Rymer, a former star at Georgia Tech and a PGA Tour player, has some interesting takes and opinions. He doesn't like to criticize other players much, but that doesn't stop him from providing spot on analysis with a cornpone flair.

Kelly Tilghman (Golf Channel)—A former college player at Duke, Tilghman’s love for the game comes through as a play-by-play announcer. She’s attractive, knowledgeable and an easy listen. What more do you want?

Lanny Wadkins (Golf Channel)--He's back. After a hiatus from golf broadcasting (Wadkins served as lead golf analyst for CBS Sports from 2002-2006), Wadkins is now lead analyst for Golf Channel's Champions Tour coverage. He's perfect for the job since he knows and played with most of the old geezers he's covering. While not as caustic as Johnny Miller in his critiques, Wadkins isn't afraid to express his opinion on questionable strategy, club selection or choking. 

Gary Williams (Golf Channel)-You sometimes wonder if this guy gets paid by the word. He rambles on and on in a rapid pace with so many stats and historical references that your head starts to spin. Williams comes off as a guy that seems a little too enamored with himself and his golf knowledge, which, admittedly is vast and impressive.