James founded the Brambles project with the notion of a place that embraces the best of golf's traditions within striking distance of San Francisco and the Napa/Sonoma wine country. Brambles is about authentic golf, walking, camaraderie, spirited competition and enjoyment of the outdoors. It is also about a land stewardship strategy that couples golf with other forms of recreation, with aviation, agriculture, fire prevention and abatement. The original cradles of golf—the St. Andrews', the Dornochs and Carnousties—have had such interlinked activities for generations. The golf clubs were private affairs whereas the golf courses were civic amenities, openly used for a range of activities. They were important community centers and employment providers, not least for course maintenance staff and caddies. The northern California wine country, with its mixture of agriculture, viticulture, outdoorsmanship, food, wine and tourism, is the perfect location for a version of such a vibrant, energetic place.
