Pasatiempo Golf Club

California, United States

Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California, opened on 8 September 1929 as Alister MacKenzie's self-declared favourite design. Set on rolling hillside terrain above Monterey Bay, the semi-private parkland layout features five par threes, large contoured greens, and a back nine defined by deep barranca ravines. A rare Golden Age layout accessible to visiting golfers.

Getting there

Pasatiempo Golf Club

20 Clubhouse Road, California 95060, United States

pasatiempo.com +1 831 459 9155

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Pasatiempo Golf Club

Reviews

54 reviews

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Jun. 16, 2026

rosenlof

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A must play for any golf enthusiasts Pasatiempo is one of the purest expressions of Alister MacKenzie’s architectural philosophy remaining in the world today.

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Thanks to the extensive restoration efforts over the past two decades, the course now provides an extraordinary opportunity to experience many of MacKenzie’s original design concepts as they were intended.The restored bunkering, expanded green complexes, and removal of encroaching trees have dramati...

Best holes: 16, 18, 11

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May. 27, 2026

ABroo11

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Historic grounds.

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Best green complexes I’ve had the opportunity to play on and in great condition following the restoring of bunkers and greens to the original planning. Mackenzie chose to live here late in life, that should tell you all you need to know. A must play.

Best holes: 16, 13, 11

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May. 20, 2026

Joseph Kim

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Pasa is having its moment in the Santa Cruz sun.

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Post renovation, the visuals from tee-to-green are even more striking than before, and the restored greens are complex and nuanced. This is one of those courses that is universally beloved, and it is poised to remain that way for decades to come.My most recent round was for the US Open Local qualifi...

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May. 6, 2026

Ron Stelten

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Pasatiempo is one of my favorite golf courses and when I saw the chance to play it in the US Open Local Qualifier I jumped at the opportunity.

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Moreover, the last time I played the course was just before the most recent restoration started.Rebuilding the greens has resulted in many new hole positions.  Areas of the greens that were unplayable now have great hole locations. Every hole has two or three new hole locations. Pasatiempo is a...

Best holes: 3, 16, 10

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Apr. 23, 2026

golfslongdrive

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My favorite inland golf course in America and one of the best walks in golf.

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The routing at Pasa is truly special, especially the back nine. Up hills, down hills, and rolling hills make for an amazing golf experience. The bunkering and greens are spectacular, even better after the recent refresh. If there was a golf course I could play every day, it would be this one. I unde...

Best holes: 16, 18, 2

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Mar. 23, 2026

Bruce Bearer

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After hearing for years "You haven't played Pasatiempo?

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??" I finally got a chance to play two rounds in a Monday tournament - privately arranged. Even with a shotgun start, the routing of the course on the property provided really stands out as a key factor in the enjoyment of the course. Set on fairly steeply sloped land it is amazing how The Doctor pl...

Best holes: 16, 3, 14

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Aug. 4, 2025

5.5

Ryan Smyth

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Barranca and bunker artistry.

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 Jim Urbina’s recent restoration, recently completed in late 2024, aimed to restore MacKenzie’s original green contours and bunker flair using 1929 photos and laser-guided precision. My first experience at Pasatiempo was post-restoration and the green complexes and deep, flashed bunkering ...

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Jun. 18, 2025

5.5

JeffArenson

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Public access MacKenzie in the USA.

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Thanks to Pasatiempo following a UK model, there are tee times for visitors almost every day of the year. This means that you have access to a great MacKenzie course without having to grovel to or know anybody. Thanks to a multi-year restoration, the course plays as MacKenzie designed it. The routin...

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Apr. 2, 2025

jaydubs

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This is a great golf course.

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Only negative is the 18th is a par 3 and it seems they could easily make 17 a par 3 and 18 a par 4??? Opening tee shot is very cool! I played before they have jacked the prices way up. Although it is a great course I would not pay the current price. I think golf prices have gotten way out of hand.

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Mar. 29, 2025

5.5

Dan Novak

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Easily one of the best public courses in the country - it’s a must-play.

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Pasatiempo is a good test of golf. That front nine lulls you with some scorable holes, but if you get lazy, it’ll bite you. Then the back nine? That’s where the course shows its teeth. Those greens are no joke, especially coming home. 16 might be one of the best par 4s anywhere. You’ve gotta be in t...

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Pasatiempo Golf Club

Getting there

Pasatiempo Golf Club

Getting there

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