i cannot believe how much money this course costs. Yes, it's a nice little lay out. but the greens fees should be half of what they are, if that.

If they didn't have the McKenzie marketing angle, Pasatiempo would not have the reputation that it does.

The greens I must say are some of teh most beautiful, challenging i have ever played. What kind of ruins the experience is that it feels like i'm playing in a new housing development. I simply hate the houses along the fairways. It's just too small of a course.

Customer Service

when did the employees here start thinking they work at Cypress Point? they are a bit smarmy.

If an all-powerful being appeared to me and ordered that I would be permitted to play only one golf course for the rest of my days on earth, this would be the one. I've played many spectacular courses, including Pebble and the other Monterrey courses (sans Cypress Point), but Pasatiempo tops them all. It won't wow you with the views or goofy Dye-style contouring; Pasatiempo's genius reveals itself gradually, over several rounds, and only to the intelligent and observant player. Set your expectations accordingly, and realize that this course should be the litmus test for golfing intelligence. If your buddies don't like it, they're probably not worth playing with anymore....

Customer Service

The greens fees seem a bit high, but only because the course lacks a "signature hole" or spectacular views (although the view of Santa Cruz on a clear day from the 1st tee box is pretty damn nice).

This course exposed me to the genius of Alister Mackenzie and what it must be like to play at Cypress Point or Augusta. You should play here just because its one of the few Mackenzie designs that you can access without having to be a CEO or without going overseas. True the practice facilities are out of the way, the staff was a bit cold, and I had a hard time handling the US Open pace greens. But, I still savored every minute on this course with its superb contours, bunker placement, and hole routing. Anyone who would tell you otherwise that this is a bad design probably prefers to play on courses constructed from artificial concepts and over-bulldozed land. This is a course for the thinking person, which is why I think it was Mackenzie's favorite and where he chose to retire.

Customer Service

Not much to offer, but then again not much to get in the way. I was able to duff around for 27 holes without any interference once I paid the admission fee.

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My comparables were Kapalua, Cog Hill, Kemper Lakes, and Yale.

Tests every part of your game. Strategic shotmaking at its best.

Range is not up to championship standards.

Attention Golfers, and I mean golfers -- Pasatiempo is waiting for you. This tract is a shotmakers dream course. It demands precision irons, and accurate drives. This course was designed by Alister MacKenzie, and as typical of his courses, the greens are above average size with significant slope. To score you simply need to do two things -- hit your drives in the right part of the fairway, and hit your iron shots to the correct part of the green. Many of the greens have more than one tier, like the famous 16th, hence the need for shotmaking skills and control. This is not a long course, but tight holes which demand precision more than make up for lack of distance. Besides course plays at sea level and temperature usually hovers around 70 degrees. Did I mention the Barranca that runs through many of the holes on the inward nine. It can cause problems on holes 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 18. You know those resort courses with the wide fairways and mandatory carts. Well, this course doesn't fit that mold. You can walk it easily -- and in fact most locals do.

Customer Service

Ok -- not a resort course. This is a semi-private facility

Greens, but most greens in the Bay Area and good.

The golf course, driving range, lay out, staff

I am a bit surprised by the raving reviews of this course. I believe that if you took Allister Mackenzie's name off of it you would not see this type of review. Allister has designed some great courses, but Pasatiempo is not one of them. I could not have been more disappointed in playing this course, and my two playing partners felt the same. I had heard that this place was the "diamond in the rough" of golf in the Bay Area. I had heard that it was as good as Pebble, SPyglass, Spanish Bay, Half Moon Bay, etc. I read the reveiws here, and thought I'd give it a shot. I have played all the courses I mentioned before and only get out to the area about once every year and a half so I cherish the incredible golf California and the Bay area has to offer. I expect a lot and pay a lot, but have never been disappointed. I called the pro at Pasatiempo and aksed him about the course. He gauranteed me I would like at much as the other courses I mentioned. I took the chance and was so underwhelmed and pissed that had wasted my money on the green fee. I feel like you could take the average 12 handicap player who loves the game and lay out a better course than this. There are maybe 3 good holes on the course and 2 of them are par 3's. The driving range will not even let you hit wood's. The staff is frankly arrogant about the place and I still haven't figured out why. If you are looking for a great Bay Area golf experience with a wow factor spend the extra $40 and go play Spanish Bay, or spend a bit more than that for Spyglass, or heck even Poppy Hills is better than this place. This is maybe one step above a glorified muni.

Customer Service

Terrible

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Driving rang is too small to allow woods to be hit.

Lay out and design.

None

One of the best in the San Francisco Bay area. Tricky greens, fast and undulating. Local knowledge is a plus playing this course. Very fair but hard. Club house staff is very helpful and overall it's a must play in my book. Really everything a golf course should be. It will really test your game. Can't wait to get back and play it again. Oh although we took carts most of the locals walk, I think you get a better prospective on the lay out when you walk.

Customer Service

Excellent.

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Nice resturant and pro-shop. Easy to get to and plenty of parking.

Views, great layout.

Par 3 18th hole, is a weak finish.

One of my favorites in the Bay Area. Go out of your way to play this one. Superb layout. Alister's magic is felt at this course. Especially in the Augusta-like bunkers! Tricky greens. You can have a putt, and wind up farther than you started!

Customer Service

Average

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Deck overlooking the 9th green and 1sy fairway is excellent.

design, setting

course can get awfully busy

This course is reputed to have been Alister MacKenzie's favorite design. The setting superior overlooking Monterey Bay from the hills above Santa Cruz. The design is old school and keeps your interest throughout. I'm not a big fan of the par-three 18th, as I like a course to end with a bang. But this par-three does have some bite. Anything above the hole is a slick, nasty putt. And the pin is often just over a ravine from the tee, just about ensuring a downhill putt.

It may not look tough, but I guarantee you need your A-game on this course.

A clubhouse overlooks the ninth green and the Monterey Bay, and serves up good food.

Recommended play when in the area.

Customer Service

a very professional staff

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good pro shop (limited stock) and restaurant

Good challenge on the greens. Relatively nice fairway design with good routing through the trees and neighborhood. Good practice green. Much like a private country club setting. Slope of 135 from the whites was mainly due to greens.

Practice range is very weak (a few mats and fenced off are left of the 1st fairway - need cart to get the the range). Much like a private country club setting (good and bad of it). Many older-members there - for the younger daily-fee player, it seemed a little too upscale for us. Not enough water - but this is expected in the hilly setting.

Greens! The challenge at Pasatiempo are the greens. You must think about where you want to be on the greens before you tee-off. These were (6/3/00 my playdate) US-Open style greens. They had a regional-qualifier for the US Open at Pasatiempo in May. Downhill putts picked up speed as they rolled - you had to be below the hole to put safely. Being on the green doesn't mean you should put away your wedges just yet!

Customer Service

Good people in the proshop. Not enough external staff (no starter, few rangers, etc). No balls available on the range.

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Pre-registration for tee-times was a nice feature (up to 1 year in advance). Somewhat costly though ($20 per player non-refundable).