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In southern Riverside County—just across the county line from San Diego’s back country—the local landscape tends toward rock gray and sagebrush brown. But the views from practically every window at Temecula Creek Inn are green on green. Centered on a 27-hole golf course, the lodge-style inn has 80 oversized rooms—suite-sized, really—each with its own balcony or terrace overlooking the golf action.
The literature says the championship course “features 79 bunkers, six water hazards and dozens of magnificent 100-year-old oaks.” As if I didn’t know that after playing a round; I’m pretty sure I hit them all. Fortunately, the inn also offers individual and group golf lessons, with clinics available from head pro Rod Linville. But then, as I said, there’s the food and wine and music.
Temecula Creek Inn is in the heart of Southern California’s wine country, and it’s just minutes, by car, from more than a dozen wineries, some offering regular tours and tastings. One of the more prominent is Thornton Winery, which also books standout jazz concerts in the open air during summer and early fall. Among this season’s headliners: Keiko Matsui, Richard Elliott, Ottmar Liebert and David Benoit.
Temecula Creek Inn is owned by the Colachis Family, who also own San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo Inn and its award-winning El Bizcocho restaurant. And the same team that designed the menu at El Bizcocho is responsible for the Temet Grill, the excellent hotel dining room at Temecula Creek.
If you are fortunate enough to start your weekend on a Thursday, you will not have to venture far from your room for first-rate jazz. Sherry Williams—a song stylist who easily could have held her own in a scat-off with Mel Tormé in his prime—holds forth with her trio Thursday nights at the Temet Grill bar.
If you’re not quite up to par for that 7 a.m. tee time on Friday, you could always blame it on Sherry and the wine.
IF YOU GO: Temecula Creek Inn is one hour north of San Diego via Interstate 15, at 44501 Rainbow Canyon Road. For reservations, phone 800-962-7335. Room rates range from $135 to $185; junior suites range from $145 to $205, year round. For golf reservations, phone 909-676-2405. For Thornton Winery’s complete concert schedule, which runs through October 22, phone 909-699-3021.
—Tom Blair
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