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
“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
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