Located in San Martin, just south of San Jose, CordeValle is tucked away in the bucolic foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is one of the Bay Area’s most under-the-radar resorts. Well known amongst the golf set for its incredible Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed golf course, CordeValle is also a luxurious hotel, offering every amenity and activity required for a relaxing respite. Though golf is indeed a major draw, one need not hit the links in order to revel in the offerings of this South Bay hospitality gem. Here are our favorite reasons to add CordeValle to your travel wish list:
1. Luxury abounds
CordeValle is a five-star boutique hotel property with 45 sumptuous and spacious Craftsman-style bungalows, villa suites, and fairway rooms and homes, each with breathtaking views of the 1,700-acre property. Some feature private outdoor hot tubs, and all are outfitted with open-air patios, original artwork, flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, and spacious bathrooms with garden baths. Safe, serene, and with plenty of fresh air, CordeValle is the perfect place for a return to travel.
2. Recreation options
Play tennis on one of their four pristine courts, or take a lesson with Benji the pro. Work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Hike the 2.3-mile CordeValle and 3-mile Vintner’s trails which traverse the oak tree and wildflower studded hills. Play a game of bocce ball under a twinkle-lit canopy. Swim in the always heated pool where comfy chaise lounges are positioned to take in the verdant vistas. Indulge in a grape seed spa treatment. Meander the rose garden where multiple varieties are tended to perfection. Slip into the lobby located library where nearly every book was ever written about golf can be found upon its shelves. Peruse the world-class art collection – more than 20 important pieces curated by the resort’s owner, or simply relax by a roaring fire pit. A CordeValle signature item, the resort is dotted with these bodies and soul-warming fixtures that ward off the chill of coastal fog.
3. Cuisine
The resort’s new executive chef, Goran Basarov, oversees the resort’s dining options. Most recently with PlumpJack Group’s Balboa Café, Basarov draws inspiration from the region’s fresh produce and on-site vineyard within his varied menus at Lion’s Peak Grill and One Iron Bar, as well as within his new monthly wine series dinners at which guests are treated to a four-course dinner perfectly paired with notable wines. Book a room on one of these nights to fully engage in an evening of camaraderie, fine cuisine, and wine education. A recent wine dinner featured selections from Louis Roederer Champagne, beautifully paired with Basarov’s elegant menu of Tomales Bay oysters, tuna Crudo, and hand diver scallops.
4. Wine tasting
CordeValle shares its spacious valley with Clos LaChance winery. Schedule a tour and tasting and CordeValle staff will whisk you to the winery’s picturesque Italian villa that features soul-inspiring vistas. Clos LaChance is just one of a multitude of boutique wineries within a 20-mile radius of the resort, for which CordeValle’s concierge will happily facilitate an afternoon of exceptional tasting.
5. Golf
There is no escaping the allure of the well-manicured and recently renovated course. CordeValle is best known as an invitation-only golf club and executive retreat frequented by business leaders and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Its crown jewel is its 7,360-yard, award-winning course, designed by internationally acclaimed golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. who defines CordeValle as his finest creation. (CordeValle served as host for the 2015 PGA Cup and the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.) Its 18 holes meander through creeks, sycamore trees, canyons, and broad meadows, providing a stunning day on the green for experts and novices alike.
CordeValle: CordeValle Club Dr., San Martin, CA | All photos courtesy of CordeValle