NAPA, Calif. -- It has been 52 years since the first foursome teed off on the Silverado Resort golf course. Since then golfers of varying abilities ranging from novice to professional have played one of Golf Digest magazine’s top 75 golf resorts in America. The courses received a four-star rating in the Golf Digest Best Places to Play guidebook.

Construction of the Silverado golf course began in 1953 under the supervision of designer Ben Harmon. In May 1955 the original 18-hole course opened and was the centerpiece for the resort’s development for many years. In 1966, Robert Trent Jones Jr., son of famed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, debuted his talents by redesigning and reconfiguring the facility to feature two distinct 18-hole championship courses. The courses cover 360 acres and feature lush vegetation, ponds, lakes, three creeks, trees arching over the fairways and artfully placed traps and greens. Both courses are traditional in their design and allow for the natural flow of the Napa Valley to help develop their character.

The 6,685 yard South Course challenges golfers with side-hill lies and more than a dozen water crossings. The North Course, on the other hand, stretches more than 6,900 yards but is occasionally more forgiving.

Silverado has been the site of both PGA Men’s Tour and Champion’s Tour tournaments. The North Course was host to the Kaiser International Open Invitational from 1968 through 1976 and the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic from 1977 through 1980. Winners of the tournaments were some of golf’s most famous names including Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw.

The South Course was home to the Senior PGA Tour event “The Transamerica” from 1989 thorough 2002. Among the winners were Tom Kite and two-time champion Lee Trevino. Billy Casper and Kermit Zarley, previous Kaiser winners on the North Course, won the Transamerica as well.

Silverado also offers 17 tennis courts complemented by a sport shop and professional staff. Rounding out the mix are 10 swimming pools, volleyball courts, basketball courts, jogging trails, 10-speed mountain bikes for rent and a 16,000-square-foot European health spa with 16 treatment rooms, an exercise facility and full-service salon.