Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
From the tee at the par-3, third hole
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
The view from behind the third green
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
The approach to the famous par-4, 11th hole
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
The closing par 3 at Pasatiempo.
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, CA • Public
Pasatiempo Golf Club
20 Clubhouse Rd
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-1802
United States
Telephone
Overview
Pasatiempo is arguably Alister MacKenzie's favorite design. He lived along its sixth fairway during his last years. With its elaborate greens and spectacular bunkering fully restored by Jim Urbina, it’s a prime example of MacKenzie's art. The five par 3s are daunting yet delightful, culminating with the 181-yard over-a-canyon 18th. The back nine is chock full of other great holes: 10, 11, 12 and 16 all play over barrancas. The storied course has hosted two USGA championships: the 1986 U.S. Women's Amateur and the 2004 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. In 2014, Pasatiempo received a Golf Digest Green Star environmental award for its measures in dealing with drought. Today, water worries are in the past, in part because of a new storage tank that allows the club to capture and store recycled water. Urbina's last greens restoration, completed in late 2024, has resurrected lost hole locations throughout the course, and the club will maintain them at slightly slower speeds to embrace the brilliant contours MacKenzie designed.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked for 16 years from 1991-2004 and 2021 to current.
Highest ranking: No. 77, 2001-'02.
Previous ranking: 96th.
2025-'26 ranking: 93rd.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked for eight years from 2013-'20.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since our inaugural rankings.
Previous ranking: 15th.
2025-'26 ranking (highest): 15th.
Best in State: Ranked eighth, 1997-98. Ranked ninth, 1993-'94. Ranked 10th, 1995-'96 and 1999-2000. Ranked 11th, 1989-'90. Ranked 12th, 2021-'22. Ranked 13th, 2013-'18, current. Ranked 14th, 1987-'88, 1991-'92. 2019-'20. Ranked 16th, 2011-'12.
Previous ranking: 13th.
2025-'26 ranking: 14th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A masterpiece by Dr. Alister MacKenzie that's open to the public. Green complexes are amazing highlighted by the 16th green which now can have a front pin placement after the recent renovation. Not many courses finish with a par 3. Don't let the visual appeal of this hole fool you. The green is one of the most challenging on the course."
Read More2025
Review
“Super fun golf course that is open to the public so go check this one out"
Read More2025
Review
“I wish I were a member so I could play Pasatiempo over and over. This course is amazing. There are no two holes alike. There are so many kickers and slopes on the greens that you can try multiple routes to get to any pin. All of this adds up to a load of fun and a course you will never get bored of."
Read More2024
Review
“Pasatiempo is iconic green complexes with rumpled fairways and a land that allows for strong layout variety. The full collection of par 3s may be as good as any American course in their challenge and distinctiveness, and even though not designed for modern green speeds, the sixteenth hole with its intense fairway and green are worth the visit alone. The shot options on 11th hole with the ravine and narrow, long green nestled among dangers from tee to cup are especially memorable. The course has high levels of fun with enough challenge for a scratch player to entertain all golfers."
Read More2024
Review
“Fantastic bunkers several with 6-8' grass faces and aprons feeding into away from/off the green. Ton of movement on greens (5 + 16) and excellent defensive mounds (7 + 11). Holes #11 and 16 are two of the best sub 400 yard par 4s as you'll find in golf. But the 17th and 18th feel like a real let down. Not sure why MacKenzie wouldn't add in a par 3 between holes 11-14 and then convert the 17th short par 4 & the magnificent, but a bit awkward par three 18th hole into a long, uphill, split fairway with trees separating the approach angle for lay-up shots and make this one of the most spectacular finishes in all of golf. This would even further enhance the angles and shot options into the masterfully bunkered 18th cathedral green."
Read More2022
Review
“Fantastic bunkers several with 6-8' grass faces and aprons feeding into away from/off the green. Ton of movement on greens (5 + 16) and excellent defensive mounds (7 + 11). Holes #11 and 16 are two of the best sub 400 yard par 4s as you'll find in golf. But the 17th and 18th feel like a real let down. Not sure why MacKenzie wouldn't add in a par 3 between holes 11-14 and then convert the 17th short par 4 & the magnificent, but a bit awkward par three 18th hole into a long, uphill, split fairway with trees separating the approach angle for lay-up shots and make this one of the most spectacular finishes in all of golf. This would even further enhance the angles and shot options into the masterfully bunkered 18th cathedral green."
Read More2022
Review
“Each hole is unique and challenging. The greens are unlike any course I've played. It provides a great challenge to even the best golfers."
Read More2022
Review
“Really great golf course. The restoration by Tom Doak has greatly improved things as well. Each hole is uniquely challenging and interesting. Some of the toughest, yet fair, greens to play on a public access course. Worth every penny, especially when you consider its pricier counterparts down the coast."
Read More2022
Review
“One of the best routed nine holes I have ever played. This Alister MacKenzie masterpiece was challenging yet fair while providing some extremely beautiful scenic backdrops. The back 9 offers so many unique fun holes as it winds its way through the Santa Cruz topography."
Read More2022
Review
“Alister MacKenzie's favorite design, and you can appreciate why. Despite residential setting, the ocean views in the distance are great, but you hardly notice because the course is so pure. Lots of variety, multiple shot options on many holes, genius bunkering. A must-play for fans of golf course architecture."
Read More2022
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