Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
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, 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, 15 and 16 all play over rugged sand and grass barrancas, and another bizarre barranca, turfed in fairway grass, runs down the left side of the par-4 14th. Among these is one of the course’s great sleeper holes, the uphill par-4 17th with a frighteningly tilted putting surface. 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 2023 and 2024, architect Jim Urbina cored out and rebuilt every green to improve drainage issues and remove decades of sand and organic buildup. He then used a vast array of historical data and images to restore the contours as closely as possible to what they were in the 1930s. The work recaptured hole locations on masterpiece greens like the 16th and 18th that were unusable due to slopes that had become too severe for modern green speeds. The club will maintain the rebuilt greens 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
“I really like what they did with the renovation. Particularly many greens that now have multiple more available pins, and more playable slope. The bunkers were done fantastically and the grass has grown in incredibly well for just 1 year out on the back 9 being finished. Do feel that 6 and 7 are a bit out of place with how tight they have become due to houses and trees, but it does create unique hole experiences and the holes do not blend together. Finishing with a par 3 is a bold move, and Pasatiempo does it beautifully. Some of the more historic holes that many have been based off of, almost feels like playing in a museum. Highly recommend."
Read More2026
Review
“Plays much longer than stated yardage. Good tip from starter, putts toward Monterey very fast, putts in opposite direction much slower. Very diabolical green complexes They were firm and true."
Read More2026
Review
“Pasatiempo currently sits at #15 on our Top 100 Greatest Public List, but in my opinion should rank higher, possibly within the top 5. This was Alister Mackenzie's favorite design and he chose to live on the 6th hole here which really shows you how much he loved this course. Set on very hilly property just inland from Santa Cruz, the course plays tougher than the yardage and features a spellbinding set of greens which are huge and very undulating. The bunkering here is classic Mackenzie and some of the prettiest you'll ever see. There are a number of standout holes which are among the most unique and memorable you'll play including the 220 yard par 3 3rd, which plays uphill to a tiny, wild green and is one of the most challenging par threes in golf. The 10th hole with its semi-blind teeshot and gorgeous downhill approach as well as the quirky 16th are two of my favorite par fours in golf and holes that you won't find anywhere else. Pasatiempo interestingly closes on a par 3, but it's a beautiful one with diabolical pin positions and bunkering perfectly framing the hole. The conditioning wasn't world class when I played, but this is an amazing opportunity for the public to play a true Mackenzie course and is one of the absolute best courses in golf-stacked California."
Read More2026
Review
“One of the few public's by Dr. Mackenzie"
Read More2026
Review
“Classic Dr Mackenzie masterpiece."
Read More2026
Review
“Mackenzie bunkers at their best. Bring the A game."
Read More2026
Review
“Excellent renovation restoring clean lines and making the Mackenzie bunkers shine. Certainly challenging, the first three holes will get the engine jump started."
Read More2026
Review
“One of the best set of par 3's anywhere. The audacious par 4 16th hole is as unique as any. Great collection of par 4's also. The 13th green complex on the par 5 is stunning. Very unique course, the recent renovation has repolished it to a gem of a course"
Read More2026
Review
“Pasatiempo was a great test for shot shaping through the California hills. Its undulation and conditioning created a fair but tough challenge for someone not striking the ball well. The greens are very unique in shape and draws a lot of attention as it should creating such a challenge if short sided. However, the shot shaping required into them is what impressed me the most about this routing. The course is extremely fun to play from the correct set of tee’s, but the walk is challenging!"
Read More2025
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
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