Pasatiempo Golf Course

The significance  and history of Pasatiempo golf course simply cannot be overstated. When you visit and play the course, the morsels of history (and impact on golf) will be discovered while you stroll along the Santa Cruz hills routing like carefully placed Easter eggs. We understand that you might be somewhat confused as to why we are writing about a Santa Cruz golf course when we are in the middle of a series on Pebble Beach. However, the answer is somewhat simple. This is one of the only (well maintained) examples of any Alastair MacKenzie designed golf courses that the public can readily play. Yes, that Alastair MacKenzie, the one that designed Cypress Point and Augusta. Probably the most influential golf course designer since Old Tom Morris. Since most people headed to their bucket list Pebble Beach trip will be landing in the Bay Area, this golf course will literally be on the way. Given the history and significance of it, you should seriously consider adding it the mix. 

The community of Pasatiempo was founded by Marion Hollins, who was responsible for founding Cypress Point. After Seth Raynor died she decided she was going to found her own golf and sports centered community in Santa Cruz called Pasatiempo. She hired Alastair MacKenzie (with whom she collaborated on Cypress Point) to design the golf course for the Pasatiempo Golf Club. Unfortunately, for her, the timing could not have been worse, as the golf club opened in September of 1929, at the dawn of the Great Depression. 

All that said, the golf course is still here,— consistently a top 100 public golf course in the United States. This course is Sacred Ground, and it is pure Alastair MacKenzie. Thoughtfully teased out of the sloping Santa Cruz foothills, this golf course is built with a similar mindset as ancient Scottish golf courses. Rather than literally moving mountains of dirt, Alastair’s talent was to bring about the best routing the space could naturally give, and it makes for some amazing golf holes. 

When the course opened in 1929 it was a par 75. Given the advances in golf since the Balata ball, some of the par 5’s on the golf course have been remonikered par 4’s—for it to get to its current par of 70. This does lend itself to some odd bunker placements. Initially you would think that the bunkers on certain holes were ornamental, but in fact they were well placed bunkers for a different age of golf technology. 

You start your journey off on the Number 1 tee box adjacent to the clubhouse high above the first fairway. One unusual feature of Number 1 is that it’s a par 5 for women and a par 4 for men. Thus the women actually tee off behind the men. This is a muscular long and straight par 4 that has a small green well protected by bunkers. This will set the theme for the day. Think twice about going for it in 2 as you might have a long day in the sand if you aren’t deadly accurate with a long iron. 

Although you can only see the ocean off in the distance, occasionally it’s best you know where it is as everything breaks towards the ocean. Or as one member we played with said on the number 2 green, “it breaks toward the giraffe.” While you can’t see the giraffe from the number 2 green when you get to number 3 tee box, look back over to the number 2 green and you will see in a distant yard a metal sculpture of a giraffe eating an apple off of a tree. In the distance… you guessed it. The ocean. 

Notable holes on the front 9 include number 6, as Alistair MacKenzie’s house is along that fairway and is noted with a plaque. It’s a humble cottage and pretty easy to break a window if you yank your second shot. So step lively on that straight and narrow par 5. 

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Number 7 is a fantastical par 4 that is lined with cypress trees. From the green look back and you’ll think you’re in the hall of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Seriously, you can see nature’s influence on Gaudi’s architecture on this hole. 

At the turn your complications start. Not because of the golf, per se. Although it’s said that the back 9 at Pasatiempo might just be the best 7 holes in golf. But the complications start with the restaurant. Although delicious, I don’t recommend the chili hot dog. It’s by far the least golf friendly food in existence. The only that would be worse would be fondu. Get something more simple. 

Now you really are off on the final leg of your journey that will make you clearly see how MacKenzie married existing nature and golf. For instance, 10, a par 4 (5 for women), with a tee shot over a ravine to an elevated fairway, and once you hit the pressipace of the fairway the green is revealed below you in spectacular style. Number 11 has to be one of the best holes in golf. A par 4 in which your second shot is a forced carry to a green tucked in the wilderness. Even if you hit a massive drive to the edge of the barranca, it’s not a guarantee that you don’t have a big number looming. 

Number 14 also illustrates just how MacKenzie was unwilling to do the traditional thing and create a flat fairway. On the left side of the fairway is a large groove in the earth where you can be trapped and not have a good view of the green. While left is not death, we do call it the “pit of mild ennui.”

Number 16 is the star of the show. Alastair himself thought this was one of the best holes in golf, and personally we think it’s the best finishing hole in public golf. Why do we call it a finishing hole? Because when MacKenzie was designing golf courses the predominant format of play was match play. The vast majority of matches would be decided on the 16th hole, so that was the spectacle hole. MacKenzie loved this hole so much that his ashes were spread on the fairway when he passed.

The 18th is a par 3 over a ravine. A strange way to finish it out, but it’s a great golf hole, and keep an eye out. If the pin is on the left they call that the “Medalist” pin position and it makes an everyday Sunday pin placement seem pedantic. They say “if the pin is on the left, a prayer is recommended.” The green is fast and the slope of that pin placement is crazy. 

The members of Pasatiempo love the club like children love Christmas. If you get the chance to be paired with a member, be sure to pick their brain for all the stories of the course, as all that history is half of the fun of playing Pasatiempo. If you don’t get paired with a member be sure to loiter in the clubhouse after the round. Have a drink and some of the excellent food while sitting on the balcony overlooking the first and 18th fairways. Strike up a conversation or two with the locals. See what gems you get. One member once said to us of a Pasatiempo membership: “Some things don’t pencil out on paper, but you do them anyway. Because they pencil out in your heart.”

Best Buddies Golf Trip Rankings

• Bucket list rank (from 1 to 5 buckets): 5 buckets
• Caddies: NA
• Location: 9
• Spectacle/ visual: 8
• History: 10
• New/ancient: modern
• Playability : 8
• Memorability : 9
• Buddy-a-bility : 9
• Service/etc: 8
• Value: 8
• Shopping: 9
• Warm up facilities/Range: 7 (the range is crammed in left of the number 1 fairway, and you have to take a van to get there)
• Food & Drink: 9