Pasatiempo Golf Club

Played on a Monday just after a wet weekend, so the course was pretty soggy in certain parts. The weather itself was great, around 60 degrees. Due to the recent rains, the greens were bumpy and really slow. I played with a member and he was also having trouble adjusting to how slow putts were. The course is really fun to play, despite the difficulty. There aren't many blind shots. The trick is dealing with the elevation changes and knowing where to place the ball. The greens are massive and undulating - leave yourself in the wrong spot and you'll pay the price! There are lots of slope on the fairways, too, so that will test your ability to hit balls above and below your feet. Given the hot deal and coupon, I was able to play for much lower than the rack rate. Otherwise, it's too pricey for me to play regularly.

Finally able to play this wonderful course....a perfect Santa Cruz day...many views of the spectacular central coast during the round. You notice many Alister Mckenzie trademarks throughout the course..extremely challenging greens, huge deep bunkers, and sloping fairways. Course was in pristine condition. Check Golf Now for occasional discounted rates, but even better rates can occasionally on Pasatiempos own web site. Really not to difficult a course to walk, I'd recommend walking rather than riding...as to ride is over $30! Only real negative I can say was pace of play....took us a good 5 hours...maybe even a little longer.cant wait to play it again!

This is now rated as the number 2 course you can play in CA, just behind Pebble Beach and just in front of Spyglass. The course is in pristine condition and in a beautiful location. Be sure to bring your A game because the course is extremely challenging. The yardage is a bit deceiving as it plays much longer and it is a par 70. I usually shoot in the mid 80's, but scored a 103 here. I did play terrible and this course punishes bad play. One thing this course lacks is a decent driving range. The range is not in good shape, is in an awkward location, and you hit off of mats. Overall, a great experience...just wish I would've played better.

Course was in great shape. Greens rolled true, quick but not punishingly fast. Playing course for the first time it was a little difficult to find a target line off a few of the tees. 14th fairway was a little crazy with the swale running down the left and across the fairway right in the landing zone. And do not be above the hole on 16th green. Impossible to keep the ball on the green.

This is the best course I have ever played. This year alone I have played 6 of the Golf Digest Top 100 Courses You Can Play, and they have this course ranked #21 while another publication has it ranked #13 and only behind Pebble Beach on the in state rankings. This course was designed by the same guy who designed Augusta National and Cypress Point.

I absolutely loved everything about this course. Each green has it's unique quirks. Make sure to practice your putting on the practice green before teeing off. I had one putt go 3 feet too long and end up rolling all the way off. Holes #3, 10, 11, and 16 are some of the best holes you can find anywhere. Each hole is different and I wound up using each club in my bag. There are no boring or throw away holes here. This is the type of course which challenges you but doesn't beat you up. You enjoy the challenge and welcome the next hole with enthusiasm. I can not pay this course enough compliments. The greens are truly what make this course great. Pay the green fee and play this gem! It is worth it!

When you finish your round make sure to head up to the Hollins House where you will have panoramic views of Santa Cruz and the Pacific Ocean.

This might be one of the more challenging/fun courses I have played. The greens were fast and undulating, but they were fair. There were a couple greens which were extremely sloped and tiered to the point of almost gimmicky. But the greens were challenging without being unfair.

The course is in gorgeous shape. The fairways and sand are perfect. I walked, but you had better be in shape. It is up and down.

A couple heads-ups: 1.) Most courses on golfnow include cart in their prices or have a separate option for walking. The Pasatiempo price does not include cart. add an extra $30 ride/$10 push cart. 2.) Range balls are included in the price. But getting to the range requires a shuttle down and back. So factor that into your arrival time. The shuttle is quick and frequent, but there is some extra hassle.

Good course but for the price maybe consider Spanish bay or spyglass

Very nice course and great views. However the club doesn't offer yardage book, cart is $32 without GPS. Therefore, it is a really tough course for visitors to play. Regular price is way too much for its value.

You can't play Augusta National, but Pasatiempo is a pretty good consolation prize.

The northern Califronia gem, a par 70 of 6,521 yards, sports that irreplaceable, classic look. MacKenzie's magnificent bunkers, artfully restored by Tom Doak within the past decade, are constantly a nuisance on demanding approach shots. Architecturally, Pasatiempo has few peers.

The first three holes play long and unforgiving. The uphill 235-yard third hole is rated the second hardest hole on the course, a rare designation for a par 3. MacKenzie's former home sits near the sixth green, the ending of a narrow par 5. A statue in the backyard and plaque on the sidewalk mark its location.

Barrancas create the most intimidating shots on the hillier back nine. The epic 11th hole requires a difficult carry over a canyon on the approach. Golf Advisor ranks the par-4 16th hole as one of golf's scariest holes thanks to a nasty three-tiered green surrounded by cavernous bunkers. Rounds end with a scenic par 3 over another gorge.

Golf Digest has rated The Tap Room in the Hollins House one of golf's greatest 19th holes. Built in 1929 by golfer Marion Hollins, it sits on higher ground just a short walk from the clubhouse. End a special day for your foursome right here.

It's always sunny in Santa Cruz, at least that's what the locals say, compared to the nearby Monterey Peninsula. That was certainly the case when I made the drive up on my way back to San Francisco at the end of my golf trip in 2013 to play Alister Mackenzie gem, a rare design of his open to the public.

Pasatiempo is certainly a standout, about as architecturally interesting as any public course in the west. Despite the fact it's not right on the ocean, the walk is every bit as thrilling as any course in the state, starting with a long par 4 from an elevated tee with a view of the ocean in the background.

The bunkers and green complexes steal the show, and recent turf reduction efforts have given it a really neat, natural look. The 16th green is a marvel, and the course ends with an intimidating par 3. Pasatiempo is the kind of round that flies by all too fast.

My favorite golf course I've ever played. Not long very hard lots of fun. I played Pebble and Spyglass on the same trip but if I had to play just one course I would play Pasatiempo forever. The par 3 third is the hardest par 3 I've ever played that didn't have water on the hole. can not wait to go back..

It's not everyday you can play an Alister Mackenzie public course, as most of his great work are reserved for the private side (Augusta, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Crystal Downs.) On this occasion, I flew from Phoenix to San Francisco (with a work stopover in Florida) just to get a round in on this masterpiece.

I was a single but got paired up with a local which made the pace of play more manageable (wasn't going to be setting a land speed record on a Saturday afternoon.) I played Pasatiempo last July in the middle of the California drought. This time around the course, while still dry, was in much better shape.

What makes this course so special are the greens and bunkers. Tom Doak did a fabulous job in his restoration. I've been to Augusta and have played Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne, and I can see the similarities at Pasatiempo. I would hate to play these greens when they are firm and fast.

My favorite green has to be #16, a diabolical triple-tiered green that you need to hit your approach on the correct level (the pin was on the middle tier and I came up about a foot short and my ball rolled back down off the front of the green.)

Overall, it was a great round and I highly recommend this course to anyone with an appreciation for courses designed and built in the golden age of architecture. The course is also not overly difficult for the average golfer.

This course, because of the drought in California, is in horrible condition, I was lucky to find a patch of grass in the "fairway". To top it off the maintenance crew had no clue as to how to clear the way for the players. One crewman stood in front of the green hand watering without a hard hat and no intention of moving while I was trying to hit an approach shot.
They offered a $50 discount for the next round, I live 500 miles away, what am I going to do with that?
SAVE YOUR MONEY!

I have never heard of one golf course that has so much hype in my life. I was a bit worried because everyone raved about this golf course being in their top 3. I thought there was no way this place could be that good. I have played a lot of high end golf courses in the area, and this one is phenomenal. The uniqueness of the design in unmatched. Every hole is a great hole and I was never bored. Walking the course gave me a big appreciation for the details. It was the second highest green fee that I have played, behind Spyglass, and it was worth every penny. I highly recommend playing this golf course at least once in your life, you will not regret it.

I played Blackhorse and Bayonet, Ranch Canada, Pastiatempo, Half Moon Bay, and Pacific Grove on my trip. Pastiatempo is in a league of its own. Outstanding course! If you want a challenge you have it with this course. These greens are the toughest I've ever played on due to speed and slopes. But they roll true. An amazing golf experience. Best I've probably ever had. Play this course ASAP.

Architect Alistair MacKenzie lived on the course and called the 16th the best par-4 ever designed. Painstakingly restored a few years ago by Tom Doak, the course is memorable in so many ways. The back nine may be among the top 5 in all of golf. Every hole is special, with the possible exception of the par-3 18th, but that might be nitpicking. Definitely a must-play if you have the opportunity.