Pasatiempo Golf Club
Alister MacKenzie opened Pasatiempo in 1929 above Santa Cruz and made it his home, living beside the sixth fairway until his death. A par 70 of about 6,500 yards, recently restored to its 1929 design, it is the only publicly accessible course MacKenzie considered among his finest work.
Photo via Google, contributed by Pasatiempo Golf Course.
The verdict
Pasatiempo was founded by the amateur champion Marion Hollins and opened in 1929 as Alister MacKenzie's Northern California showpiece, set on rolling ground above Monterey Bay. MacKenzie liked it so much he made his home beside the course. A recent restoration by Jim Urbina rebuilt the greens and bunkers to the original 1929 specification, returning the bold contour and sand flashed hazards MacKenzie intended.
Our verdict: this is a rare thing, a genuine MacKenzie masterwork that ordinary travelers can play, and the back nine, defined by deep barranca ravines and wildly contoured greens, is among the most exciting in California. It belongs on any serious tour of MacKenzie's work alongside the private Cypress Point Club down the coast, and it earns its place on our Monterey Peninsula best list.
Pasatiempo Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1929
- Designer
- Alister MacKenzie
- Type
- Hillside parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,500 yds
- Green fee
- From about $429 (indicative)
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Pasatiempo Golf Club history and leading course databases: Alister MacKenzie, 1929, par 70, about 6,500 yards, with a 2023 to 2024 restoration by Jim Urbina to the 1929 design. Recent public green fees reported in late 2025 were around $429 and vary by day and season. Treat the figure as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Pasatiempo eases in across open hillside, but the round builds steadily toward one of the great closing stretches in American golf. The fairways tumble with the natural slope, and MacKenzie's large, severely contoured greens demand thought about angle and pace long before the approach. Five par 3s give the layout unusual variety for a par 70.
The barranca, a deep natural ravine, is the defining feature of the inward half. The par 4 sixteenth is widely regarded as one of MacKenzie's finest holes, a long two shotter to a green pitched dramatically away across the barranca, brutal and beautiful in equal measure. The closing holes keep the pressure on, with bold green contours that reward the player who controls trajectory and spin.
Because the Urbina restoration returned the greens and bunkers to their 1929 forms, today's Pasatiempo is the closest a public golfer can get to MacKenzie's original intent. Pair it with the public courses of the Monterey Peninsula for a Northern California trip that runs the full range of the region's classic golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Semi private with public access; visitors can book tee times subject to availability around member play |
| Green fee | Around $429 reported in late 2025, varying by day and season, indicative for 2026 (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Book ahead online or through the golf shop; weekend and prime times fill early, so reserve well in advance |
| On the day | Walking is encouraged on a hillside routing; caddies and carts are available; allow time for the demanding greens |
| Getting there | Above Santa Cruz off Highway 17, about 40 minutes from San Jose and around 45 minutes from the Monterey Peninsula |
| Best months | Spring through autumn for the firmest turf; coastal mornings can be cool and foggy near the bay |
Access and fees verified June 2026. Pasatiempo is publicly accessible but in high demand; reported rates change by day and season, so confirm current green fees and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in Santa Cruz itself, a relaxed coastal town with a good range of hotels, inns and dining a few minutes from the first tee. Its position between San Jose and the Monterey Peninsula makes it a natural waypoint on a Northern California golf trip rather than a destination to base for a week.
Pasatiempo pairs naturally with the Monterey Peninsula to the south, and a short drive opens up some of the finest golf in the country. It is an ideal course to fold into a wider itinerary that also takes in Spyglass Hill and the public peninsula classics.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Pasatiempo Golf Club.
Build a Northern California golf trip
We secure Pasatiempo tee times, pair them with the Monterey Peninsula classics and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pasatiempo Golf Club questions
Who designed Pasatiempo and when did it open?
Pasatiempo was designed by Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1929 above Santa Cruz, California. MacKenzie made his home beside the course and regarded it among his finest work.
What is the par and length of Pasatiempo?
Pasatiempo is a par 70 of about 6,500 yards, with five par 3s, large contoured greens, and a back nine defined by deep barranca ravines.
Can the public play Pasatiempo?
Yes. Pasatiempo is semi private with public access, so visitors can book tee times around member play. A 2023 to 2024 restoration returned the greens and bunkers to the 1929 design.
How much does it cost to play Pasatiempo?
Recent public green fees reported in late 2025 were around $429 and vary by day and season. Treat this as indicative for 2026 and confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.