Silverado Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary as host of the PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship this week and decided there’s no better time to shake things up.
The resort’s North course was rerouted to make the final stretch of holes more accessible to fans, highlight the course’s signature par 3, and reconfigured the order of 10 holes on the 7,123-yard layout.
Holes 1-7 and 18 will remain the same as in years past. The reshuffling is designed to create a new finishing sequence that should lead to more thrilling finishes – though it will be tough to top Max Homa’s chip-in for the win last year – as a par 4, par 5, par 4, par 3 and par 5. The signature par 3, which plays over water – traditionally No. 11 – will become tournament No. 17.
Located in the heart of California wine country, the course, opened in 1955, was refreshed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Johnny Miller in 2010, which ushered in a new era of tournament golf. Silverado’s history with the PGA Tour dates back to the Kaiser International Open Invitational, from 1968-1976.
MORE: 5 things to know about the FedEx Cup Fall
“I sure thought about redesigning these courses about 4,000 times, probably as far back as the early 1970s,” said Miller who lived on the course for many years and competed at Silverado dating back to his days as a junior. “I said we could do one course and show the world what the potential of these courses is and breathe a little life into this iconic property.”
“I’m going to have to see what they changed and get a feel for that before I can develop a new strategy,” said Homa, the two-time defending champion during the tournament’s media day in July. “It’s in an area I love. I like my chances and I think I’ll figure it out alright. It’s going take me probably a time or two to get used to it, but I like the sound of it.”
The new routing isn’t the only benefit for fans attending the tournament. The South Course, which used to be open for public play during the tournament, will instead be used for parking – no more shuttles! – and lead tournament spectators into a fan village with local food options such as world-renowned chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery cookies, Model Bakery English Muffins and the Original Burger Dog. Merchandise tents, bar areas and other child-friendly activities will be available.