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
“The course was a great delight. So many interesting holes and views. Back nine excelled with a wonderful starting hole and a supreme par 3 finish."
Read More2025
Review
“Playing Pasatiempo is like walking on a 150 acre Matisse painting, it's art of the earth. Hole # 3 is arguably the most beautifully bunkered short hole in America, while the green on # 16 could be one of the longest and steepest putting surfaces ever. Golfers are treated by seeing Mackenzie's final home along the 6th hole."
Read More2025
Review
“Amazing historic course! Play it whenever you can!"
Read More2025
Review
“The new greens are beautiful but be prepared for multiple three putts!"
Read More2025
Review
“Breezy conditions and fairway grass cut a bit long made the course feel 400 yards longer. The greens are so challenging and one really needs to do a good survey before hitting from a bunker or chipping."
Read More2025
Review
“Located in Santa Cruz, California, 30 miles south of San Jose Airport. This upscale semi-private course was designed my Alister McKenzie (1929). The course just completed a 2-year renovation by Jim Urbina who restored the greens and bunker complexes to the original design. The course features hilly terrain with lots of elevation changes, large undulating and sloped greens and aesthetically sculptured bunkering which the course much of its character."
Read More2025
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
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