The secret gem of Silicon Valley can be found PHOTOGRAPHY BY VERNON MCKNIGHT


atop the hills in San Jose BY JERRY STEWART I


t was one of the easier decisions for golf course architect J. Michael Poellot. When it came to finding a place to settle down, Poellot, whose


work stretches from the shores of Northern California to Beijing, had a lot of options.


Despite having access to many


other wonderful and challenging courses, he and his wife would move to The Villages Golf and Country Club in San Jose.


Established in 1967, The Villages


offers a spectacular championship golf course surrounded by distinctive neighborhoods. Historically an area of vineyards and agricultural estates, The Villages remains a haven of natural beauty. “I wanted to make life simple. Just


relax and make friends,” said Poellot, who had a hand in the creation of The Preserve Golf Club and the renovation of Los Altos Golf and Country Club. “I spent my whole


18 / NCGA.ORG / SUMMER 2016


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