Aetna Springs at Aetna Springs Golf Course

Aetna Springs Golf Course sits in the remote Pope Valley of Napa County, California, roughly twenty miles northeast of Calistoga in the rugged hills that define the region's eastern edge. The course occupies land at a historic resort property that dates to the late nineteenth century, when the natural springs drew visitors seeking therapeutic waters. Tom Doak designed the nine-hole layout, which opened in the early 1990s and reflects his minimalist approach to routing golf holes across natural terrain.

The course plays over rolling, oak-studded hillsides characteristic of California's interior valleys. The design works with the property's elevation changes and existing vegetation, creating a straightforward walking experience that emphasizes ground game options and strategic choices over forced carries or manufactured hazards. Greens are relatively small and contoured to accept running approaches, consistent with Doak's early design philosophy.

Aetna Springs operates as part of a private club and resort community, maintaining a low profile compared to the more celebrated wine country courses closer to Napa and Sonoma proper. The nine holes can be played in different combinations for variety, and the setting offers seclusion and quiet uncommon in Northern California golf. The property's historic buildings and natural spring features remain part of the broader resort experience, connecting the golf course to the site's longer recreational history.