Callippe Preserve Named One of Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses

Gorgeous Callippe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton, CA

Congratulations to Callippe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton for being named one of Golfweek’s Best Municipal Courses in the nation for 2008-2009.  The list is compiled by a nationwide team of more than 475 evaluators who rate the courses on the basis of 10 strict standards including routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes. The result is an average of scores, which then dictates a course’s overall ranking.

“This is a very prestigious honor for Callippe Preserve Golf Course, to be considered one of the top 50 municipal courses in the nation out of more than 8,000 courses. This well-kept secret of local golfers is now out of the bag to the larger golf world,” according to course General Manager Mike Ash.

This marks the first time that the course has been included on the elite list, which also boasts Torrey Pines course in La Jolla, host of Tiger Woods’ dramatic U.S. Open victory last summer, and San Francisco’s Harding Park, which will host the President’s Cup this fall.

Callippe Preserve Golf Course, which opened in November 2005, is also one of the newer courses on the distinguished list. Callippe Golf Course was developed as part of a cooperative effort to create an 18-hole golf course, hiking and equestrian trails, endangered species habitat, wetland establishment, and dedicated grazing land. The course site is a protected habitat for the federally endangered Callippe Silverspot Butterfly and the California Tiger Salamander, and the federally threatened California Red Legged Frog.

There are five sets of tees on this par 72, with the black tees playing at 6,748. The blue tees measure at 6,409, then the white tees at 6,024 yards, the gold tees at 5,560, and the red at 4,788 yards. Players on this course will get a preview of the demanding approach to the 10th hole when making their way to the number one green.  Varieties of terrain are spread throughout the course as the front nine is routed through the valley and the back nine sits on a higher elevation with the Happy Valley Creek winding throughout. Read the article here:

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Cinderella Story, Coming out of Nowhere

World's Greatest Golf Movie. EVER!

Wishing that you could be teeing up this morning instead of in your office? I sure do! Let’s lighten up our day with a  little humor for this sunny Monday  morning.

My husband & I watched Caddyshack over the weekend, and we were talking about our fave quotes! What’s are your favorites?   Gunga galunga… gunga, gunga-galunga.

Here’s a few of mine to start us off!

Carl Spackler: This crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former greenskeeper and now about to become the masters champion … He’s on his final hole. He’s about 455 yards away, he’s gonna hit about a 2 iron I think … IT’S IN THE HOLE!

Judge Smails: You know, you should play with Dr. Beeper and myself. I mean, he’s been club champion for three years running and I’m no slouch myself.

Ty Webb: Don’t sell yourself short Judge, you’re a tremendous slouch.

Carl Spackler: Correct me if I’m wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers they’ll lock me up and throw away the key.

Sandy: Not golfers, you great fool. Gophers. The little brown, furry rodents.

Carl Spackler: We can do that. We don’t even need a reason.

Let’s have some fun this morning! What’s your favorite Caddyshack Quote?

Annika Sorenstam Announced release of her namesake Syrah wine with Wente Vineyards!

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Annika Sorenstam, one of the most celebrated female golfers in history, launches her wine brand in partnership with Wente Vineyards on May 1st with the release of her namesake Syrah, ANNIKA. This elegant wine is comprised of 75 percent Livermore Valley Syrah and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, and fittingly, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Livermore Valley Golf Vineyard.

Throughout her storied 15-year playing career, Annika was fortunate to experience many of the best wines the world has to offer. At Wente Vineyards, they share the same passion for fine wine, fine dining, and golf as a way of life. The same scenic acres that produce their varietals are also home to Northern California’s premier destination golf course. It’s only natural that Annika would choose to meld her passions for fine wine and golf together in the rolling hills of the Livermore Valley at Wente Vineyards.

Working closely with fifth generation Winemaker Karl Wente, the two hand selected the 2006 Syrah from the Silva block on the Livermore Valley estate to be the backbone of the wine. The Syrah emits aromas of wild blackberry, plum, and strawberry that continue with chocolate and coffee flavors from the barrel. The Cabernet Sauvignon boosts the structure of the wine in the mid-pallet and augments the cassis and clove aromas. The amenable, big tannins carry the diverse flavors through the mouth for a long, rewarding finish.

“I was drawn to Wente Vineyards because we share the same passions, fine wine, fine dining, and championship golf,” Sorenstam said. “I really enjoyed the blending process with Karl, as we are both perfectionists. I am very excited about our end product.” “It was our goal to blend a wine that Annika is passionate about, and that had the strength of a Cabernet Sauvignon, but the refined elegance and fruit of the Syrah,” says Winemaker Karl Wente. “Our Syrah has an intensity of flavor and aroma without being too big.”

About Annika

Annika is one of the most dominant players in women’s golf. Throughout her storied career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and events, and brought unprecedented attention to women’s golf. Her success has changed how women’s golf is played, covered, and viewed, and in her rise to mainstream athlete and celebrity, she has had a positive impact on all women’s sports. Annika continues to impact lives with the establishing of the ANNIKA Foundation, which teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. In addition, her boutique golf instructional school, the ANNIKA Academy outside of Orlando, Fla., provides individualized golf instruction and custom-made fitness programs to help golfers of all levels improve their game.

About Wente Vineyards

2008 marks Wente Vineyards’ 125th Anniversary. The country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery, Wente Vineyards is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of wines. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining, and championship golf.

Suggested Retail Price – $75.00 750ml Bottle Nationally Released – May 2009 611 cases produced

To purchase, please visit www.annikavineyards.com.

Tee Tour Wente Vineyards Tip – Putting Practice

Chris Conway of The Course at Wente Vineyards provides this putting drill for The Course at Wente Vineyards.

A Tax on Golf in California?

The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to help close a nearly $42 billion budget deficit by taxing rounds of golf, auto repairs, veterinary care, amusement park and sporting event admissions and appliance and furniture repairs.  What do you think of this idea?

AP reports opponents are the California Alliance for Golf.   “You don’t see a tax on movies,” said Bob Bouchier, executive director of the California Alliance for Golf. “You don’t see a tax on bowling. You don’t see skiing. You don’t see a tax on any other sport.”

You can learn more about the golf tax proposal here CA Alliance for Golf  by clicking this link http://www.forecalifornia.com/cag/index.cfm

The Reviews are In!

A beautiful view of Wente from the 9th hole

Happy to report that RV Life published a fantastic article called “Pairing Golf with Wine”.  The article features reviews of the Course at Wente Vineyards and the Bridges Golf Course in San Ramon.  Writer Rick Stedman states that “One of the top attractions of the region is The Course at Wente Vineyards. This is a one-stop entertainment venue that features wine tasting, excellent dining, outdoor concerts, and an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course. What more could a visitor want?”

As for Bridges, Stedman suggests that “One of the most challenging and exciting holes is the horseshoe-shaped 557-yard, par-5 sixth. This elongated dogleg right features a set of bunkers anchoring the fairway at around 200 yards. The downhill terrain leads you to a deep, no recovery creek, and one of those aforementioned bridges. You’ll want to stay below the hole on this monster green that’s curvy, slanted and fast.”

Read the article at http://rvlife.com/index.php/RV-Golfer/Pairing-Golf-with-Wine.html

Golf Tri-Valley Stay & Play Packages Announced!

Tri-Valley, California CVB Launches Golf Tri-Valley
Northern California’s Newest Consortium Markets Region as a Premier Destination for Golf

PLEASANTON, CA – September 16, 2008 – The Tri-Valley, California Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), in partnership with the third-party travel-packager SilverVoyages.com, announces the launch of Northern California’s newest golf consortium, dubbed Golf Tri-Valley.  The Tri-Valley, California CVB in conjunction with its area hotels and public golf courses, has created the consortium to increase rounds for participating members, while generating room night bookings for Tri-Valley hotels.  Unique to Golf Tri-Valley is the ability to book tee times at the time of booking, and customize packages based on cost.  Visitors can purchase stay and play packages at www.golftrivalley.com or www.golftrivalleyca.com.

“The creation of the Golf Tri-Valley marketing consortium aligns with our strategy to promote Tri-Valley, California as a desirable golf destination as well as our mission to generate measurable spending and awareness by partnering with our public courses and area hotels on stay and play packages,” said Amy Blaschka, president & CEO of the Tri-Valley, California CVB.

Golf is a significant niche market in Tri-Valley, generating approximately 500,000* individual and tournament-play rounds annually at the area’s public courses.  While rounds per year have been decreasing, competition for golfers has been increasing.  The Golf Tri-Valley consortium will effectively market the five-city region as a highly desirable golf destination, and increase consumer and media awareness.  Participating courses include The Bridges Golf Club, Callippe Preserve, The Course at Wente Vineyards, Las Positas Golf Course, Poppy Ridge Golf Course, Springtown Golf Course, and the Sunol Valley Golf Club.

The consortium’s launch is supported by the creation of a new brand identity, web page development (www.golftrivalleyca.com & www.golftrivalley.com), advertising, collateral design and production, public relations outreach, and the development of an e-newsletter.

Having already recognized Tri-Valley, California as a premier golf destination, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) will return for a third year during the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club.  The tournament will take place October 9-12, playing host to 108 professional women golfers.  The tournament is open to the public, and is expected to draw more than 60,000 spectators.  For more information on ticket purchasing and parking details please visit www.longsdrugschallenge.com.

*  Annual total calculated from figures provided by the East Bay Business Times’ Book of Lists, and participating courses.

About SilverVoyages
Silvervoyages.com was created in 1999 out of the need for golf and ski packaging solutions.  Silvervoyages.com is an ‘outsource’ company that specializes in seamless, back-of-house package booking functions. We are contracted by our clients to facilitate the needs of their guests’ rooms, golf, skiing, and all other components that generally make up a travel-related package.

About the Tri-Valley, California Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tri-Valley, California Convention & Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization for the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon, Danville and the surrounding region.  It markets Tri-Valley, California as a preferred destination for visitors, meetings, and events by promoting CVB member businesses and bringing overnight visitors to the region, to increase awareness of and measurable spending to Tri-Valley, California.

# # #

Tri-Valley, California Convention & Visitors Bureau – www.trivalleycvb.com
349 Main Street, Ste. 203, Pleasanton, CA 94566 | alison@trivalleycvb.com

Golf and Jazz…A KILLER COMBO!

Summer Music Series at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore

Poppy Ridge Golf Course has their Live Summer Music Series every Wednesday during the summer.  The event is from 6-8:30 pm.  Play a round of golf or simply enjoy jazz music and summer evenings on the patio at the Ridge on The Poppy Ridge Golf Course Patio!  www.poppyridgegolf.com

Only 77 Days till the LPGA Tournament Returns to Danville!

In only 77 days, the Longs Drugs Challenge Returns to Blackhawk Country Club in Danville,CA.  The dates are October 9 through 12, 2008.

Tickets will be available and mailed out in August. You may NOW pre-order using the form below or online here in August.  “One Day” Tournament Tickets will be available at select Longs Drugs Store in September. All adults entering the tournament area MUST have a ticket or badge. Kids 14 and under receive FREE admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

**** VIP Parking Passes are available to the public for a limited time only! ****

Ticket Pricing:
**Special** 2 Event Ticket: Value $49 – $35
Allows admission into two LPGA Tour events in Northern California this October. Purchasers will receive one Any Day ticket to the Samsung World Championship in Half Moon Bay good any one day October 2-5 and one Any Day ticket to the Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville good any one day October 9-12.

“One Day” Tournament Ticket: $20
Allows access to the Tournament grounds for any one day of Tournament play.
Bonus: Discounted tickets can be purchased at select Longs Drug Stores for $15 with a coupon.

All Tournament Ticket: $50
Allows access to the Tournament grounds all four days of Tournament play.

Clubhouse Badge: $100
Allows access to the Tournament clubhouse, which includes climate controlled settings and access to the clubhouse restaurant. Clubhouse badges also allow access to the Mt. Diablo Club which overlooks the
18th green.

Printable Pre-Order Form:
Complete this form than mail or fax it to us.  Tickets will be mail in August.  Download Printable Order Form

Special Offers:
• “One Day” Tickets can be purchased at select Longs Drug Stores for $15 with discount coupon in September.

• Youths under the age of 14 do not require a purchased ticket.

• Members of the following organizations are allowed grounds access with the presentation of their valid
membership cards:
- PGA Tour • Champions Tour • Nationwide Tour • LPGA USGA Girls Golf
- Club Managers Association of America • Golf Course Builders Association of America
- LPGA/AJGA/TOA • GCSAA • EWGA

Ticket Outlets:
“One Day” Tickets can be purchased at the following Longs Drug Stores:
- 650 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville, CA 94526
- 3420 Camino Tassajara. Danville, CA 94506
- 2455 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon, CA 94583
- 490 Market Place. San Ramon, CA 94583
- 9120 Alcosta Blvd. San Ramon, CA 94583

All other tickets can be purchased through the Tournament Office at 925.725.0148 or at Will Call the week of the Tournament.

Book your hotel & get your tickets now!

Hotel (click link for website)	Address	Phone	Rate	Res. Code	Distance
Larkspur Landing, Pleasanton	5535 Johnson Dr.	925-463-1212	$109.00	GSSPT6	10 Miles
Best Western, Danville	803 Camino Ramon	925-855-8888	$109.00		6 Miles
Courtyard, San Ramon	18090 San Ramon Valley Blvd.	925-866-2900	$120.00	LPGLPGA	7 Miles
Hyatt Place, Dublin	4950 Hacienda Dr.	925-828-9006	$139.00		13 Miles
Hotel Sierra, San Ramon	2323 San Ramon Valley Blvd.	925-743-1882	$124.00		6 Miles
Marriott, Pleasanton	11950 Dublin Canyon Rd.	925-847-6000	$130.00	LOOLOOA	10 Miles
Marriott, San Ramon	2600 Bishop Dr.	925-867-9200	$159.00	LPGLPGA	6 Miles
Quality Inn & Suites, Livermore	5959 Preston Ave.	925-606-7171	$89.00		20 Miles
Residence Inn, San Ramon	1071 Market Place	925-277-9292	$159.00	LPGLPGA	6 Miles

Livermore Valley Golf & Wine Academy

October 16-19, 2008

CORK & TEE’s Livermore Golf and Wine Academy is the educational marriage of two passions. We start with the foundation of a 2-day golf school, covering the full-swing and short-game basics. Then we add 45 holes of classic, Northern California golf. On top of it all, we incorporate entertaining and educational wine and culinary activities to deliver a fun-filled, long-weekend experience!!

• A four-day enrichment escape in the bucolic Livermore Valley, just 45 minutes east of San Francisco

• Two half-days of personalized golf instruction (including video swing analysis) plus 45 holes of play at two of Northern California’s finest golf courses

• Sommelier-led wine instruction and California wine tastings, including barrel tastings at a family-run, boutique winery

• Fine dining including a culinary demonstration and a four-course winemaker dinner

• Luxury accommodations at a European-style boutique hotel

The Golf
The Livermore Golf and Wine Academy is fortunate to have access to The Course at Wente Vineyards and Poppy Ridge Golf Club. Poppy Ridge, where instruction will take place, offers 27 holes of Rees Jones design that is the recipient of countless awards for its layout and conditioning. The Course at Wente, by Greg Norman, is the home of the Nationwide Tour’s Livermore Wine Country Championship and is as challenging as it is scenic.

The Wine
California’s oldest winemaking region, the Livermore Valley has been experiencing a renaissance during the past decade. Best known for Concannon and Wente Vineyards, the oldest continuously family-operated winery in the U.S., the region includes numerous small, family-run wineries, such as Tenuta. Livermore’s diverse terroir enables a bounty of varietals to thrive, from the ubiquitous Merlot and Chardonnay to sumptuous Italian and Rhone grapes and Pinot Noir.

The Accommodations
Located in quaint downtown Pleasanton, The Rose Hotel is a 38-room, European-style boutique hotel offering richly-appointed accommodations and elegant surroundings to ensure an exceptional and restful stay in Livermore wine country.

Includes:

• Deluxe accommodations for three nights at The Rose Hotel, with daily European breakfast
• Welcome Reception, Golf Clinic and Buffet Dinner featuring local wines
• Ground transfers, including airport transfers
• Professional Golf Instruction from some of the finest teachers on the west coast, (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
• 45 Holes of Golf, with riding car (Poppy Ridge and/or The Course at Wente Vineyards)
• Two Gourmet Dinners, including winemaker dinner with barrel tastings
• Three Lunches
• Club Storage

Price: $1985 per person (assumes double occupancy)
For more information and to register, visit www.corkandtee.com/golfandwineacademy.php or call us at 919.536.3200. Contact us to discuss the commuter package.

Thursday, 10/16

Afternoon airport transfers from San Francisco and Oakland airports

Short Game Clinic/Welcome Wine Event/Buffet Dinner at Poppy Ridge featuring Livermore Valley wines and a discussion of unique qualities of this exciting wine region

Friday, 10/17
Morning: Drop-in Breakfast at The Rose Hotel, Warm-up on range/Baseline full swing video, Instruction Station Rotations
Afternoon: Lunch at Poppy Ridge Golf Course, 9 holes at Poppy Ridge
Evening: Wente Vineyards dinner/culinary demo with pre-dinner wine tasting comparison between Livermore Valley wines and those of the rest of California, led by the head sommelier at the Wente Vineyards Restaurant.

Saturday, 10/18

Morning: Drop-in Breakfast at The Rose Hotel, Instruction Station Rotations, Wrap-up session; Putting it All Together

Afternoon: Lunch, Golf at Wente or Poppy Ridge
Evening: Winemaker Dinner at Tenuta Winery with barrel tastings

Sunday, 10/19
Morning: Drop-in Breakfast at The Rose Hotel, Golf at Wente or Poppy Ridge followed by lunch
OR French Cooking Lesson and Lunch at Tenuta Winery, Afternoon Airport Transfers for School Participants Pursue