Johnny Miller's Personal Touch
When Johnny Miller became a Silverado owner in 2010, his redesigns became more than just architectural work—they were personal, reshaping his adopted home into a worthy tournament battleground.
The verdict
Tournament Pedigree Amid Wine Country Vistas
Silverado’s North Course brings tour-ready challenge to Napa’s rolling hills, delivering tournament-caliber tests with resort polish and Johnny Miller’s demanding touch. A detour-worthy course with history, pedigree, and constant shotmaking interest.
Course DNA
Difficulty
79
Scenery82
Conditioning84
Shot Variety78
Walkability74
Green Complexity77
Wow Factor76
Design Quality77
Don't miss
Stop by the Miller Grille for post-round Napa wines and watch the sun set over the 18th green—the epicenter of Silverado’s tournament lore.
At a glance
Quick facts
PGA Tour Stop
Host of the Procore Championship and former Safeway/Fortinet Open
Notable Renovation
Johnny Miller overhaul in 2011–2014
Bunkers
Repositioned strategically throughout by Miller
Resort Era
Napa landmark for over 140 years
Longest hole
No. 5, 536 yards from Blue tees
Course Routing
10 holes rerouted in 2023 update
Ownership
Johnny Miller part-owner since 2010
The design
The architecture
Silverado’s North Course has lived many lives—born as a 1950s parkland, remade in the grand Robert Trent Jones Sr. mold, and then sharpened by Johnny Miller for modern championship action. The routing winds through stands of oaks and open meadows, bunkers are fiercely repositioned to reward line and length, and greens demand creativity without punishing resort players. Massive 2014 and 2023 updates lengthened and invigorated the layout, providing PGA Tour shot demands amid Napa Valley views.
Johnny Miller’s late-career redesign, motivated by personal ownership, brought fresh energy and tournament credibility to a classic Jones parkland.
Defining features
- Substantial tree removal for air and vistas
- Extensively repositioned bunkers for risk/reward
- Greens that reward spin and control
- Routing altered for championship closing stretch
- Long par 4s and reachable par 5s in key spots
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Valley View Par 3
PAR
3
YARDAGE
193
This mid-length par 3 plays over a natural depression with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and vineyards. Its green is well-protected by bunkers, putting an immediate premium on distance control.
Play it smart
Favor the center of the green—misses short or left leave tough recoveries from bunkers below the putting surface.
Where it bites
Wind swirls in the open corridor and any mishit can find trouble in front or left.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching a tree-protected green
Play to the safe side and use your short game to attack pins—short-siding here brings bogey fast.
Tee shot on the 5th hole
Pick a target that gives you a comfortable yardage for the second—don’t let the length bait you into a forced carry you can’t execute.
Second shot into reachable back-nine par 5s
Lay back if the green is guarded and firm; go only if you can land short and feed it on.
150-yard full-iron approaches
Bunkers were strategically added—pick the right club, and avoid firing directly at tucked pins unless you have full control.
Club selection on exposed par 3s
Trust the wind read; open valley corridors can add or take away a full club’s worth of yardage on misjudged shots.
Long par 4 with elevated green
Take enough club for a full carry; missing short or leaving your approach on the collar brings in the risk of a dicey chip.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Firm, well-manicured, with tournament-level green speeds and freshly edged bunkers.
Pace
Efficient resort pace—starts on time, but can slow during busy peak weekends.
Vibe
Buzzing with visiting groups, PGA Tour fans, and wine-country leisure seekers.
Dress code
Resort standard—collared shirts and proper golf attire required.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Know Your Yardages
Many holes require precise layups and carry distances—get your numbers dialed in before tackling strategic bunkering.
02
Practice Bunker Play
With Miller’s repositioned bunkers awaiting, sharp sand saves can preserve your round.
03
Book Early for Tee Times
The North Course fills up quickly during event weeks and peak resort season.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1955
North Course opens, designed by Ben Harmon
- 1967
Redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- 2010
Johnny Miller joins ownership group
- 2023
North Course rerouted with 10 holes altered
Stories & legends
What makes it special
From Resort to PGA Tour Revival
After decades as a well-known resort layout, Silverado’s North Course made headlines by returning to headline PGA Tour play in 2014, showcasing Napa Valley on a national sports stage.
Bunker Moves That Changed the Game
Miller’s renovation notably repositioned bunkers throughout the course, turning overlooked holes into demanding decision points and making the North Course a thinking player’s test.
Wine Country Glory
Few courses blend golf and wine quite like Silverado, where the aroma of nearby vineyards and rolling golden hills create a backdrop as memorable as the tournament highlights.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Johnny Miller both redesigned and holds an ownership stake in Silverado.
2
PGA Tour pros return annually to kick off their fall swing at the North Course.
3
The resort originally opened 140 years ago as a Napa Valley getaway destination.
4
Ten holes were rerouted in 2023 to create a stronger championship finish.
5
Robert Trent Jones Sr. brought his signature strategic bunkering to the 1967 redesign.
Build the trip
If you're making a Napa golf and wine trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park
Public
Municipal, fun, accessible, and a good local warmup.
Hiddenbrooke Golf Club
Public
Dramatic terrain and memorable North Bay holes—good test near Vallejo.
Rooster Run Golf Club
Public
Solid Sonoma-area public layout with relaxed vibe.
Blue Rock Springs Golf Course
Public
Reliable outing—36 holes, two course options, easy for groups.
Rancho Solano Golf Course
Municipal
Fairfield’s favorite—good greens, variety, and friendly for all skill levels.
Downtown Napa or the Oxbow/riverfront for fast drives and food adventures.
Course DNA
If You Like Torrey Pines
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.9
Ocean Forest Golf Club
St. Simons Island, GeorgiaWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Ocean Forest Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Brooklake Country Club
Florham Park, New JerseyWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Brooklake Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Silverado Resort North Course.
Strong DNA Match7.6
Scarsdale Golf Club
Hartsdale, New YorkWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Scarsdale Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Silverado Resort North Course.
Community Sentiment
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