- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Course at Wente Vineyards
- Good for Kids:
- No
Lin-ken T. said: "Went here yesterday to view it for our wedding come Nov. 2012. Love the area. Very quite and secluded and directions were definitely not hard to follow. Met with Brian. Very nice, sociable, and made sure we were comfortable and asked…" read more »
35 reviews for The Course at Wente Vineyards
35 reviews in English
-
Review from Senor M.
11/28/2011
Thanks to http://Golfnow.com, the son in-law and I scored reservations here for noon on a Sunday for $65.00. That included cart and range balls on their grass range. The condition of the course was excellent, especially the greens which were immaculate. It's not an easy course, even from the whites because the fairways are always narrower than you think at first, there are trees, bunkers and water in play for almost every drive. The only negtive I can say about the place is that when Greg Norman designed it, he had the walk between the greens and the tees so far apart and on terrain so hilly, you have to take a cart if you are older than high school age and want to avoid a cardiac arrest. But, that's a very small thing. I hope to come back soon!
-
Review from Jules S.
Great golf course! I like to play here when I get a nice deal for me and my buds. Otherwise, despite the course being awesome, Wente is just overpriced for us normal folk (e.g. non-members of Ruby Hill, Castlewood, etc.) Yeah, they come here. If I was a CC member I'd still go to Wente once awhile.
The course plays long, hard, and incredible. Conditions are always optimal at Wente, more so during the beginning summer month when I think the course is at its prime. The greens are fast, but not so fast that they'll roll off it. Actually, I think the greens are just easier for me to read than other courses. My eyes see good lines here. As far as the fairways and layouts goes, you can't ask for more. The length of the course from the tips makes this course an incredible experience. I highly suggest high handicaps and big drinkers to lay off the tips. There is no shame in playing whites when you just want to have fun. Hell, my buds are really good and we do it...no need to prove your manhood by being dumb and holding the group behind you up.
Wente also gives you that country club feel when you pull up at the 18th hole and someone young lad cleans your clubs while you finish up. It's nice to have that service. The clubs will be all ready for the next round with no probs. Plus, it gives the lads a chance to earn a few bucks for the service. To you money hoarders it's customary...geez, even a buck will do. I hate seeing snobby looking golfers stiffing a young person like that.
Try to catch a deal at Wente with http://golfnow.com or other golf online sites. Otherwise, your just paying too much. For a little more you can play Pasatiempo, Spanish Bay, or something. The course is great though. I especially love the Lombard Street feature (the turn, 9th to 10th hole). A lot of golfers hate it, but it's so outrages that you just gotta laugh. You gotta see it and experience it to know about it!Listed in: Roughing it!
-
Review from Steve F.
Oakland, CA
1/25/2012
Ah... The Golf Course at Wente Vinyards.
Let me preface this by saying that I play a lot of golf. When I say a lot of golf, I mean that I play enough golf that if my boss knew how much golf I actually played, we'd be having a long and serious heart to heart. I've been slowly working through all of the bay area courses listed on Golfnow. As of this review, there are 97 courses listed under the "SF Bay Area" section of Golfnow, and I've gotten through 41 of them.
If you've read any of my other reviews in the "Epic Breakdown of NorCal Golf", then you know I'm heavily weighting my ratings based on value - Bang for the buck if you will. Bang for the buck is important as I cannot afford the amount of golf that I like to play =).
So back on track... Wente is a friggin' awesome course. I'd been avoiding it because the standard $110 tee time is generally equal to 3 or 4 rounds at most other courses in the area. But shockingly, I snagged a $36, 11:40 tee time yesterday. That's unheard of. Generally, even their "deals" are in the $60-70 range.
At $36, this is a 5-star course based on my weighted rating without any hesitation. I knocked it down to 4-stars because I know this was a one time deal and that to play here again, I'm coughing up at least $60-70. And I will pay that to play here again. What a great round.
The course was in amazing shape and this was 2 days after the heaviest rain we've had all season (January 2012). Tip of the hat to the grounds crew. The vineyard/canyon setting is picture perfect.
The course was challenging (130+ slope from the blue tees) but fair. It WAS a lot of target golf, but not annoyingly so. The first few par 4's were short. I'm not a long hitter, but one in particular had me questioning if I laid into one, whether or not I could get it to the green. I opted for a mid-iron... the greenside bunkers were intimidating. The course finishes on some longer par-4's. The first few holes felt like well designed warm up holes. That's not a burn on the course by any means... I love that setup.
If I recall correctly, it was roughly 6200 yards from the blues. 5 sets of tee boxes. The greens were near perfect - They were a little soft after so much rain and you could tell that on a drier day, they were going to be hard and quick. Even wet, subtle looking breaks turned into large, swooping breaks. A little time on the practice green will go a long way here.
The difference between the front and back 9 was interesting. When you finish 9, you immediately follow a large number of short, steep switchbacks up to a snack stand and #10. On the ride up, I was imagining some huge elevation changes on the back 9. And there were some, but not nearly what you expect from the ride up to 10. The only shot I remember not liking the layout for was a blind second shot on a par 5 on the back.
The fairways were in great shape. The bunkers were soft (even being wet). The holes very rarely ran parallel to each other and there were basically no houses on the course. It's just you and the course... and a smoking hot cart girl that we didn't see often enough =).
Long story short, I'm absolutely stoked that I finally got to play here and I'm looking forward to getting back.
Bonus: The couple of balls that I hit out of play on this course, resulted in me coming back with handfuls of tour quality balls. I don't know if people that play here are so loaded that they don't even bother looking or what, but the number of Pro-V1s, Pentas and Tour(iz)s that I found on this course basically paid for my round. I'm not advocating ball hawking here... stay classy San Diego and keep the pace moving. But it was a nice bonus to fill my bag with quality balls. -
Review from Lance W.
1/4/2012
Very good course just a short drive outside of the city. The elevated 1st Tee Box is a great hole that offers a chance of digging your ball out of the grapevines if you go left!
This course is well designed by Greg Norman with the holes meandering around the vineyard and hill side. Lots of elevation changes, definitely take a cart.
You can also snack on grapes if you get hungry while playing, just snag a few from the vine!
I would give 4.5 *'s if I could. -
Review from C W.
Livermore, CA
11/4/2011
I have to agree.....Awesome corse with a nice setting...quit reading these reviews and book a tee time!!!!!
-
Review from Tamar D.
11/13/2010
This is one of the best courses I've ever played. It's interesting, extremely well-maintained, has beautiful views of the winery grounds (even if the wine produced is, quite frankly, just okay), and is well-priced for what you get at twilight tee times ($65, including cart, driving range balls, and a divot tool that I never got). I loved the back 9 more than the front, because you descend through the hills and this girl golfer loves an elevated tee.
Bunkers come into play a great deal on a majority of the holes. The rain hasn't started, so the few areas where there would be water hazards (except for 18) are simply dry mini-crevasses that you have to carry. Not too many doglegs, and greens that are were tight, fast, and unyielding. As one of my comrades put it: "I've never had to two-chip before. When I have to chip and it rolls off the green to the other side and I have to chip again, that's an unrelenting green." Okay, that wasn't verbatim. But you get his drift.
The people there were superbly nice. And if they were faking it, they're good at it and I don't care. The marshalls, who all appeared to me that they must be the fun-to-talk-to WWII veterans that you know must just have oodles of wisdom for their grandkids, were fantastic ambassadors.Listed in: Good Golf
-
Review from Jason L.
Newark, CA
10/25/2010
My favorite golf course hands down!!!! Then again, I'm a NOOB at golfing and have only been to a handful of courses around the bay area. Lots of challenging obstacles from elevated tees, blind corners, to trying to hit the ball either straight past a tree or over it. Love how they maintain this course and how the cart path & sprinkler heads shows how many yard your away from the hole. Also, its pretty easy to find your ball unless you hit it over a barb wired fence or deep into the vineyards.
The broken pipe line on the hillside has been fixed and the new parking lot has been paved, but I don't think they're fully done with the construction. I loved the fact that when we were finishing up on the 18th, a guy walked over to our carts and started cleaning all of our clubs. Can't wait to come back and finish my day with a apple wood smoked pork chop! :D -
Review from Matt Z.
San Carlos, CA
7/19/2011
Quit reading this and book a tee time...
-
Review from Robert M.
Redwood City, CA
2/23/2007
Simply a great course. If you're a newbie or high-handicapper, this course will eat you alive. (Slope of 124 from the front and a crushing 145 from the tips.) Oddly enough, the scenery is so stunning and the course so interesting that even the most challenged of golfers will most likely enjoy themselves here. The course demands that you "Go Big or Go Home."
Now, some courses are weird in a bad way. (i.e. the pathethic Ranch Golf Course in San Jose) Wente is weird in a good way. There are three incredible elevated tee boxes and huge changes in elevation throughout the course of play. Many holes are surrounded by vineyards. #6 is perched along the edge of a hillside, #13 offers no chance to see the hole until your second shot and then there's #18. The 18th hole tee shot requires a decent carry shot to a fairway that is split UP THE MIDDLE by a creek. Pick either side, but don't go up the middle. If you chose the right side, your second shot is all water.
This is the closest you can get to country club service without paying $100k to $350k to join a private club. When you arrive, someone will usually bring a cart out to your car and arrange to have your clubs put on a cart. You simply go in, pay for the round, and when you walk out, everything is ready to go. When you're finished, someone is there to clean and take care of your clubs. They have a great little restaurant with a patio overlooking the 18th green for drinks after your round. All this for $100 at the peak rate makes it too good to be true.
If you want to feel like a big, important person for a reasonable price and play a great round of golf, you simply can't miss at Wente. -
Review from D.wight L.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 10/28/2008 3 photos
Did the revisit after almost 2 years and the place still blows me away. I believe the course itself is going on 10 years and the conditions are still quite prime. Tee boxes still offer great views, fairways and rough are very fair and make use of your whole bag and the greens are plush and true.
An awesome value for weekday twilight ($55) includes cart + driving range session. Perfect for an after "half day" at work and escape to the course. Plus the lighting from this time of the day changes and evolves and offers spectacular glances from hole to hole. Playing the back 9 during sunset is quite the experience. Go do it!Listed in: Grip it N Rip it
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/25/2007
One of the best public courses here in the bay area. Every hole has its own unique character, from… Read more »
-
-
Review from Matthew R.
Sacramento, CA
1/21/2009
One of the best courses I have ever played.
Fantastic "resort" quality golf experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. The staff is very friendly - from the moment you arrive and they take your clubs out of your car until after the round where they clean up all the mess you made.
Difficult course, but offers many great risk/reward opportunities.
Outstanding views (for the area it's in).
I felt like it was a steal at $110 on the weekend, with free range balls and a cart. -
Review from DAVID N.
Brisbane, CA
1/28/2008
This is where I discovered my appreciation for the game of golf. One morning with a 5:45am t-time, I chased after my ball down the first fairway and I had a epiphany. I became very aware of my surrounding. The air was dead calm with sound of a bird echo in the hill. Surrounded by rolling hills, expansive landscape, and the crisp morning air, it was magestic...I was overcomed with a sense of serenity and peacefulness. Meditation!!!
I like the elevated t-boxes and the challenging layout. The course is an integral part of the landscape and not the other way around. Of all of the public courses in the Bay Area, I love this the most. The numerous visitors I brought here felt the same way.
Decent restaurant and wine.
Cheers!!!Listed in: Golf!
-
Review from Perry W.
Los Gatos, CA
4/25/2009
This truly is a nice golf course. It offers all the elements I look for...a challenging layout, great vista views of surrounding mountains and vineyards, a nice practice facility (driving range is located above the course and requires a cart or bus ride to get their), and a comfortable clubhouse.
This course is plenty challenging and helps if you have course knowledge for shot placement. The breathtaking views from some of the holes make me forget I'm on a golf course, then I come back to my senses and continue playing on. The driving range is so removed from the course you may have to get on a bus to get there. It is a nice set up with range balls stacked in pyramids and ready to hit. There is a chipping area and a putting area back by the clubhouse, which is a nice place for lunch or a drink after golf.Listed in: Fore! Golf Courses in the…
-
Review from Michael S.
Oakland, CA
10/9/2008
This place is the mack-daddy of public high end courses in the Bay Area. Great views and atmosphere and no gaudy McMansions on the course--(take note Bridges!) It's also a very fair course, with about only one blind T-shot. The place realizes that people are spending more to golf here and they give you that experience. Staff is overly ass-kissy and will be on you like bees to honey trying to clean your clubs and other stuff hustling for tips.
I have played here about three times and never had to wait on any group or had a group coming up to us. The starting times likely get evenly spread out.
This is a high-end place and if you can get the mid-week twilight of $55 it's worth it. Every hole is significantly different and the greens are true but not all that fast.Listed in: Most Challenging Golf in…
-
Review from John W.
Fremont, CA
5/9/2011
Great golf course. The greens roll true. Pace of play was good for a Sunday afternoon. The back nine is harder than the front. Great views. Fun and challenging course. I already want to play this course again. The Marshall was pretty cool and funny too.
-
Review from Jared W.
Oakland, CA
11/30/2007 2 photos
Absolutely great golf course. There are no boring holes here, some may frustrate you and feel tricked up, but that is why you play courses like this. The hills and vineyards provide a great backdrop.
#'s 10, 11 and 12 are brutal, up on top of the hill, but if you hit a nice shot you will be rewarded. Driver is often not the best play on this course, something I find very interesting. Course knowledge is very helpful here with many elevation drops, if you have a rangefinder or a skycaddie, bring it with you.
This course is pricey, but it's not your typical muni. I don't play here often but if I can think of an excuse to play a round on a higher end course, this is one of my first options.Listed in: Fore!
-
Review from randall s.
Pasadena, CA
10/11/2006
The best course for the broke young professional!
Beautiful course. When I got there, the staff treated me like a member. When your done with your round, a guy comes over and cleans your clubs. First class service.
That first hole is fascinating, and for the longer hitter hints at a good day on a course that can favor the brave, and punish the hesitant. I will go as often as I can afford! -
Review from The G K.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/31/2010
Nice course, decent layout, greens were good.
Played it Last week of July. Greens were great, course was in great shape.
Nice layout...
Great views,
good round... -
Review from rhonda s.
South San Francisco, CA
8/22/2009
Livermore typically conjures up images of windmills and nuclear labs. That's too bad, because a little off the beaten path, nestled in suprisingly lush vineyards, is a resort-quality course that's open to the public.
Even if you're not much of a golfer, you'll fall in love with the carts-only course as it loops around lakes, vineyards, and oak groves. There are very few courses (especially public ones) where you can find varied terrain like this. Can't wait to go back!!! -
Review from Joel V.
7/26/2009
Gotta give Wente a 5-star rating. I play a lot of golf, and like to play at different courses - so I've been around the block. I'm gonna go ahead and call Wente one of my three favorite public courses around. Only Pasatiempo and Cinnabar Hills can compete. And for $65 at twilight? That's a sweet deal!!
The course is in magnificent condition, is quite challenging and is beautiful. The course wraps around vineyards, oak trees, lakes and mountains.
They also have a winery, spa, concert venue, grill and fancy restaurant on the property. A true gem that all serious golfers should give a whirl. -
Review from Florio M.
South San Francisco, CA
7/24/2007
One of my favorite courses in the bay area....B-E-A-U-TIFUL views and challenging course...
Just a note...
sign up ONLINE.... to the website ... and you get a free round of golf with another paid golfer...
WOW MOM!!!!
enough said... -
Review from Doctor K.
Livermore, CA
5/31/2010
Very nice course. Love the long drives off the elevated tees. Didn't have a problem with people slowing us down.
The only thing I didn't like was the driving range. It faces into the sun first thing in the morning and you rarely see where your ball lands due to blindness. -
Review from Thomas K.
Danville, CA
2/12/2011
What can I say, when you combine a great course, kept greens, 5 star customer service all I need now is my score to lower...highly recommend to anyone looking to entertain customers or clients, food is good at the clubhouse as well if you don't want the restaurant.
-
Review from david m.
Portland, OR
10/3/2007
Wente is one of the worst-designed courses I've ever played--Norman should be ashamed of taking a great piece of property and ruining it. Most of the tees are about 100 feet above the fairways, with O.B. or hazards on both sides. Fine in the morning, but not in the prevailing 25+mph afternoon wind. I'm fully convinced #10 is the single worst hole built in the last 20 years (and I made par on it). You'll know why if you play it in ANY kind of firm conditions. The service is o.k., but you'll get the same at a number of high-end daily fee courses.
Play Callippe Preserve or even Poppy Ridge or The Bridges if you're in the Livermore area; head down to San Juan Oaks in Hollister or up to Roddy Ranch in Antioch if you're up for a little drive. -
Review from Sunny J.
Berkeley, CA
3/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful setting for a round of golf. Medium difficulty, very well maintained course. Free balls at the range with a tee time. $65 with a cart.
-
Review from Justin B.
Brentwood, CA
2/8/2011
Played this course on Friday. What a beautiful place to play. It helped that the weather was in the high 60's to low 70's as well.
A few greens were in not very good shape, but that was most likely due to recent frost and cold cold weather in the AM. The rest of the course was in great shape.
Love the fact that you have hidden tee shots, holes that you may be able to reach from the tee box if you want to take the risk, soft sand (Although it had a lot of pebbles in it) and quick greens.
Loved playing the back 9 as it was all down hill and great views! Placement off tee was key to a good back nine score.
Great course! Is a must play. Def in my top 3 of favorite places to play! -
Review from Scotty D.
4/21/2008 1 photo
while working for wente vineyards years ago i stumbled upon an opportunity to cook a special business luncheon. to my surprise i would be cooking for greg norman while they work out plans to build a golf course on the premises. it was a great time and the man is a really nice guy but not the luckiest when it comes to championships. at the end of the meal while cleaning up i found the plans for the golf course and i looked them over and left them but now i wish i had took it. oh well bad karma can really suck.
well over 10 years later the course is popular and considered one of the great courses around. a day outside on this course is truly magical and the exercise is well needed. make sure you wear a collared shirt because it's all that is accepted and denim is a definite no.
luckily it's a darn good thing to still know people because golf, wine and great food doesn't come cheap.Listed in: I Love the Tri Valley East Bay
-
Review from S. Steve -.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/16/2008
Played last Sunday, and it was windy... the greens were almost completely healed from aeration and sanding, and in very good condition. now add that to a mountain style course that the nationwide tour use to play on and your in for a long day...
upon getting there the staff pampers you with service, carrying your clubs and attending to your every needs, everyone was great. the driving range was awesome, with new taloymade balls to hit, and the practice area was great too, the grill has a great breakfast, lunch, and drinks for afterwards or before your round.. PS, the cart girl rocks too... the course would be hard to walk for sure as it is very hilly with huge elevation changes. the fairways and landing areas are narrow and require good club mgmt for sure. add a 20+ mph wind to this and you have a Trouble with a capital T... the views from almost every hole were spectacular for sure, and don't forget to bring your camera. if you have never played here buy a yardage book for sure or have your skycaddie. I couldn't have guessed the yardages as the course with its angles makes them seem longer or shorter. if you just play the course and try not to be fancy you should be ok, but cutting corners or trying something you might not normally do will hurt you for the most part. the vineyard lines at least 1/2 the holes and look great but will cost you strokes if you land in them. if you have not played a mountain style course you will be in for a surprise. there are very few fairways that you can be right or left on and get away with playing your shots from. the course is truly a test of ones golf game. the overall experience will last you a lifetime, good or bad.... this is a must play course for sure when your in the area of Livermore,ca. also allow yourself some time to visit the winery too. add to that some great friends to play golf with and you have a memory that will last you a lifetime.
Wente Vineyards,
Smilin Steve -
Review from Gene G.
Livermore, CA
8/4/2010
Absolutely LOVE this course. I played it last Saturday with my girlfriend and her brother, in great shape as always, the staff is friendly, and helpful. They are still working on the broken pipeline, so it's a pain to get to the first tee, but that should be done soon. I wish I could afford to play here more often. The Grill is the BEST place to enjoy a lunch, a snack, a glass of wine or beer after a round of golf, fantastic setting looking out over the 18th. green
-
Review from Brian B.
Livermore, CA
8/26/2006
One of my absolute favorite courses. Challenging but you don't have to stripe 280 yard drives to enjoy it. Courteous staff, great amenities. The food in the cafe is great. My one tiny complaint is that the Wente wine they serve could be cheaper. I'm assuming they get a deal on the stuff~
-
Review from Allisson K.
Pleasanton, CA
6/7/2006
This course is breath-taking. The views are amazing. The course is long and unforgiving for beginners. However, as a beginner, I still had a great time. If you are a slow player (like me), remember to be courteous and let others play through, or speed up your play. They have good afternoon rates ($65 - includes cart). Watch out for the wind! And, be sure to stop in at the restaurant post-game for a truly DIE-licious meal!
-
Review from Gary N.
Livermore, CA
8/10/2009
I love this course. The scenery is spectacular. And of course the food at both the grill and the restaurant is outstanding. A lot of very unique holes and fun holes. Depending on what tees you play from, it can really change your shots. I vary what tees I play from as it really is fun to try the different shots. The course is alway well maintained.
I agree, the twilight rate is a major bargain. -
Review from Ken M.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2009
Played this course for the first time today and was very impressed. I have played high end public courses like Presidio GC, and many private country clubs in the bay area. This course blows them all away in my opinion. Fairway, rough, green condition is impeccable. Service is great. Nothing cheesy on the whole course, not even ball machines..they stack the range balls neatly in pyramids at the secluded driving range. Although the course is very challenging, it offers 4 different tees to fit your skill level. White tees at around 5700 yards and Championship Black at over 7000.
Just a tip..Greg Norman definitely had risk/reward on his mind when he designed this course...with many elevated tees, sometimes driver isn't the best choice.
(btw, unbelievably found a deal online for $55 for a noon tee-time!) -
Review from Aaron W.
Livermore, CA
12/19/2010
My favorite course outside of Pebble Beach and Cordevalle. The course is always in great shape. There are some challenging holes and some that are manageable. Overall a good test for your game.
-
Review from Amy L.
Danville, CA
9/28/2008
My new husband and I just got married here on 9/27/08. Everything went wonderfully!! The weather was perfect and the trees we full of fall color. Our ceremony was at 5:00 on Saturday. We faced the hillside. It turned out great because the sun had set behind the guests and the bridesmaids had some sun in their faces, yet only half the ceremony. We had 113 guests. The food at Wente is fantastic. You need to try their famous smoked pork chop..it's huge and delicious. We got so many comments that it was the best food they had ever eaten at a wedding.We had a such a great officiant named Hank who was referred to us by Wente. I can't tell you enough about the compliments we got on his positive words and genuine nature. Our photographer was Eli, also referred to us my Wente. He is a great guy and very dedicated to his work. He stayed with us from 10 in the morning while we were getting ready to 11:00 that night. One thing I just love is that he takes a birds eye shot of the whole bridal party after the ceremony..soo cool!! I can't wait to see it when i get it back. We used a DJ named Alex from AMS entertainment in Santa Rosa. He ws great and very accommodating during the ceremony, yet at times in the process was hard to reach through emails. Georgine was the woman in charge of wedding operations and she is great with her prompt responses through emails..she makes the bride feel very calm and relaxed which is huge!! We had a coordinator the night of the wedding, Lori, who was great at making sure everything was moving smoothly. Overall wonderful site. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a winery style setting with great food and ambiance. It is very popular so make sure to book way ahead..usually a year and a half wait. It is on the pricey side yet worth it overall!!!
